Why use Electron Beam Welding?
Electron Beam Welding has three major advantages over other fusion processes. The first advantage is the low total energy input to the material. This is possible because the fusion penetration does not depend on thermal conductivity of the material, as is the case with most other heating techniques. Electrons penetrate deeply into the material and produce a narrow more focused zone. As demonstrated in the figures at right and below.
The second advantage of Electron Beam Welding is the controllability of the process, that is, the control of beam power, spot size, and spot position. Both beam power and spot size can be controlled by simple machine adjustments. Spot position is determined by the aim of the beam. This, too, is easily controlled. Also, important is the fact that none of these items are affected by the work piece material or shape. The machine cross section, pictured below, demonstrates how the beam can be manipulated and how the operator can view and adjust accordingly.
The third advantage of Electron Beam Welding is the purity of the process, that is, the work piece is not contaminated during the welding. This is possible for two reasons. First, no mobile foreign atoms are produced during the welding operation since electrons do not have chemical or material properties. Second, the concentrations of active foreign atoms present in the atmosphere is extremely low since the process takes place in a very high vacuum. The concentration of foreign atoms in such a high vacuum is orders-of-magnitude lower than that which is found in the best inert gasses available.
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