Friction welding at Hydroline

Friction welding is a solid-state welding process that uses frictional heat and pressure to join two metal components together. It is a versatile process that can be applied to a wide range of metals such as aluminum, brass, copper, and steel. The rods used at Hydroline are made of chrome-plated steel bars. Hydroline also has the possibility to weld stainless steel rods.

There are different types of friction welding such as stir welding, rotary welding, and linear welding. Hydroline uses rotary friction welding, and more specifically rotational direct drive (421). Hydroline has been using friction welding for 8 years and the percentage of friction-welded cylinders is constantly increasing.

The ability of friction welding to produce strong, reliable welds with minimal distortion is one of the primary reasons why Hydroline uses it for hydraulic cylinders. Unlike traditional welding processes, which involve melting and fusing the metal together, friction welding uses friction to create a bond between the two surfaces. This means that the welded joint retains its original strength and integrity, with minimal changes to the metal’s micro structure. Friction welding is also a more sustainable solution because it uses fewer materials to connect the parts together.

Another advantage of friction welding is that it is a fast and efficient process, making it ideal for high-volume production environments. A friction-welded rod has a shorter cycle time than a MAG-welded rod of the same size. Furthermore, as safety is one of our core values at Hydroline, friction welding is a clean process, producing minimal smoke and spatter. This makes the process also safer for the person operating the friction welding machine.

In conclusion, friction welding is a reliable, more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective method of producing high-quality hydraulic cylinders. With Hydroline’s friction-welded hydraulic cylinders, you can be assured that the welded joints will be strong and durable, ensuring long-term reliability.