Welding equipment and welding process

Abstract

The welding device (100) comprises an electron gun (21), a control unit (22, 23, 50) which controls an electron beam, and a motion unit (30) which moves a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam on a workpiece (T2) in a predetermined first direction, wherein the control unit scans the electron beam such that the irradiation point (P) on the workpiece (T2) oscillates repeatedly with the set amplitude and frequency, and adjusts the amplitude and frequency such that an oscillation velocity of the irradiation point (P) is greater than a movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction by the motion unit (30).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a welding machine and a welding process. background

[0002] Welding machines are known for welding and joining workpieces and employ various welding processes, such as electric seam welding (including high-frequency and resistance welding), arc discharge welding (including TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding and plasma welding), and energy beam welding (including laser and electron beam welding). Within these welding processes, high-frequency welding, for example, can increase welding speed but has poor energy efficiency, while TIG welding offers good energy efficiency but a slow welding speed. Therefore, no single process can achieve both energy efficiency and welding speed. This reduces work efficiency and increases the cost of producing welded pipes.While achieving both energy efficiency and welding speed is essential, the energy beam welding process offers advantages over other welding methods. For example, the energy beam process is applicable even when welding copper materials and copper alloys, which have high thermal conductivity and dissipate heat easily. Patent document 1 discloses an energy beam welding process for welding end sections of a copper plate, serving as a workpiece, using an energy beam as follows.

[0003] This means that in the conventional energy beam welding process, a strip of copper or a copper alloy is continuously drawn from a strip feed section, formed into a slotted tube whose strip edges abut each other, and then welded by a laser to produce a copper tube with a thin wall. A combination of features, in which the surface of the copper tube strip edge is roughened and wetted with liquid hydrocarbons, improves the absorption of laser energy into the strip edges. This allows a copper tube with a wall thickness of 0.2 mm to be produced at a welding speed of 20 m / min (see, for example, patent document 1). Citation list patent document

[0004] Patent document 1: Japanese published patent, publication number 2002 - 113 586 Brief description of the invention Problem to be solved by the invention

[0005] To prevent energy depletion when welding a copper pipe with a wall thickness (metal plate thickness) of 0.2 mm, the energy beam welding process described in patent document 1 involves roughening the surface of the copper pipe edge and wetting it with liquid hydrocarbons to improve laser energy absorption. In laser welding of copper, one factor causing energy depletion is the strong reflection of the laser beam from the shiny copper surface, resulting in insufficient energy input. Even with this measure to improve laser energy absorption, reflection of the laser beam can still occur, leading to inadequate energy input.If, for example, the copper pipe wall thickness is large, the laser beam penetration will be superficial, leading to a reduction in the thickness of the welded pipe produced by welding the copper pipe. Patent document 1 specifically uses a welding speed of 20 m / min for producing the welded pipe. Generally, at high welding speeds, the weld pool becomes unstable, and weld defects, such as notches, occur, resulting in a decrease in weld quality. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in the thickness of the welded pipe itself.

[0006] The present disclosure was made to solve the above problem, and one objective of the present disclosure is to provide a welding apparatus and a welding process which are designed to ensure high welding quality regardless of the material, thickness or welding speed of a workpiece. Means to solve the problem

[0007] A welding device according to the present disclosure is a welding device for joining a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam, comprising: an electron gun provided in an outer housing which maintains a vacuum and configured to irradiate a workpiece with the electron beam; a control unit configured to control the electron beam emitted by the electron gun; a motion unit configured to move a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in the outer housing in a set first direction, wherein the control unit performs a vibration control which scans the electron beam such that the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a set amplitude and frequency, and adjusts the amplitude and frequency accordingly.that in the vibration control, the vibration velocity of the irradiation point is greater than the movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction through the movement unit. A welding method according to the present disclosure is a welding method for joining a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam from an electron gun, wherein the welding method comprises: an adjustment step of scanning the electron beam while moving a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in a set first direction such that the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a set amplitude and frequency, and of adjusting the amplitude and the frequency such that a vibration velocity of the irradiation point is greater than the movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction. Effect of the invention

