Electron Beam Welding Equipment; determination of cathode failure modes by measurement techniques

A collaboration between Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to analyse failure mechanisms of electron beam welder filaments that will provide knowledge, improvements and confidence in filament technology, that CVE and their customers can use to benefit modern manufacturing.

Filament life is an important factor for users of CVE equipment. CVE electron beam welders are widely used in high volume production industrial sectors such as automotive and sensors, where any down time for filament change incurs great cost. CVE welders are also used in low volume, high value sectors such as aerospace and nuclear where filament reliability is imperative as a questionable weld can create high value scrap. The electron emission filament is the heart of an electron beam welder; by advancing knowledge of this key element, CVE aims to provide a filament solution that manufacturers can utilise to preserve electron beam welding as one of the most advanced and powerful manufacturing technologies.