Ever see this?

[perry]

I watched a demonstration of friction welding about 6 years ago and thought you guys might like to see one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAXZYGZ8Yrg

 

[thetool]

That is cool to watch....thanks for putting that up.
I'll bet they have some serious brake system to safely stop all that rotating mass like.....POW!

 

[perry]

That is cool to watch....thanks for putting that up.
I'll bet they have some serious brake system to safely stop all that rotating mass like.....POW!

The one I watched had the rods turning in the opposite direction?, must have improved the process?.

 

[perry]

The one I watched had the rods turning in the opposite direction?, must have improved the process?.

Sorry, I should have said, both rods turning opposite to one another.

 

[Tazza]

Sorry, I should have said, both rods turning opposite to one another.

@_@ i'm impressed! i know what to ask santa for x-mas. Not that i'd even do much friction welding, still cool to watch.

 

[perry]

@_@ i'm impressed! i know what to ask santa for x-mas. Not that i'd even do much friction welding, still cool to watch.

I've got an old 1946 south bend that I tried it on, all I did was burn my finger.

 

[Tazza]

I've got an old 1946 south bend that I tried it on, all I did was burn my finger.

LOL
I'd like to give it a go on my hafco lathe, i'm sure i'll just make a mess!
The power that lathe must have to keep spinning with 20 tonne of force being applied to it must be pretty impressive. And the speed it runs at with that much torque.

 

[thetool]

LOL
I'd like to give it a go on my hafco lathe, i'm sure i'll just make a mess!
The power that lathe must have to keep spinning with 20 tonne of force being applied to it must be pretty impressive. And the speed it runs at with that much torque.

20 tons? I guess it don't need no stinking brakes!.....=)

 

[bobcat_ron]

20 tons? I guess it don't need no stinking brakes!.....=)

That's looks like how Bobcat's cylinder rod ends are welded.

 

[Tazza]

That's looks like how Bobcat's cylinder rod ends are welded.

Thats what i thought too!
At the start and end it states a force of 20 tonne. Pretty impressing still.

 

[Tazza]

Thats what i thought too!
At the start and end it states a force of 20 tonne. Pretty impressing still.

I knew i couldn't resist......
I had a quick play with my lathe today to see if it actually worked, and it did!!! Naturally they were only small pieces of steel but it did work. Those lathes must be so strong though, the amount of side load that is generated is insane, the tail stock was dancing around even though it had it locked up. It took longer but it did spit out sparks and a nice cherry red glow as the 2 pieces melted together.
I showed my dad the videos, he was as impressed as i was. He had no idea it was done like that he always thought it was done with a welder, nice and neat! I actually thought it was done with electricity that melted the 2 pieces and fused them together, never thought friction alone could do that.

 

[OldMachinist]

I knew i couldn't resist......
I had a quick play with my lathe today to see if it actually worked, and it did!!! Naturally they were only small pieces of steel but it did work. Those lathes must be so strong though, the amount of side load that is generated is insane, the tail stock was dancing around even though it had it locked up. It took longer but it did spit out sparks and a nice cherry red glow as the 2 pieces melted together.
I showed my dad the videos, he was as impressed as i was. He had no idea it was done like that he always thought it was done with a welder, nice and neat! I actually thought it was done with electricity that melted the 2 pieces and fused them together, never thought friction alone could do that.

You've most likely seen the results of friction welding more times than you know. Bearings that spun on a shaft and seized, drill bits burned off in a hole, chips that welded to your tool bit in the lathe. I saw a guy weld a 3/4" drill bit into a drill chuck one time and never was able to get it out. Gotta pay attention when you use that power feed. Of course all these where accidental welding but its the same principle.

 

[Tazza]

You've most likely seen the results of friction welding more times than you know. Bearings that spun on a shaft and seized, drill bits burned off in a hole, chips that welded to your tool bit in the lathe. I saw a guy weld a 3/4" drill bit into a drill chuck one time and never was able to get it out. Gotta pay attention when you use that power feed. Of course all these where accidental welding but its the same principle.

Good point, its fine when you intend to do it, but when a drill bit gets stuck in your work it usually makes you utter a few bad words!