DOMINANT TECHNOLOGIES IN “INDUSTRY 4.0”
Analysis of interference fit joints formed by thermal drilling technology with CNC process control
The paper focuses on the evaluation of the quality of joints of thin-walled dissimilar overlapped materials, formed by thermal drilling without a screw. The shaped interference fit joint is formed by simultaneously forming both overlapped materials, preheated by the friction of a flowdrill tool, and forming a pair of embedded concentric bushings. The joints were made on a CNC milling centre, at constant speed, with tool feed being the only variable. Three tool movement strategies – three movement schemes – were tested. By evaluating the quality of the joints using metallographic sections, the optimum tool movement strategy was selected.