Machine Talk Blog

Friction welding is a solid state joining process. It’s actually a forging process: not a welding process. In the Friction Welding process we use relative motion and high force in order to create frictional heat at the weld interface. This heats the materials being joined to the point where they will plasticize without melting. The result is molecular intermixing at the weld interface and a forged quality joint.

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 9, 2018: Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) has shipped North America’s first linear friction welder capable of full sized part development to the LIFT - Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow facility in Detroit where it will contribute to cutting edge lightweighting research in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jamie Clews (MTI Global Controls Technical Lead), Brian Roberts (MTI Manufacturing Operations Lead), Scott Knoll (Amerisure Senior Risk Management Consultant), Daniel C. Adams (MTI President & CEO), Mark Wobbe (Gibson Principal, Risk Advisor), MariClare Osborn (MTI Director of Human Resources), and Jeff Lovin (MTI Director of Technical Operations).  

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 28, 2018:  Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) today was awarded for outstanding safety performance by Amerisure Insurance Company. MTI was presented the award at its world headquarters in South Bend, IN after maintaining 365 days without a recordable incident. The last time the company achieved this was in 2005.  Additionally, MTI has sustained an impressive 419 days without a loss time incident during the period beginning on July 2017 through September 2018.

For four decades, MTI has been a global leader in friction welding technology — a forging technique that offers many advantages over traditional, fusion welding. With the ability to create super-strong bonds of virtually any size, friction welding is uniquely capable of serving a broad spectrum of industries.

One industry in which we are constantly innovating, is that of aerospace. With changing priorities and advancing technologies that create more demanding joining applications, MTI is continually adapting the rotary and linear friction welding processes to meet the demands of aerospace engineers and manufacturers .

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that’s especially popular in the aerospace, transportation, and electronics industries.

Below, we'll explore some commonly asked questions about Friction Stir Welding.

In our fourth installment of Eyes of an Engineer, we introduce you to junior service engineer James Lovell and junior design engineer Luke Barratt.  Luke and James both graduated from MTI’s apprenticeship program in February of 2018.

Discover why they chose MTI, what they learned, and where they’re headed next.

You might not realize it yet, but friction welded parts are all around us, from the cars you drive to the planes you fly in.

Here’s a look at some everyday objects you never knew were friction welded:

Global joining solutions provider MTI has collaborated with technology company HMK, the Siemens motion partner, to pioneer the development of a double axle friction welding machine worth in excess of $2.4 million for one of the world’s leading trailer manufacturers.

In our third installment of Eyes of an Engineer, we introduce you to Tori Zellerhoff and Margot Hughan.  They began working at MTI as part of their capstone thesis for Notre Dame’s Master’s Program in Entrepreneurship, Technology, & Innovation (ESTEEM).

Combining technology with entrepreneurship, the two developed a business plan and go-to-market strategy for MTI’s latest technology, low force friction welding. 

Find out how they got started, what they learned at MTI, and what they enjoyed most about the experience.

Using our friction welding and solid state joining know-how, MTI has developed, designed, and manufactured low force friction welding machines that are operating in industry today.

South Bend, IN - October 6, 2017:  Manufacturing Technology, Inc (MTI) opened its doors to area high schoolers in celebration of Manufacturing Day. The nation-wide event introduces the next generation of workers to high-skilled careers in modern manufacturing.

Students from Riley, Washington, and Adams High School attended the event, which was held at MTI’s world headquarters. 

SOUTH BEND, IN -- Former astronaut Brian Duffy along with representatives from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital ATK acknowledged Manufacturing Technology, Inc (MTI) for its contributions to the NASA Space Launch System (SLS).

In friction welding, we always strive toward repeatability—even when there are differences in the length of incoming parts.  This is especially true in the automotive and aerospace industry where finished parts are held to rigid standards.  Using Torque Modulation with Dynamic Profile Modification, we’re able to ensure our first welded part is the same length as our last welded part. 

MTI has gained global recognition for designing and building the most advanced, customized friction welding machines—including the world’s largest inertia friction welder.

While we are proud of building the largest rotary and linear friction welders in the world, we have also designed and built hundreds of smaller friction welding machines.  And that’s where the SPARTAN product line comes in.

Unscheduled downtimes can result in significant financial losses and consume the maintenance department. That’s why refurbishing your old friction welding machine has several cost-saving advantages. 

If you’re falling behind or having difficulty meeting quality compliance, an MTI upgrade may be just what you need. 

Here are 5 signs to look for:  

Our customers—especially those in the automotive industry—rely on repeatable upset in order to meet tight part tolerances.  Remember, upset is the amount of shortening of the two parts as a result of friction welding.

Leveraging the latest in advanced rotary friction welding technology, MTI’s newest double axle machine increases efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in axle production. 

Here are the three things you need to know about MTI’s latest double axle machine:  

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim Hoffman (Chief Metallurgist and Quality Assurance), Sherri Lotter (Inside Sales Coordinator), Zach Danko (Process Engineer), Jordan Walser (Process Engineer), Jacob Smith (Production Manager), Gabe Hostetter (Process Engineer).

SOUTH BEND, IN - To demonstrate a continued commitment to quality, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) announces that they have been successful in achieving Nadcap accreditation for welding at their Sheridan Street location.