StiRoLight - Friction Stir Welding with Robot for Light Weight Vehicle Design

Purpose and goal

Reducing weight is one of the enablers to achieve more environmentally friendly vehicles. Friction Stir Weld (FSW) supports low weight design through its capability to join different constellations of light weight materials, but also through its feasibility in producing continuous joints which in turn is enabling designs using less material. Up to now, FSW has meant expensive equipment capable of making joints only in two dimensions or in simple geometries such as cylinders. The introduction of robotized FSW will change this, making the process feasible also for flexible mass production of more complex geometries. This project will address some of the main obstacles in introducing FSW as a flexible joining process within vehicle production. The main part is to develop knowledge of the capabilities and limitations using robotized FSW.

Expected results and effects

The technical and scientific goals are: - to introduce robotised FSW-technology in Swedish vehicle industry - to further develop the process for more complex geometries - to develop design methodology to utilise the advantages of FSW-joints - a licentiate degree in robotised FSW - a robotised FSW-cell demonstrator

Planned approach and implementation

The methodology will be based on real design cases from two of the partners, Volvo AB and Saab Automobile AB. State of the art knowledge will be supplied by the two partners ESAB AB and ABB Robotics. The research will be the responsibility of University West and take place at Production Technology Centre (PTC) in Trollhättan.