Electron beam welding (EBW) is a method of welding in which the energy required to melt the area to be welded is provided by a focussed stream of electrons.
The fabrication of distortion prone assemblies can be achieved by electron beam welding, a method which uses a focussed stream of high energy electrons generated by a filament and directed to the joint requiring to be welded. The heating is very localised and the bulk of the assembly therefore remains cold and stable. This results in a very narrow weld with a minimal heat affected zone. There is no need to use filler metal as the parent metal of the assembly is melted. As this is a line of sight method it is not possible to weld around corners or re-entrant angles. Weld depths of up to 30mm can be produced and computer controls ensure minimal operator dependence, thus providing good reproducibility throughout a batch of components, even though this is a piece part process. Since the heat input is very localised it is possible to weld together previously heat treated components, which is a very economical method for producing composite gear shafts, with for example a case hardened gear on a hardened and tempered shaft. Generally, electron beam welded assemblies require very little finishing after welding and are mostly used in the as-welded condition.
The materials to be electron beam welded must be electrically conductive and the method is very versatile, being suitable for steels, cast irons, titanium and nickel alloys, copper alloys and most pure metals.
Electron beam welding (EBW) is a method of welding in which the energy required to melt the area to be welded is provided by a focussed stream of electrons.
The fabrication of distortion prone assemblies can be achieved by electron beam welding, a method which uses a focussed stream of high energy electrons generated by a filament and directed to the joint requiring to be welded. The heating is very localised and the bulk of the assembly therefore remains cold and stable. This results in a very narrow weld with a minimal heat affected zone. There is no need to use filler metal as the parent metal of the assembly is melted. As this is a line of sight method it is not possible to weld around corners or re-entrant angles. Weld depths of up to 30mm can be produced and computer controls ensure minimal operator dependence, thus providing good reproducibility throughout a batch of components, even though this is a piece part process. Since the heat input is very localised it is possible to weld together previously heat treated components, which is a very economical method for producing composite gear shafts, with for example a case hardened gear on a hardened and tempered shaft. Generally, electron beam welded assemblies require very little finishing after welding and are mostly used in the as-welded condition.
The materials to be electron beam welded must be electrically conductive and the method is very versatile, being suitable for steels, cast irons, titanium and nickel alloys, copper alloys and most pure metals.
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