FLORENCE, Ky., December 3, 2018 – Mazak Corporation has announced its acquisition of MegaStir, a supplier of friction stir welding (FSW) tools and technology located in Provo, Utah. With the acquisition, Mazak continues to expand and build upon its HYBRID Multi-Tasking Machine Technology. The new Mazak MegaStir will provide further system advancements and evolve into an FSW technology center. A resident FSW machine in Provo as well as in other Mazak Technology Centers will provide customers the potential for real manufacturing solutions in a Done in OneÒ capacity.
Through several key developmental collaborations and now the MegaStir acquisition, Mazak continues to pioneer the HYBRID Multi-Tasking concept. One that extends beyond the combination of additive and subtractive processes to also include others such as FSW capabilities for complete part processing on one machine tool platform and often in one setup.
Mazak first collaborated with MegaStir on the development of the Mazak VTC-800 FSW vertical 5 axis machining center and they recently introduced the Mazak VTC-300C FSW at the IMTS show in Chicago. Designed and manufactured in Kentucky, the VTC- 300C FSW features Mazak’s MAZATROL SmoothG CNC, a powerful 40-taper spindle, full traveling-column design and a fixed table for the machining of extremely long and heavy workpieces (or multiple work-holding fixtures). The FSW package adds friction stir welding capability to the spindle via a unique tool holder and includes closed-loop FSW process control as well as FSW programming software that enhances the speed and capability of the process.