Powerstir 360, developed by Crawford-Swift Ltd., is the first commercial prototype for welding by the friction stir process built and operating in the UK. Designed for BAE Systems, the machine is undergoing a rigorous two-year research and development program on the fabrication of aluminum wings and body skins for aircraft, such as the proposed 550-seat double-decker Airbus A3XX. The welding technique offers far-reaching opportunities for joining aluminum alloys and other metals that have traditionally been troublesome to weld conventionally without distortion of the material, cracks, voids, or other blemishes.
Powerstir 360, developed by Crawford-Swift Ltd., is the first commercial prototype for welding by the friction stir process built and operating in the UK. Designed for BAE Systems, the machine is undergoing a rigorous two-year research and development program on the fabrication of aluminum wings and body skins for aircraft, such as the proposed 550-seat double-decker Airbus A3XX. The welding technique offers far-reaching opportunities for joining aluminum alloys and other metals that have traditionally been troublesome to weld conventionally without distortion of the material, cracks, voids, or other blemishes.