Application areas

As a universal tool for processing metallic materials by means of welding, drilling and surface treatment, the electron beam has been used in industry for many years. The behaviour of the electron beam when it penetrates the material being processed is one of the most important, but also one of the most difficult, parts of electron beam technology.

Basic information about the different areas of EB technology

Surface treatment

The application for electron beam hardening lies in treating surfaces with a hardening depth ranging from 0.1 – 1.0 (1.5) mm and is particularly used when high demands are placed on the welding process and with components that are prone to distortion.

Welding at atmosphere

At present, non vacuum EB welding is mainly used in Germany for welding aluminium, e.g. for cockpit carriers made of aluminium.

Drilling

The high power density in the focus of 10⁸W/cm² and over also makes the electron beam ideally suited for drilling.

Welding

Electron beam welding is used for joining metallic materials with normal welding seam depths. The very thin weld seam its narrow heat affected zones drastically minimises the energy transferred and the distortion to the component as whole. Components that have a tendency to distort and subassemblies...

Application areas