ROLLING STOCK AND TRACTION
Creating a stir across
the rail industry As the creation of China’s high-speed rail network gathers momentum, Powerstir Friction Stir Welding (FSW) machines, from UK-based PTG Heavy Industries, remain a favoured choice for use in the production of railway car floor, sidewall and endwall panels, similar to those used on the record breaking ‘Harmony’ high-speed train. Neil Jones, group business development director at PTG, explains more.
Railway panel welds over 30 metres in length
P
TG Heavy Industries already holds the accolade for designing and building 30m x 4m moving gantry FSW machines capable of producing railway panel welds of over 30 metres in length. Not content to rest on its laurels, however, the precision technologies specialist is currently developing a further FSW model for China and is ready to ship an all-new five- axis, 3D weld capability Powerstir model. Able to follow contours in body panels, this particular machine delivers even greater levels of manufacturing flexibility.
Superior welding of components
The capabilities of Powerstir Friction Stir Welding extend far beyond the manufacture of railway car panels. With longitudinal and cylindrical FSW models available, PTG Heavy Industries can bring the
speed, excellent mechanical
properties, low distortion, superior joint strength and enhanced appearance of FSW welds to a multitude of other components.
Joins materials by ‘plasticising’
A ‘solid state’ welding process that joins materials by plasticising and consolidating material around the joint line, FSW is more than five times faster than
conventional
welding methods in aluminium. In the FSW process, a rotating tool generates heat that creates a tubular shaft of plasticised metal around the pin. Then pressure, provided by forward motion and the downward force of the tool shoulder, forces the plasticised material to the back of the tool pin, cooling and consolidating the material.
No melting takes place and the final result is a fine-grained, hot-worked weld with no entrapped oxides or porosity.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: +44 (0)1422 379 222 W:
www.ptgheavyindustries.com
rail technology magazine Apr/May 13 | 45
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