Electron Beam Engineering adds laser linked to four-axis CNC system

Santa Ana, CA—Electron Beam Engineering Inc. recently installed a 400-watt YAG laser that is connected to a four-axis computer numeric controlled (CNC) work handling system, which enables the laser to accurately follow weld profiles.

By Control Engineering Staff April 15, 2003

Santa Ana, CA— Electron Beam Engineering Inc. recently added a 400-watt YAG laser to its welding equipment lineup. Presently operating at the company’s plant, the laser is connected to a four-axis computer numeric controlled (CNC) work handling system, which enables the laser to accurately follow weld profiles. The new machine can handle components up to 24 x 24 x 24 in.

‘We’ve added this new technology to our menu of services because the laser welding process is a perfect complement to electron beam welding,’ says Richard Trillwood, Electron Beam’s ceo. ‘We’re pleased to be one of the few companies in Southern California that offers both laser and electron beam welding.’

The company also is installing a controlled-atmosphere glove box for the laser, which will enable operators to weld parts in a sealed environment of inert gas, such as helium, for leak detection purposes. The laser is fed to the CNC and glove box workstation by a fiber-optic beam delivery system.

Laser and electron beam welding are processes that introduce minimal heat into a part, and produce high-integrity welds that are suitable for difficult-to-join materials. Applications for the two technologies include aerospace parts, sensors, medical devices and other high-value, small-precision components.

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com