A new stage in the development of Friction Stir Welding has been marked by the arrival of the RoboStir(tm) robotic friction stir welding equipment at TWI's Yorkshire Technology Centre.

Manufactured and supplied by Friction Stir Link Inc, located in Waukesha, USA, the RoboStir machine combines powerful friction stir welding technology with the flexibility of a robot. This advanced welding system will provide the opportunity for TWI to develop further 3D welding techniques and applications, and also friction stir spot welding as an alternative to resistance welding.

Friction Stir Link (FSL) is in the business of providing unique friction stir welding solutions, and their core team has over 40 years combined experience with the technology. Chris Smith, FSL's chief design engineer, commented: 'It's great to be working with the organisation that invented friction stir welding. The fact that we have been able to supply TWI with the robotic friction stir welding system backs up our belief that this advancement is enabling FSW technology to be used to fabricate complex assemblies - the next step in the commercialisation of the FSW process.'

The equipment has already been successfully used to produce welds in 6mm thick aluminium plate, and has demonstrated its capabilities to produce welds in three dimensional components. Despite the system being relatively new to TWI, it has already proved to be a valuable addition to TWI's extensive portfolio of welding technologies, with the potential to further push the boundaries of the friction stir process.