SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2017

••• 11 ••• Innovationen Joining dissimilar sheets better Friction stir welding process ensures high-strength joints of steel and aluminium sheets F riction stir welding is a still- young and thus often unfa- miliar pressure welding process for joining flat components and semi-finished components made of light metals. Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have now developed two new process vari- ants that will considerably expand the areas of application for fric- tion stir welding. Thanks to these procedural vari- ants, it is possible for the first time to join steel and aluminium sheets of different thicknesses using the friction stir welding pro- cess economically while ensuring high-strength joints. This way, material utilization of thin steel sheets in aluminium- steel mixed chassis applications can be increased by up to nearly 100 per cent. The two materials steel and alu- minium are being used together increasingly in automotive ap- plications and in the mechanical engineering sector. This way, it is possible to combine the advan- tages of both materials, such as the great stiffness and strength of steel and the low density of aluminium. Due to the different levels of strength of the two ma- terials, these are frequently used in different thicknesses. The high- strength joining of steel and alu- minium therefore represents an elementary problem in industrial joining technology. With the fric- tion stir welding processes de- veloped at the Institute for Ma- terials Testing, Materials Science and Strength of Materials (IMWF) of the University of Stuttgart, it is possible to join steel and alu- minum sheets of different thick- nesses economically while ensur- ing high-strength joints. The scientists developed two pro- cesses with which, for the first time, aluminium and steel sheets of different thicknesses can be joined to form a high-strength butt joint. These joints demon- strate great tensile strength and fatigue strength. In addition to many applications in the auto- mobile industry, the procedure is also interesting for the electrical industry and the electromobility sector. With the newly-developed friction stir welding joints, it is possible to join steel and alumini- um sheets of different thicknesses economically while ensuring high-strength joints. Photo: TLB GmbH Hapro Technik, der Spezialist für Produkte rund ums Wasserstrahlschneiden, präsentiert nun mit Hapro Technik Plus eine neue Produkt-Generation, die durch Einspa- rung und Wirksamkeit besticht! Die 3-Kolben-Plungerpumpe besticht durch große Förder- mengen bei geringster Leistungsaufnahme. Die einzig- artige Servotechnologie verzichtet komplett auf Hydraulik – die resultierende hohe Energieeffizienz ermöglicht ein Ein- sparungspotential an Betriebskosten von 40 %. Zusätzlich wird der Schneiddruck kontinuierlich nachge- regelt, der Wasserstrahl konstant gehalten und so ein perfektes Schnittergebnis erzielt. Verschleißerscheinungen bei Düsen, HD-Leitungen etc. werden deutlich weniger. Durch die hohe Effizienz sind Umweltförderungen möglich. Wir informieren Sie gerne! MIT HAPRO TECHNIK PLUS ZU EFFIZIENZ UND NACHHALTIGKEIT. Kosten sparen und die Umwelt schonen mit der wohl effizientesten Hochdruckpumpe der Welt! Servo-Jet4000 Hapro Technik Ges.m.b.H. A-4720 Kallham, Parzleithen 8 Tel. +43 (0) 7733 / 8026, Fax +43 (0) 7733 / 7193 office@haprotechnik.com, www.haprotechnik.com – Standzeiten erhöhen – Energie sparen – Ressourcen schonen Besuchen Sie uns auf der Messe Schweissen & Schneiden 2017 in Düsseldorf, Halle 13, Stand 13A79.