What is Inertia Welding?
Inertia Welding is a welding process in which the energy required to make the weld is supplied primarily by stored rotational kinetic energy of the welding machine. In Inertia Welding, one of the work pieces is connected to a flywheel and the other is restrained from rotating. The flywheel is accelerated to a predetermined rotational speed, storing the required energy. The drive motor is disengaged and the work pieces are forced together by the friction welding force. This causes the facing surfaces to rub together under pressure. The kinetic energy stored in the rotating flywheel is dissipated as heat through friction at the weld interface thus welding the two surfaces together as the flywheel speed decreases ending with the weld stopping the flywheel. When should the Inertia Weld Process be considered: When a part shape or size does not lend it self to one manufacturing process. Two separate processes can be used for the different features of the part and then joined by the Inertia W
