4 ms·

So it's electronically (rather than chemically) powered explosive welding? Neat. Unfortunately, the last picture on the article seems to suggest it causes a fa

by 542458 11y ago

So it's electronically (rather than chemically) powered explosive welding? Neat. Unfortunately, the last picture on the article seems to suggest it causes a fair amount of material distortion, and doesn't weld at the centre of the joint, only the edges. Still, very cool - I'm not sure automotive is the right application area, but I'm sure it will be applications. Corrosion-resistant cladding for petrochemical applications, or maybe even in-orbit assembly comes to mind.

ju-st 11y ago
They sublime the aluminium directly, more details: https://iml.osu.edu/vaporizing-foil-actuator-tool-creating-lightweight-structures https://iml.osu.edu/vaporizing-foil-actuator-tool-creating-l...
csours 11y ago
Ohio is smack in the middle of the rustbelt - Automotive is on their mind. Mixed material cars are here [1]- weight kills fuel economy and perceived power (power to weight ratio). My immediate thoughts turn to safety and industrial hygiene related to exploding metal. I wonder if this releases more or less metal vapor than other methods. How loud is this? 1. http://articles.sae.org/13986/ http://articles.sae.org/13986/ 2. Bonus: video on the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2QnbSfmw0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2QnbSfmw0 Disclosure - I work for GM, but not in this area; any opinions are solely my own.
- tim333 11y ago
  Cool. They actually vaporize the foil at 5m18s for those in a hurry. It looks like you could use it in similar places to where spot welding it used in cars but to bond say steel-aluminium rather than steel-steel.
azernik 11y ago
Judging from the video at https://iml.osu.edu/vfa-welding https://iml.osu.edu/vfa-welding, the side diagram is very much NOT to scale; when they call it a standoff sheet, they're being very descriptive.

4 ms·

So it's electronically (rather than chemically) powered explosive welding? Neat. Unfortunately, the last picture on the article seems to suggest it causes a fa

by 542458 11y ago

ju-st 11y ago
They sublime the aluminium directly, more details: https://iml.osu.edu/vaporizing-foil-actuator-tool-creating-lightweight-structures https://iml.osu.edu/vaporizing-foil-actuator-tool-creating-l...
csours 11y ago
Ohio is smack in the middle of the rustbelt - Automotive is on their mind. Mixed material cars are here [1]- weight kills fuel economy and perceived power (power to weight ratio). My immediate thoughts turn to safety and industrial hygiene related to exploding metal. I wonder if this releases more or less metal vapor than other methods. How loud is this? 1. http://articles.sae.org/13986/ http://articles.sae.org/13986/ 2. Bonus: video on the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2QnbSfmw0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2QnbSfmw0 Disclosure - I work for GM, but not in this area; any opinions are solely my own.
- tim333 11y ago
  Cool. They actually vaporize the foil at 5m18s for those in a hurry. It looks like you could use it in similar places to where spot welding it used in cars but to bond say steel-aluminium rather than steel-steel.
azernik 11y ago
Judging from the video at https://iml.osu.edu/vfa-welding https://iml.osu.edu/vfa-welding, the side diagram is very much NOT to scale; when they call it a standoff sheet, they're being very descriptive.