Friction stir welding builds fuselage on new business jet

摘要

A building that will house friction stir welding (FSW) facilities for assembling thin-gage aircraft aluminum for the fuselage of the Eclipse 500 business jet, is reportedly under construction at Eclipse Aviation Corp., Albuquerque, N.M. The 50,000 square foot facility will accommodate the company's friction stir welding equipment, which is used to assemble most parts of the jet's fuselage. It is sufficient to support FSW of 1500 aircraft per year. The automated high-speed process will replace rivets in more than 60 percent of the jet. The company received FAA approval of the Lu process in May 2002.