[0008] The welding equipment and welding process according to the present disclosure make it possible to provide a welding equipment and a welding process which are designed to ensure a high welding quality regardless of the material, thickness or welding speed of a workpiece. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is the schematic configuration view showing a welding machine according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2A is the perspective view showing a metal plate which serves as a material for a tubular body which is a welding object of the welding device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2B is the perspective view showing a tubular body formed from the metal plate into a cylindrical shape. Fig. 2C is the perspective view showing a welded pipe, which is produced by welding the tubular body. Fig. Figure 3 shows the welding state of the tubular body when a welding machine control unit performs welding by standard control according to this embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 shows the welding state of the tubular body when the welding machine's control unit performs welding by vibration control according to this embodiment. Fig. Figure 5 shows a welded state of the tubular body when the welding machine's control unit, according to this embodiment, performs welding by vibration control, which is determined by the in Fig. 4 different ones. Fig. Figure 6 shows another configuration example of the welding machine according to embodiment 1. Fig. Figure 7 shows another configuration example of the welding machine according to embodiment 1. Fig. Figure 8 is the schematic configuration view showing a welding machine according to embodiment 2. Fig. Figure 9 is the view that shows an example of a hardware configuration of a control unit of each embodiment. Fig. Figure 10 is the schematic configuration view showing a welding machine according to embodiment 3. Fig. Figure 11 shows the welding state of the tubular body when a control unit of the welding machine according to embodiment 3 performs welding by standard control. Fig. Figure 12 shows the welding state of the tubular body when the welding machine control unit performs welding by vibration control according to embodiment 3. Fig. Figure 13 shows the welding state of the tubular body when the welding machine control unit performs welding by standard control according to embodiment 3. Fig. Figure 14 shows the welding state of the tubular body when the welding machine control unit performs welding by vibration control according to embodiment 3. Description of embodiments Embodiment form 1.

[0009] Below, a welding machine 100 and a welding process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In the drawings, the same or equivalent parts are given the same reference symbols.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 is the schematic configuration view showing the welding machine 100 according to embodiment 1.

[0012] The welding machine 100 performs welding by melting a workpiece, which serves as a welding object, by irradiating it with an electron beam.

[0013] As described in detail below, in this embodiment the welding device 100 produces a welded pipe by irradiating a tubular body T2, which is made of a metal and has a cylindrical shape and serves as a workpiece to be welded, with an electron beam.

[0014] First, the tubular body T2, which serves as the welding object, is described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] Fig. 2A is the perspective view showing a metal plate T1, which serves as a material of the tubular body T2, which is a welding object of the welding device 100 according to embodiment 1.

[0016] Fig. 2B is the perspective view showing the tubular body T2, which is formed from the in Fig. 2A shows the metal plate T1 being formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0017] Fig. 2C is the perspective view showing a welded T3 pipe, which was formed by welding the in Fig. 2B shows the tubular body T2.

[0018] In Fig. 2 is an orthogonal coordinate system XYZ defined such that, if a cylindrical welded tube T3 is arranged such that a direction connecting one end and the other end of the welded tube T3 is along a horizontal direction, the direction along the horizontal direction connecting one end and the other end of the welded tube T3 is defined as an X-axis, a direction perpendicular to the X-axis is defined as a Z-axis, and a direction perpendicular to both the X-axis and the Z-axis is defined as a Y-axis.

[0019] In the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis, sides to which arrows point are designated as +X, +Y and +Z respectively, and their opposite sides are designated as -X, -Y and -Z respectively.

[0020] In the following description, the +Z direction can be described as upwards and the -Z direction as downwards.

[0021] Each drawing is schematic, and relative sizes and ratios between drawings may differ from actual ones.

[0022] The in Fig. 2A, the metal plate T1 shown, is obtained, for example, by pulling out one end of a band-shaped metal plate which is wound in coil form, rewinding it and then cutting the pulled-out straight band-shaped metal plate to a set length.

[0023] The in Fig. The tubular body T2 shown in 2B is formed by shapes of the in Fig. Figure 2A shows the metal plate T1 being formed into a cylindrical shape such that opposite ends abut each other in a circumferential direction (Y-axis direction), i.e., one end on a +Y-direction side and one end on a -Y-direction side. A section where the opposite ends of the metal plate T1 face each other in the circumferential direction is designated as a butt S.

[0024] The in Fig. The welded pipe T3 shown in 2C is obtained by irradiating the butt S of the in Fig. 2B shows the tubular body T2 being used with an electron beam and melting of end sections of the metal plate T1 to join the end sections together.

[0025] A metal with high thermal conductivity is preferred as the material for the metal plate T1.

