Patent — available for licensing
Conventional friction stir extrusion machine
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a new small-scale metal extrusion tool, called a conventional friction stir extrusion (C-FSE) machine that may be attached or added-on to a conventional friction stir welding (C-FSW) system. The C-FSE machine uses the heat generation and plastic deformation processes underpinning C-FSW to perform metal extrusion instead of metal joining. The new tool can perform small-batch extrusion runs with custom geometries that can be easily changed by replacing the modular extrusion block face plate. Compared to traditional metal extrusion processes, large billets of metal do not have to be preheated prior to the extrusion for the C-FSE machine as raw metal rods can be fed directly into the extrusion block, saving significant tooling and energy costs. The C-FSE machine can work with any metal alloy that is amenable to FSW processes, including aluminum alloys and other lightweight or exotic alloys.