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| Abstract No.: |
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Scheduled at:
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Tuesday, September 17, 2013, Hall Europa 2:15 PM
Session 5: Application: Procedures and Processes
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| Title: |
Use of electron beam welding technology for interlinked production lines of the automotive industry
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| Authors: |
Klaus-Rainer Schulze* / Schulze-Consulting, Germany
John Rugh/ PTR Precision Technologies, Inc., USA
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| Abstract: |
It is widely known that any EB machine itself operates fully automatically. But it is also verified in many applications that it can be linked within a manufacturing cell or line to other operation units needed in automated mass production prior to EB processing or directly thereafter. And of course, loading and unloading the parts are done by adopted handling systems. Besides quality demands which are met by EB processes as is well-known, also floor-to-floor times can be realised short enough to satisfy the automotive industry's demands. This is achieved by use of EB machines having very short evacuation times (lock-chamber types) or not any need of chamber evacuation (nonvac types). The high flexibility of the electron beam is based on the very fast control of magnetic fields (focus, deflection et al.) and can be used to gain technical effects which are not easily possible with other beam technologies. Moreover, magnetic fields can not be polluted and beam generation itself is long-time stable - so EB process performance is ensured easily. And the consumption values (running costs) of EB machines are lower than those of other beam technology installations. Finally, floor space values, clean factory demands and noise level limits of today's automotive industry are all to be fulfilled by automated EB manufacturing lines.
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