[0026] For example, the metal plate T1 is a rolled plate made of copper or a copper alloy.

[0027] In this case, the hardness grade can preferably be O, 1 / 2H or 1 / 4H, specified in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) H3100.

[0028] The width of the metal plate T1 in the Y-axis direction can preferably be set depending on an outer diameter of the welded tube T3, which is formed in a circular tube shape, and further, in particular, depending on a size obtained by adding a welding tolerance, which corresponds to a length of a weld seam, to a circumference calculated from the outer diameter of the welded tube T3.

[0029] To form a groove on an inner circumferential wall of the welded tube T3, a groove can be formed on an upper surface of the metal plate T1, although this is not shown. The groove can be formed so that it extends in a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the welded tube T3 or in a width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0030] The groove increases the contact area between the fluid flowing inside the welded pipe T3 and the pipe itself, allowing the welded pipe T3 to function as a refrigerant line. This enables more efficient heat exchange and improves the performance of the final product. The thickness of the metal plate T1 can preferably correspond to the wall thickness of the welded pipe T3, which is formed into a tubular shape.

[0031] If a groove as described above is formed in the metal plate T1, the thickness of the metal plate T1 is preferably set taking into account a reduction in thickness when the groove is formed.

[0032] If, for example, in the welding process described above, the material of the metal plate T1 is copper or a copper alloy material, and the welding is carried out using a laser beam, the laser beam will be strongly reflected off a surface of the tubular body T2, resulting in insufficient energy input.

[0033] If the wall thickness of the tubular body T2 is large, or if the welding speed is high, penetration will be superficial, leading to a decrease in the thickness of the welded tube T3. Therefore, to ensure weld quality regardless of the workpiece material, the welding device 100 of this disclosure uses an electron beam that does not cause reflection and does not result in insufficient energy input. Furthermore, to ensure weld quality regardless of the workpiece thickness and welding speed, the electron beam is controlled as described below.

[0034] First, with reference to Fig. 1. A schematic configuration of the welding machine 100 is described.

[0035] The welding machine 100 comprises a welding mechanism section 40 and a control unit 50, which serves as a control unit that controls the welding mechanism section 40.

[0036] The welding mechanism section 40 comprises an outer housing 10 which maintains a vacuum, an electron beam welder 20 which is housed in the outer housing 10 to emit an electron beam, and a motion device 30 which serves as a motion unit which moves a tubular body T2 in an X-axis direction inside the outer housing 10.

[0037] The outer housing 10 comprises a housing part 1 with a first vacuum chamber 1V and a housing part 2, which is provided above the housing part 1 and has a second vacuum chamber 2V.

[0038] A through-hole 1H is formed in an upper wall of the housing part 1, and a through-hole 2H is formed in a lower wall of the housing part 2.

[0039] The through-hole 1H and the through-hole 2H overlap in a vertical direction, thus connecting the first vacuum chamber 1V and the second vacuum chamber 2V.

[0040] In the housing part 1 there is a feed hole 1 for guiding the tubular body T2, which serves as a welding object, from the outside into the first vacuum chamber 1V in a side wall. a -X direction side (upstream side) is provided and an output hole 1 is provided for exiting the welded tubular body T2 to the outside in a side wall on a +X direction side (downstream side).

[0041] The tubular body T2 with an upward thrust S is fed into the first vacuum chamber 1V by the moving device 30 through the feed hole 1 and sent from the upstream -X direction side to the downstream +X direction side through a bottom of the through holes 1H and 2H and discharged to the outside of the first vacuum chamber 1V through the output hole 1.

[0042] The feed hole 1in can have a configuration which seals a space between the tubular body T2 and the outer casing 10 in order to maintain a vacuum inside the outer casing 10, or can have a configuration with a vacuum chamber which reduces a difference of one degree of vacuum between an upstream side and a downstream side of the feed hole 1in.

[0043] Likewise, the outlet hole 1 can have a configuration that seals a space between the tubular body T2 and the outer casing 10, or it can have a configuration with a vacuum chamber that reduces a difference of one degree of vacuum between an upstream side and a downstream side of the outlet hole 1.

