Solid State Friction Stir Welding Using Dovetail Groove Butt Joint

Welding of metals has become increasingly important in almost all manufacturing industries. Welding process can be mainly classified as fusion and solid state or non-fusion welding. In fusion welding, metals are involved in melting and forming the bond. One of the solid state welding is Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process dependent on heat generated by friction. A non-consumable rotating tool with a specially designed pin and shoulder is inserted into the abutting edges of sheets or plates to be joined and traversed along the line of joint. The material used in the FSW process is Aluminum 6061-T6 to Aluminum 6061-T6 by dovetail butt joint. In this research, dovetail groove is cut and joined be FSW. Parameters used are vertical rotation of the tool at 1050, and 1320 RPM, transverse speed of 200, 325,500, 600 and 725 mm with constant plunge depth of 0.50 mm.