Paul T Fleming

US Patent:

20090294511, Dec 3, 2009

Filed:

May 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/130622

Inventors:

Paul Fleming - Nashville TN, US
David Lammlein - Houston TX, US
George E. Cook - Brentwood TN, US
D. M. Wilkes - Nashville TN, US
Alvin M. Strauss - Nashville TN, US
David Delapp - Ashland City TX, US
Daniel A. Hartman - Santa Fe NM, US

Assignee:

Vanderbilt University - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B23K 31/12
B23K 20/12

US Classification:

228103, 228 23

Abstract:

A friction stir system for processing at least a first workpiece includes a spindle actuator coupled to a rotary tool comprising a rotating member for contacting and processing the first workpiece. A detection system is provided for obtaining information related to a lateral alignment of the rotating member. The detection system comprises at least one sensor for measuring a force experienced by the rotary tool or a parameter related to the force experienced by the rotary tool during processing, wherein the sensor provides sensor signals. A signal processing system is coupled to receive and analyze the sensor signals and determine a lateral alignment of the rotating member relative to a selected lateral position, a selected path, or a direction to decrease a lateral distance relative to the selected lateral position or selected path. In one embodiment, the friction stir system can be embodied as a closed loop tracking system, such as a robot-based tracked friction stir welding (FSW) or friction stir processing (FSP) system.