METHOD OF INSERTING TOOL FOR FRICTION STIR WELDING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of inserting a tool for friction stir welding, wherein damage of a tool pin is detected without increasing a cycle time in a welding process. SOLUTION: The insertion method in friction stir welding includes: a moving step (step S2) in which a tool 34 having a shoulder 38 and a pin 40 protruded from the shoulder 38 is moved, while being rotated, from a position away from an object to be joined 20 in the protruding direction of the pin 40; load detecting steps (step S3-S5) in which a load produced on the tool 34 is detected; a measuring step (step 6)in which a moving amount of the tool 34 moved in the moving step is measured; damage determining steps (step S7 and S12) in which, whether or not the pin 40 is broken is determined on the basis of the load detected in the load detecting step and of the moving amount measured in the measuring step. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT