Tooling for holding thin metal parts making up a hollow structure in order to enable them to be friction-welded together

Abstract

A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure is provide. The tooling includes a framework for receiving the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure. The framework includes shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts. At least one anvil is disposed inside the framework. A reversible clamp is installed inside the framework and movable into a clamping position in which the clamp inflates to apply opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to the inside surface of the preformed parts disposed. The set of preformed parts is held in a welding position with the clamp and framework while a welding operation is performed.