Machine Talk Blog

If you asked 10 of our customers what friction welding looks like to them, chances are, they'd all have different answers.

To some, it's a solid-state method used to join parts that can fit in your pocket.  And to others, it's the only technology suitable for joining parts complex and large enough to help an engine lift a jet off the ground. Most other answers, though, would likely fall somewhere in between those two scenarios.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It's one of the boldest space missions ever planned... and NASA is relying on the friction welding experts at Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) to help pull it off.

The world of friction welding is vast -- and so is the vocabulary used to describe it! We've compiled a list of the most commonly used friction welding terms -- from machine components to MTI's processes -- to help you grow your engineering mind!

Even though 2020 is now behind us, many of the financial challenges that emerged during the unprecedented year continue to impact operational budgets in 2021 and beyond.

Pivot.

Of all the buzzwords that emerged from the unprecedented year of 2020 (think: quarantine, social distancing, etc.) no word feels more relevant to our MTI family than "pivot."

For decades, MTI has successfully joined hundreds of applications across multiple industries using our traditional friction welding process. However, with the introduction of our newest solid-state joining technology, Low Force Friction Welding,  you may now be wondering whether it's time to consider switching to Low Force - even if you've relied on our traditional process for years.

There's a reason you clicked on this blog.

Long before the word "Tesla" spurred any thoughts beyond the iconic inventor of the 1800s, companies around the world were relying on friction welding to join their parts.  But just as automotive technology has shifted throughout the decades, friction welding has followed right along, aligning with the demands of the modern consumer and commercial vehicle market.

When you think of friction welding, you likely imagine a highly engineered machine bringing two materials together and performing a solid-state weld using either a rotary, linear or stir motion.

It's a scenario you've likely encountered at least once.

You have two metals you want to join, but you're not sure which welding technology is the best fit for your application.

Adding to its continually growing list of value-added offerings, MTI UK's contract friction welding facility has welcomed a new, state-of-the art CNC machine onto its shop floor.

From Low Force Friction Welding to Friction Stir Welding, MTI specializes in several different types of friction welding processes. But in this article, we will explore our Inertia Rotary Friction Welding technology and explain how it works and outline how it could be beneficial in your next project.