TWI Frequently asked questions
by Chris Otter
Based on a process developed in the early 1980s, friction pulse bonding (FPB) has had very limited take-up by industry. The process produces a solid phase weld through very light contact from a rotating tool, relying on ultrasonic interaction to cause the material diffusion required to make a weld.
As yet, FPB is not a commercially available process but, potentially, it is a low cost, high-speed technique using simply constructed equipment. Using FPB to attach wires to contacts, connectors and PCBs (as seen below) - without prior insulation removal - remains one of its most exciting, potential uses.
