Q&A
General questions
- Q.
- Which metals can be joined?
- A.
- Aluminum alloys and copper, which have comparatively low melting points, can be joined using FSW (friction stir welding).
MHI currently uses vacuum brazing exclusively for joining pure copper, stainless steel, and ceramics.
Questions about M-iPIS
- Q.
- How reliable is M-iPIS?
- A.
- Since M-iPIS eliminates piping between equipment, there is no need to worry about leaks from joints.
M-iPIS is ideal for use with equipment that operates in an environment prone to vibration or that must be maintenance-free.
- Q.
- Can M-iPIS be differentiated from other products?
- A.
- Since MHI can propose a variety of shapes and joining methods, M-iPIS can be differentiated from other products.
- Q.
- Does M-iPIS provide confidentiality for proprietary designs?
- A.
- Since M-iPIS forms channels inside plates, pipe routes and sizes are not visible. For this reason, M-iPIS provides a level of confidentiality for products under development and other proprietary equipment where confidentiality is a consideration.
- Q.
- Can M-iPIS accommodate high-pressure fluids?
- A.
- Since M-iPIS allows you to set the channel width, the maximum working pressure can be increased by using smaller widths. Existing M-iPIS implementations have reached a maximum working pressure of 7 MPa.
- Q.
- Can cast metals be joined?
- A.
- Cast and extruded aluminum, both of which cannot be joined using conventional welding techniques, can be joined.
- Q.
- How large an internal pipe diameter can M-iPIS handle?
- A.
- M-iPIS can accommodate up to the equivalent of a 2-inch pipe.
- Q.
- What is the largest machining size for M-iPIS?
- A.
- Products are generally manufactured in sheets of 3,000 mm 5,000 mm, but MHI will make every effort to accommodate your project's specific needs.
- Q.
- Is FSW the only joining method used by M-iPIS?
- A.
- MHI can propose joining methods other than FSW to commercialize your project.
- Q.
- What is the thickest plate that can be joined using FSW?
- A.
- MHI's standard lap joining method accommodates an upper plate thickness of up to 4 mm, but MHI can offer a range of joint patterns and thicknesses for your specific project.
Questions about vacuum brazing
- Q.
- What are the characteristics of vacuum brazing?
- A.
- Brazing is a technology for joining two metals using another metal (called the brazing filler material) with a lower melting point than the materials being joined. The materials are heated to the filler material's melting point, melting the filler material so that they are joined together. MHI performs the brazing process under vacuum conditions in order to implement low-deformation brazing of parts that will be used under high vacuum conditions.
Business contact: Transportation Systems & Advanced Technology Division Advanced Mechanical Systems Department +81-848-67-2815
