Are friction welding and friction stir welding the same thing?

Friction stir welding is different from friction welding.

Friction stir welding, like traditional friction welding, uses mechanical force and friction heat as heat sources to realize welding. The difference is that in the process of friction stir welding, a cylindrical stirring head with a special shoulder and a stirring needle rotates at high speed and is slowly inserted into the weld seam of the workpiece to be welded. The friction between the shoulder of the stirring head and the surface of the workpiece generates heat, which softens the material near the stirring head, but this temperature generally does not reach the melting point of the welded material.

Friction welding is generally suitable for shaft parts to be welded. Friction stir welding is not limited by material shape.