The Boeing Company
JOINING WORKPIECES VIA ADDITIVE FRICTION STIR DEPOSITION

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for joining workpieces is described. The apparatus comprises a clamp configured to restrain a first workpiece against a second workpiece and an additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) machine comprising a spindle. The first workpiece is clamped to the second workpiece, and feedstock material is deposited, via rotation of the spindle, into an aperture extending through one or both of the first workpiece and the second workpiece. The deposited feedstock material forms a weld nugget that joins the first workpiece to the second workpiece.