Reconfiguration of a Milling Machine to Achieve Friction Stir Welds

This paper reports on the reconfiguration of a milling machine to produce friction stir welds of aluminium and copper and friction stir processing of 6086 aluminium alloy. Friction stir welding tools were designed and manufactured from tool steel. The tools were inserted into the chuck of the milling machine. A backing plate was also specially designed and manufacturedfrom mild steel to protect the milling machine table and was placed on the bed with the use of T-nuts. The plates were secured firmly on the backing plate with the use of specially designed clamping fixtures. The varied welding speeds and the rotational speeds were achieved using the control system on the vertical milling machine. The reconfigured milling machine was successfully employed to produce friction stir processing of aluminium and friction stir welds of aluminium and copper. An optimum joint strength of 74% was achieved.