Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for friction stir welding materials of different thicknesses and that have fillet welds, comprising the following features: a) a receiver panel (1) that has a drive head (2) and a welding shoe (4) that has a pin bearing, said welding shoe (4) being selected and inserted according to whether it is being used with materials of different thicknesses or with materials that have fillet welds, b) the longitudinal axis of the spindle bearing being at an incline of an angle between 0 and 5 degrees relative to the vertical line; the transverse incline being 0 degrees for the fillet weld shoe (4), and c) when the welding pin (6) is exchanged, the length of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustment element (12) and the position of the counter-bearing of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustable pin stop (19) and, in the case of the pin stop (19), additionally secured by an adjustment screw (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for friction stir welding materials of different thicknesses and that have fillet welds, comprising the following features: a) a receiver panel (1) that has a drive head (2) and a welding shoe (4) that has a pin bearing, said welding shoe (4) being selected and inserted according to whether it is being used with materials of different thicknesses or with materials that have fillet welds, b) the longitudinal axis of the spindle bearing being at an incline of an angle between and 5 degrees relative to the vertical line; the transverse incline being 0 degrees for the fillet weld shoe (4), and c) when the welding pin (6) is exchanged, the length of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustment element (12) and the position of the counter-bearing of the welding pin (6) being adjusted using an adjustable pin stop (19) and, in the case of the pin stop (19), additionally secured by an adjustment screw (20).

Abstract: A handheld inspection apparatus for inspecting an object in a non-contact manner is provided, the apparatus comprising: a telecentric lens arrangement comprising a telecentric lens arranged to collect light rays projected or reflected from an object to be inspected; a mobile image sensing device such as a CCD digital camera arranged with respect to the telecentric lens to receive the lights rays collected by the telecentric lens and convert these into an image representative of the object, wherein the telecentric lens is arranged such that movement of the apparatus in a direction away from or towards the object causes the image to remain of the same size on the image sensing device. Preferably an illumination unit is provided which is detachably mounted on the camera and is interchangeable depending on the purpose.