Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology
The JOIN’EM project addresses current shortcomings of more traditional welding technologies when joining dissimilar metal combinations and it aims to create a cost-effective and practical way of joining aluminium and copper. Joining by electromagnetic forming (EMF), also called electromagnetic pulse welding, is a promising innovative technology which can be used for welding of similar and dissimilar material combinations, including multiple combinations, which are difficult or impossible to join using conventional processes. The joint is formed without heat, but due to the impact of the joining parts. This process needs no fluxes or shielding gases and produces no harmful smoke, fumes or slag, thus reducing the overall negative impact on environment while improving working conditions for factory staff.
JOIN’EM will:
- Develop innovative methods for joining dissimilar metals,which will allow improved manufacturing of new products. These innovations will also deliver increased product reliability, longer lifetime of the components and welds, combined with a reduction of maintenance costs;
- Facilitate an increased use of dissimilar metal combinations;
- Increase productivity and reduce costs for realising hybrid components using electromagnetic pulse welding: joining operations are performed faster, more efficiently and robustly, with a less expensive production process and better-quality final products;
- Achieve lower product life cycle costs;
- Enable the use of the environmentally-friendlyelectromagnetic pulse weldingprocess. This process needs no fluxes or shielding gases and produces no harmful smoke, fumes or slag, thus reducing the overall environmental impact.
- Investigate joint performance with conventional as well as novel testing methods.