[0044] The electron beam welder 20 comprises an electron gun 21, a focusing coil 22, which serves as a control unit, and a deflection coil 23, which also serves as a control unit. Although not shown, the electron gun 21 comprises a cathode section, to which a voltage is applied to generate an electron beam, and an anode section, which accelerates the electron beam and emits the electron beam downwards. The focusing coil 22 focuses the electron beam emitted by the electron gun 21. The deflection coil 23 deflects the electron beam emitted by the electron gun 21.

[0045] The control unit 50 comprises operating control units 51, 52 and 53, which operate the electron gun 21, the focusing coil 22 and the deflection coil 23 respectively, and a total control unit 55, which monitors the control of the operating control units 51, 52 and 53.

[0046] The overall control unit 55 includes a storage device 56. Therefore, the control unit 50 generates an electron beam from the electron gun 21, emits the generated electron beam through the through holes 1H and 2H into the first vacuum chamber 1V and scans the electron beam so that it collides with the impact S of the tubular body T2 in the first vacuum chamber 1V.

[0047] With reference to the drawings, a welding state of the tubular body T2 is first described when the control unit 50 performs a standard control in which a voltage applied to the deflection coil 23, which deflects the electron beam, is kept constant.

[0048] Fig. Figure 3 shows a welding state of the tubular body T2 when a control unit 50 of the welding machine 100 according to the present embodiment performs a standard control operation. The figure shows an area, indicated by a dashed line centered around an irradiation point P, which is an irradiation position of the electron beam, as seen from a top view of the tubular body T2.

[0049] In the standard control, the control unit 50 maintains a constant voltage applied to the deflection coil 23, which deflects the electron beam. Therefore, the position of the electron beam's irradiation point P in the first vacuum chamber 1V does not change. As described above, the tubular body T2 is moved in a +X direction within the first vacuum chamber 1V by the motion device 30. Accordingly, the electron beam's irradiation point P on the tubular body T2 moves along a bump S of the tubular body T2, which extends in the X-axis direction, in a -X direction, which serves as a first direction.

[0050] Therefore, the electron beam is radiated along the collision S of the tubular body T2 from one end on the +X direction side to one end on the -X direction side of the tubular body T2.

[0051] When the electron beam is directed at the joint S of the tubular body T2, a portion of the tubular body T2, heated by the energy input, melts around the irradiation point P. Since the tubular body T2 is moved in a downstream +X direction by the moving device 30, during welding the joint S on an upstream -X-direction side of the irradiation point P remains unwelded. A molten metal bath M, which is an accumulation of molten metal melted by the electron beam, forms around the irradiation point P, and a weld seam W, formed from metal solidified from the molten metal bath M, is formed on a downstream +X-direction side of the irradiation point P.The metal forms the molten pool M as a liquid phase at high temperature, and, as heat dissipates, the temperature decreases and the metal changes from the liquid phase to a solid phase, thus forming such a weld W.

[0052] If the movement speed of the tubular body T2 in the +X direction is increased by the moving device 30, i.e., a welding speed, the energy input per unit area into the tubular body T2 decreases, even with the same output power. This results in a reduced amount of molten metal or the temperature not reaching the metal's melting point. Therefore, if sufficient energy input is not ensured, penetration will be superficial in areas where the welding speed is high.

[0053] Even if sufficient energy input is ensured, in an area where the welding speed is high, the time for heat dissipation becomes longer than the time for heat input, so that the temperature of metal, which has been melted into a liquid phase by the heat input, decreases rapidly.

[0054] This results in a large temperature distribution within the melt pool M and an unstable shape of the melt pool M, so that the shape of the weld seam W also becomes unstable after the melt pool M has hardened, and weld quality decreases, for example a notch appears.

[0055] The notch occurs when molten metal collects in a central energy input section and a central section of the weld protrudes in a +Z direction, which is the direction towards the electron beam source. Consequently, end sections of the weld in the +Y and -Y directions form depressions in a -Z direction. The high welding speed range described above refers, for example, to a range where the welding speed is 10 m / min or higher. Furthermore, if the wall thickness of the tubular body T2 is large, the energy input per unit area into the tubular body T2 decreases, and consequently, the weld quality can also decline.

[0056] Therefore, the welding machine 100 according to the present embodiment is designed to perform the following vibration control in addition to the above standard control in order to ensure a high welding quality regardless of the thickness in a penetration direction of the electron beam and the welding speed of a workpiece.

[0057] Fig. Figure 4 shows a welding state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 100 performs welding by vibration control according to the present embodiment.

