Photo Caption: Coldwater Machine Company FWS Series Friction Weld Systems spin welding machines are offered as stand-alone vertical or horizontal machines. Shown is a dual-system solution.
Coldwater Machine Company, an engineering technology company that manufactures and integrates precision equipment and tools for multiple industries, has announced its FWS Series Friction Weld Systems, developed by the company's Solid State Joining Center. According to the company, the Coldwater Machine FWS Series, which is in production at automotive OEMs and tier one suppliers, is a cost-effective, repeatable, robust spin welding machine that reduces cycle time and defects when compared to traditional welding or joining techniques.
FWS Weld Systems use a direct drive approach, where one work piece is stationary and the other piece is rotated on a spindle at a constant speed by an electric motor. Coldwater Machine's systems are designed to control rotational speeds with parameters from 2,000 - 23,000 RPM as well as forging forces of 335 - 12,000 lbf. The systems can be designed with a maximum weld area of 0.992 in2 (640 mm2). Coldwater Machine designs each system to fit the individual application determining rotational speeds, cycle times and forging forces for each joint based on the material composition, part configuration and contact surface area of the specific parts to be joined.
The FWS Weld Systems are offered as stand-alone vertical or horizontal machines for integration into a work cell or as part of an automated processing line. Coldwater Machine can provide production quality weld test samples for evaluation using customer provided workpieces to prove out feasibility.
"Friction welding uses rotational friction to heat the materials along with pressure to create a solid state welded joint. It is a quick process that occurs below the melting temperature of the materials. The ability to achieve high rotational speeds plays a critical role in achieving enough heat input quickly enough to soften the material to a plastic state. It is well suited for applications involving materials such as steel, aluminum, cast or sintered materials, ceramics with mixed metal connections and dissimilar metals, which are unsuited to conventional welding. Other benefits of a friction weld system include faster weld times, higher quality joints with small heat affected zones (HAZ), consistency in weld duplication and environmentally cleaner and safer with no spatter, smoke, radiation or shielding gasses," said a company spokesperson.
Coldwater Machine Company designs and builds specialized equipment for discrete manufacturing with extensive precision-machining capability primarily serving companies in the automotive, aviation, aerospace, appliance and energy industries that are producing products requiring tight tolerances.
For more information contact:
Coldwater Machine Company
911 North Second Street
Coldwater, OH 45828
419-678-4877
www.coldwatermachine.com