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  4. TWI Foundation Award in Friction Stir Welding

Is it for me?


The course is suitable for anyone with an interest or involvement in friction stir welding, for example managers, buyers, production engineers and product designers as well as FSW machine operators.

No prior experience of FSW is required for this course.

TWI's two-day Intermediate Award in Friction Stir Welding is a suitable follow-on course to this, for those involved in friction stir welding who will be operating friction stir welding equipment or specifying friction stir welding as a fabrication technology.

What will I learn?


The course covers: invention of FSW; advantages and disadvantages of FSW for welding light metals (Al and Mg); applications of FSW; aluminium welding metallurgy; types of FSW machine and tooling required for FSW; FSW process control; materials weldable by FSW; design implications of FSW.

Demonstrations of FSW will be included in the course when presented at TWI’s research centres.

What will I leave with?


At the end of the course, attendees will:
  • understand current FSW technology
  • understand how FSW differs from other welding processes
  • have a practical appreciation of different types of FSW equipment
  • understand FSW weld parameters/programs and their influence on weld quality

What else should I know?


Classroom time is typically five hours per day. In addition, demonstrations of friction stir welding will be provided on a range of FSW to demonstrate the many different capabilities of FSW.

There will be a strict limit of 12 students per course to maintain quality standards. A comprehensive set of course notes will be provided to the attendees. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

A short, optional, exam can be taken at the end of the course, successful completion of which indicates that the candidate has demonstrated a level of knowledge of welding technology appropriate to the level recommended by ISO 25239.

Book your place on the course

Now you've found your course, next find a location and a time.

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