Electron beam technology

Within the GBT Group, Steigerwald Strahltechnik GmbH is the specialist for chamber machines designed for electron beam welding and electron beam drilling purposes, as well as for EB generators in high voltage technology (up to 150 kV and over). PTR Strahltechnik GmbH is the specialist at producing machines for mass-producing small parts (e.g. cycle type systems) and low voltage EB generators (up to 60/70 kV).

For decades we have been supplying our electron beam machines to customers all over the world. We are only too happy to pass on our years of experience and the knowledge we have gained.

The basic principle of electron beam technology

The quality demands placed on joining and surface engineering are fulfilled by electron beam (EB) technology to a large extent. The centrepiece of any electron beam system is the generator with the beam generating system.

The electron beam

The power is determined by acceleration voltage and beam current, with electromagnetic systems manipulating the electron beam by deflection and focusing.

In the fine working spot of the focused electron beam, the power density is up to 10⁸ W/cm². All beam parameters can be infinitely and accurately changed at high speed so that the electron beam is easily adjusted to the task.

The SST EB technology is your advantage in production

High precision and exact reproducibility

The stability of the small electron beam diameter in the focus is the basis for high geometrical precision. Almost all work parameters are controlled electronically and can be easily adjusted to changed tasks. This results in excellent reproducibility of the results from applications.

Based on years of experience, Volkswagen has determined and demanded that hard parts have to be welded by using a 2-bath technology - in addition to the necessary pre-heating anyway.

"Based on the analytical criteria provided, electron beam welding performs significantly better than all other common fusion welding processes."

A specialist analysis by Peter Schmidt.

Benefits for users and manufacturers

Intensive contact with customers makes it possible to keep optimum control over new developments, improvements to electron beam machine designs and production processes for the EB technology.

1952 is seen as the dawn of electron beam technology. The physicist Dr. h.c. Karl-Heinz Steigerwald built the first electron beam processing machine. What had to be laboriously worked out at that time is taken for granted today.

The main item of any electron beam system is the generator.

In the beam generator the electrons are emitted from a tungsten cathode accelerated by 60 to 175 kV to approx. ²/₃ of the speed of light and then focused onto the work piece as a beam with high power intensity. Here the electrons are slowed down and the beam energy is converted into heat.