
In a business where time and accuracy are absolutely critical, electron beam machining can be the perfect solution to many problems.
Electron beam machining is used for drilling and cutting, metals, non-metals, ceramics, and composite materials. Electron beam machining is quite similar to laser-beam machining and many of the same rules and guidelines for selecting when to use electron beam machining are the same. The biggest differing factor between electron-beam machining and laser-beam machining is that electron-beam machining requires a vacuum chamber � thus limiting the size of a part to be machined.
Typical uses for electron-beam machining are:
The electron-beam is used to vaporize material from a piece. Hole on the order of a few nanometers can be drilled. Further E-beam drilling can machine a desired hole taper.
The electron-beam basically drill a continuous series of hole. The E-beam produces very crisp and accurate cuts. Additionally the E-beam can be used to cut small slots.
The electron-beam is used to join to pieces of metal by raising the temperature of two pieces to the melting temperature.
The electron-beam is used to raise the temperature of a material and relax any residual stresses. This is often done in conjunction with one of the other processes to reduce the number of steps needed to complete a part.
Pros and Cons
1-) Fast
In a blink of the eye a tiny hole can be drilled into a plethora of materials of varying thicknesses. The beam of electrons move at a very high velocity.
2-) Accurate and can be used on nearly all materials
3-) Accommodate small batches
Current trends in manufacturing are for a lean process. In other words, the fewer parts that have to be kept in the warehouse, the better � on demand machining.
4-) Single step process
Since the electron-beam not only machines a part but the same tool can be used to anneal and/or weld it at the same time, the tool can be used to reduce the steps necessary to produce a finished part. Reduced steps equals both cost and time savings.
1-) need of a vacuum chamber limits part size
2-) expensive if accuracy unnecessary
3-) laser beam machining often just as effective
4-) high specific energy consumption and expensive machine costs