Coldwater Machine Company Announces SpinMeld For Friction Welding of Dissimilar Materials

New joining system reduces cycle time and defects as compared to traditional welding techniques and can join a variety of materials, helping companies focused on lightweighting.

Coldwater, Ohio April 23, 2015


Coldwater Machine Company, a leading engineering solutions company that manufactures and integrates precision equipment and tools for multiple industries, has announced its SpinMeld(TM) friction spin welding system developed by the companys Solid State Joining Center. SpinMeld systems are proven to reduce cycle time and defects when compared to traditional welding or joining techniques. Additionally, SpinMeld technology can join steels, aluminum, cast or sintered metals, magnesium, brass, carbon fiber composites, ceramics with mixed metal connections, and dissimilar combinations of these materials.

SpinMeld systems rely on rotational friction welding principles and a direct drive approach where a spinning workpiece, driven at a constant speed by an electric motor, is joined to a stationary one by rotational friction and externally applied force. Its an extremely fast process that that produces frictional heat at a sufficient temperature for the materials to reach a plastic state (non-melting or Solid State) at the joint interface. The materials are then forged together by force.

The SpinMeld systems are available as stand-alone vertical or horizontal machines that can be integrated into a work cell or an automated processing line. Each system is designed to fit the individual application with machine parameters such as rotational speeds, cycle times, and forging forces based on the material composition, part configuration and contact surface area of each joint. Rotational speeds are available from 2,000 to 23,000 rpm and forging forces from 335 to 12,000 lbf. The systems can be designed with a maximum weld area of 0.992 in2 (640 mm2).

As a friction welding solution, SpinMeld is an environmentally friendly process that eliminates the need for filler metals, fluxes or shielding gases. It also produces higher quality joints with small heat affected areas and consistency in weld duplication.

Production quality samples for evaluation and testing using your work pieces can be created within our joining center to prove process feasibility. Shafts, valve bodies, pistons, brackets and airbag inflators are just some of the components well-suited for SpinMeld production. Coldwater also offers SpinMeld production services for short run and prototype parts.

For more information on Coldwater Machines Friction Welding solutions, visit http://coldwatermachine.com/services/spin-welding

Coldwater Machine Company is a leader in the design, build and integration of specialized equipment for discrete manufacturing with extensive precision-machining capability primarily serving companies in the automotive, aviation, aerospace, appliance and energy industries that are producing products requiring tight tolerances. With over 50 years experience, the companys key competencies include precision machining and assembly, engineering support, design and build of specialized manufacturing equipment, and solid-state welding/joining systems.

Featured Product

BitFlow Introduces 6th Generation Camera Link Frame Grabber: The Axion

BitFlow Introduces 6th Generation Camera Link Frame Grabber: The Axion

BitFlow has offered a Camera Link frame grabbers for almost 15 years. This latest offering, our 6th generation combines the power of CoaXPress with the requirements of Camera Link 2.0. Enabling a single or two camera system to operate at up to 850 MB/S per camera, the Axion-CL family is the best choice for CL frame grabber. Like the Cyton-CXP frame grabber, the Axion-CL leverages features such as the new StreamSync system, a highly optimized DMA engine, and expanded I/O capabilities that provide unprecedented flexibility in routing. There are two options available; Axion 1xE & Axion 2xE. The Axion 1xE is compatible with one base, medium, full or 80-bit camera offering PoCL, Power over Camera Link, on both connectors. The Axion 2xE is compatible with two base, medium, full or 80-bit cameras offering PoCL on both connectors for both cameras. The Axion-CL is a culmination of the continuous improvements and updates BitFlow has made to Camera Link frame grabbers.