TSC HDD Process: Friction Welding
TSC HDD utilizes a friction/Inertia weld process to weld the tool joints to the tube body of the drill pipe. This process involves both friction welding and inertia welding within the same operation. The drill pipe tube is placed in a fixed position while the tool joint is placed in a spindle, with a flywheel. The tool joint is then spun at a high rpm determined by the size and the weld area. Once the appropriate speed is reached the tool joint is then is pushed against the tube body.
The tool joint continues to rotate while the tube is stationary. This continues for a pre-determined amount of time. Once this is completed the spindle is then powered down and the tool joint is then pressed to the tube, at a higher pressure, until the tool joint stops. At this point the two pieces are joined and the finishing process begins. The weld flash is machined off both externally and internally.
The weld zone is polymer quenched and tempered to achieve excellent mechanical properties, verified by destructive tests. The ID and OD are ground to size and finish, for magnetic particle, ultrasonic, hardness and dimensional inspections. Each pipe is visually inspected and serial numbered to provide complete traceability. The TSC HDD process consistently produces stronger, tougher and more uniform weld properties.