Friction Welding Projects

Compare to Your Part Design
American Friction Welding has performed a large variety of friction welds, this gallery details just a small percentage of that achievement. (Photos not to scale, see dimension guidelines)

Using Tubes

Thinwall Tube to Solid Friction Welded

Join thinwall tube to solid base.

Silencer Tube to Machined End Cap Friction Welded 1
Silencer Tube to Machined End Cap Friction Welded 2

Join thinwall tube to machined base.

Hollow Tube Center Friction Welded

Join solid caps to both ends of tube for hollow center.

Solid to Tube Friction Welded

Join heavy wall tube to solid end to avoid extensive drilling. Image shows the progression from 1) raw material, to 2) blank weldment, to 3) finish machined to print.

Tube Joint Friction Welded

Friction Welded tube wall section through the joint. Strength and performance are equal to solid material.

Nickel Alloy to DOM Tube Friction Welded

Join dissimilar metals as in this case with nickel ends to DOM tube.

Friction Welded Drill Rod Cutaway

Cross cut section of well drilling rod. Threaded end is friction welded to drill pipe body.

Near-Net Blanks

Friction Welded Impeller Blank

Use a near-net-blank to save machining time and material.

Food Grade Impeller Friction Welded

This pump impeller is machined from the blank above.

Drive Gear Blank

Drive gears are made from Friction Welded blanks to save on forging cost and to shorten lead times.

Valve Blank Before and After

In this example, valve pistons are machined from a near-net blank.

Tee Fitting Friction Welded

This near-net blank “tee-fitting” is ready for finish machining.

Bi-Metal Thermal Couple Friction Welded

Three piece blanks made of dissimilar metals ready for finish machining.

Sucker Rod Friction Welded

Blank bi-metal oilfield sucker rod ready to be machined.

Specialty Fasteners Friction Welded

Create high strength specialty fasteners

AFW Cost Comparison Infographic

Click to see savings potential

Unusual Shapes

Ball Joint Showing Part Orientation

Join with orientation to opposite end features as seen in the port alignment on this ball joint.

Shaft To Casting Friction Welded

Cold-formed shafts are Friction Welded to Powder Metal ends. These cutting tools are shown before and after weld-flash removal.

Forging to Casting

Forged valves are Friction Welded to cast guide legs.

Friction Welded Propshaft to CV Joint

Prop shaft Friction Welded to CV Joint.

Offset Shafts To Plate

Offset opposing shafts joined to a common plate.

Tube to Threaded Solid

Threaded cold formed solid ends joined to honed tubes.

Piston Rod Double Ended

A double ended hydraulic piston rod is bonded with the advantage of a full strength, penetration fusion of material.

Actuator

This special casting is bonded to a carbon steel shaft.

Hydraulic Cylinder Trunnion Block

Pivot shafts are bonded with friction welding two sides of this hydraulic cylinder base. This creates a trunnion block to allow swiveling hydraulic cylinders.

Case Studies

Bi-Metal Tool Bit Extensions
Learn about the economics and performance results of extending cobalt tool tips with mild steel extension shafts.

Bi-Metal Shafts Ideal for Chemical Exposure
Durability requirements in the chemical manufacture and handling industry dictate the use of expensive alloys to withstand harsh environments. Learn how performance and economics are improved by friction welding an alloy “wet end” to a carbon steel main shaft.

Hydraulic Cylinders
This case study illustrates how friction welding, or bonding as it is sometimes called, is used to join uniquely shaped ends to hardened chrome rod with all the strength of solid material.

Contact American Friction Welding today for more information or to request a quote!