Lockheed Martin Corporation

Kevin John Schuengel

Michael R Eller

Randy J Brown

Mark Steven Gambino

A friction stir processing system can include a rotatable die assembly. The rotatable die assembly can include a die body and a plurality of die segments. The die body includes a die base and a die stem. The die stem extends axially from the die base, the die stem defines an extrusion cavity, and the die body is formed from a first material. The plurality of die stems are coupled to the die stem. The plurality of die segments are disposed around the extrusion cavity to collectively form a die surface opposite to the die base. The plurality of die segments are formed from a different material than the die body.

Tooling for friction stir processing

A process that uses friction stir welding to connect a tube, for example a thin gauge tube having a wall thickness of about 2.54 mm (0.100 inch) or less, to another element, such as a tube sheet of a heat exchanger. The process employs a tubular anvil that is installed into the end of the tube and which, in one embodiment, can provide material during the friction stir welding process. After the weld is complete, the weld zone between the tubular anvil and the tube is machined away and the anvil tube removed.

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Bay St. Louis, MS, United States of America

Kevin John Schuengel