Recently, the first domestically developed friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing equipment, jointly developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and Institute for the Development and Quality, Macau, was successfully delivered. The equipment adopts a bridge-type structural design and is the first research-grade friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing equipment in China. It is also the first time that University of Science and Technology Beijing has introduced the friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing technology, which will be used for foundational research and technological exploration in relevant laboratories.

During the research and development period, SAST carried out customized design based on customers’ requirements. The equipment is equipped with various functions such as fully sealed air-conditioned electrical cabinet, embedded control console, movable electronic handwheel, overtravel alarm and overload protection.

The control system of the equipment adopts a modular design and can be equipped with traditional mechanical tool holders and ‘smart’ tool holders with data acquisition functions.

The equipment uses 10 mm lightweight alloy as feedstock materials and enables solid-state additive manufacturing, surface modification, fabrication of coatings and novel material fabrication of lightweight alloys. It supports solid-state manufacturing of non-ferrous light metals, heterogeneous metals and hard-to-weld metals, significantly reducing material costs and improving energy utilization.

Subsequently, SAST will continue to leverage its technological and service advantages in the field of friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing, continuous sustained innovation to contribute to the development of intelligent manufacturing process equipment in China.