Enhancements to Power Beam Welding Processes for Land Transport

摘要

The two principal power beam processes, electron beam and laser beam welding, offer significant competitive advantages in terms of productivity, joint performance and joint quality. The processes however have their drawbacks. For example electron beam welding is traditionally carried out in vacuum and laser welding requires accurate part fit-up. Recent work has been directed at overcoming these limitations. Techniques have been developed that enable electron beam welding to be carried out in non-vacuum and reduced pressure atmospheres. An example is described where non-vacuum electron beam welding has been used for welding aluminium for the automotive industry. Hybrid laser-arc welding permits gap tolerances similar to those of conventional arc welding whilst maintaining many of the advantages of laser welding. An example from shipbuilding and off highway vehicle manufacture is described where good quality joints can be made in steel for shipyard and heavy manufacturing applications.