Abstract: A method for friction stir welding two components, with a rotating tool that comprises a rotating or non-rotating shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone, and with a stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone, in which method a stirring pin with a section slidably plunges in a slide on which the components are supported, which slide is guided along the joining zone on a side of the component, which side faces away from the tool, so that during welding an automatic relative movement between the stirring pin and the slide or the shoulder surface of the tool and a support surface of the slide, which support surface supports the components, is made possible, as well as a device for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A friction agitation welding process for the joining of abutting plate-shaped workpieces consisting of an aluminium alloy, wherein a rotating Bobbin tool is moved along a weld between the two plate-shaped workpieces during feed, exerting a first and a second contact pressing force on first and second sides, respectively, and wherein said Bobbin tool is subjected to an additional axial force during its movement along the weld to plastically deform the area of the created welding seam such that the welding seam is pressed towards one side of the plate-shaped workpieces while forming a welding seam elevation protruding opposite from the workpiece surface.

Abstract: A method for friction stir welding two components, with a rotating tool that comprises a rotating or non-rotating shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone, and with a stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone, in which method a stirring pin with a section slidably plunges in a slide on which the components are supported, which slide is guided along the joining zone on a side of the component, which side faces away from the tool, so that during welding an automatic relative movement between the stirring pin and the slide or the shoulder surface of the tool and a support surface of the slide, which support surface supports the components, is made possible, as well as a device for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A friction agitation welding process for the joining of abutting plate-shaped workpieces consisting of an aluminium alloy, wherein a rotating Bobbin tool is moved along a weld between the two plate-shaped workpieces during feed, exerting a first and a second contact pressing force on first and second sides, respectively, and wherein said Bobbin tool is subjected to an additional axial force during its movement along the weld to plastically deform the area of the created welding seam such that the welding seam is pressed towards one side of the plate-shaped workpieces while forming a welding seam elevation protruding opposite from the workpiece surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction stir welding head having a housing and a welding tool with a rotating welding pin and a rotating shoulder tool for welding workpieces which rest on a workpiece rest, with the shoulder tool, which rotates in synchronism with the welding pin, coaxially surrounding the welding pin. According to the invention, a first distance between a first laser rangefinder and a welding pin section 4a can be determined by means of the first laser rangefinder. This makes it possible to determine at least one change in the distance between the welding pin tip and the workpiece rest by means of a first laser rangefinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction stir welding head having a housing and a welding tool with a rotating welding pin and a rotating shoulder tool for welding workpieces which rest on a workpiece rest, with the shoulder tool, which rotates in synchronism with the welding pin, coaxially surrounding the welding pin. According to the invention, a first distance between a first laser rangefinder and a welding pin section 4a can be determined by means of the first laser rangefinder. This makes it possible to determine at least one change in the distance between the welding pin tip and the workpiece rest by means of a first laser rangefinder.