İsmail YEŞİLAYDIN ESOGÜ - İmalat Müh. Ödev

Elektron Işını İle İşleme
(Electron Beam Machining)

Electron beam machining is a manufacturing technique that employs a high-energy beam of electrons to drill small diameter hole or cut small slots. The electron beam allows for a highly precise welding and machining process. This web site delves into the science behind the electron beam as well as its application to the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the site discusses the applications for which the electron beam is the better manufacturing tool over other similar machining tools.

Electron beam machining cutting and hole making on thin materials; very small holes and slots (0.1-0.3mm depending on thickness); heat affected zone; require vacuum, expensive equipment; 1-2 mm3/min.

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:

Drilling small holes

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.

Cutting

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.

Welding

The electron-beam is used to join to pieces of metal by raising the temperature of two pieces to the melting temperature.

Annelling

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

Pros

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.

Cons

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