Utilisation of the X-ray emission of an electron beam capillary for visualisation of the beam-material interaction

Abstract

Abstract Both processes, laser beam welding and electron beam welding, rely on the deep penetration process with the typical metal vapour capillary to achieve welds with in-creasing weld-in depths. With both processes, the capillary is the result of a highly dynamic equilibrium of various opposing forces and influences. To increase the understanding of the fluid-dynamic processes inside and around the vapour capillary, methods are needed for the supervision of the process that can deliver geometrical information with high spatial and temporal resolution and especially from the deeper capillary regions. Gaining this insight will allow the implementation of highly dynamic processes in future capillary models as well as the extension of process windows of the beam welding processes.