Custom Low-cost Force Measurement Methods in Friction Stir Welding

ii For my parents and my sister. for guiding this research and serving on my thesis committee. I would also like to thank the Tennessee Space Grant Consortium for providing funding, without which this research would not have been possible. I would like to thank my colleagues at the Vanderbilt University Welding Automation Laboratory, especially Chase Cox and Jason Aguilar who worked extensively with me on developing the low-cost, wireless force sensor for Friction Stir Welding. I appreciate the help of Dr. William Longhurst and Jason Mitchell, who provided guidance on the selection and use of sensing and data acquisition equipment. Also, thank you to Dr. Robert Galloway for providing always straightforward and practical advice regarding instrumentation, and thank you to Bob Patchin and John Fellenstein of the Vanderbilt University Physics Machine Shop for quality workmanship and assistance on several design issues. Finally, I would like to thank my family, especially my parents, Bob and Debbie, and my sister, Robin. You have always provided me with the love and support necessary for success.