[0058] Fig. Figure 5 shows a welded state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 100, according to the present embodiment, performs welding by vibration control, which is determined by the in Fig. 4 different ones.

[0059] In Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is an area indicated by a dashed line centered on the irradiation point P, which is an irradiation position of the electron beam, shown from the top of the tubular body T2.

[0060] In the vibration control, the control unit 50 modifies a voltage waveform applied to the deflection coil 23 over time, which can be, for example, a triangular wave or a sine wave, and scans it, as in Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows the electron beam being arranged so that the electron beam oscillates repeatedly around the irradiation point P with set amplitudes A1 and A2 and a frequency, which serves as a center of oscillation on the bump S of the tubular body T2.

[0061] Furthermore, the control unit 50 in the vibration control adjusts the set amplitude and frequency of the repeated vibration so that a first condition is met in which a vibration velocity of the irradiation point P of the electron beam is faster than a welding velocity, which is a movement velocity of the irradiation point P in the -X direction through the movement device 30.

[0062] The oscillation velocity of the electron beam is a value of the displacement of an irradiation point P of the electron beam per unit of time and can be controlled by an amplitude, which serves as an oscillation width, and a frequency.

[0063] The amplitude depends on the strength of a magnetic field generated in a deflection coil 23 and can be controlled by adjusting the current flowing through the deflection coil 23. The frequency depends on a voltage waveform applied to the deflection coil 23. This means that the frequency depends on the oscillation speed of a magnetic field generated in the deflection coil 23.

[0064] In the vibration control described above, the control unit 50 also performs an adjustment of the angle of a vibration direction of the electron beam.

[0065] In the Fig. In the case shown in Figure 4, the control unit 50 adjusts the angle of an electron beam's oscillation direction relative to a direction parallel to an -X direction, which is a direction of movement of the electron beam's irradiation point P on the workpiece, to 0°. In this case, the electron beam oscillates repeatedly in the X-axis direction along the impact S.

[0066] In the Fig. In the case shown in Figure 5, the control unit 50 adjusts an angle of oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to a direction parallel to the -X direction, which is the direction of movement of the irradiation point P of the electron beam on the workpiece, to 90°.

[0067] In this case, the electron beam oscillates repeatedly in a Y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the collision S.

[0068] It should be noted that the angle of oscillation of the electron beam relative to a direction parallel to the -X direction, which is the direction of movement of the electron beam's irradiation point on the workpiece, is not limited to the aforementioned 0° or 90° and can be arbitrarily set within a range of more than 0° and less than 90°. As described above, the oscillation direction, amplitude, and frequency of the electron beam are parameters of welding conditions.

[0069] The control unit 50 is configured to switch between standard control, in which the electron beam does not oscillate, and oscillation control, in which the electron beam oscillates.

[0070] The following describes a welding process when the welding machine 100 performs the vibration control. Before welding begins

[0071] The control unit 50 controls the operation of the electron gun 21 to an off state, controls the focusing operation of the focusing coil 22 to an off state, and controls the deflection operation of the deflection coil 23 to an off state. At the start of welding

[0072] The control unit 50 controls the focusing operation of the focusing coil 22 to an on state and controls the deflection operation of the deflection coil 23 to an on state, thereby determining the path of the electron beam emitted from the electron gun 21. In doing so, the control unit 50 modifies a voltage waveform applied to the deflection coil 23 and controls the deflection coil 23 so that the focused electron beam assumes an oscillatory state.

[0073] Furthermore, the control unit 50 performs an adjustment step of adapting the set amplitude and frequency so that the above first condition, that a vibration velocity of the irradiation point P of the electron beam is greater than a welding speed, is fulfilled.

[0074] The welding speed used in this adjustment step can be pre-stored in a storage device 56 as a database DB by the control unit 50 or can be obtained by the control unit 50 via a control line (not shown) from the motion device 30 as required.

[0075] Next, the control unit 50 operates a cathode section and an anode section of the electron gun 21 to emit the electron beam to the tubular body T2.

[0076] This causes the tubular body T2, whose impact S serves as the center of oscillation, to be irradiated with the electron beam, whose oscillation speed is greater than the welding speed.

[0077] Since the tubular body T2 is moved in the +X direction by the moving device 30, the tubular body T2 is irradiated with the electron beam while it oscillates around the bump S, which serves as the center of oscillation, from one end on the +X direction side to one end on the -X direction side of the tubular body T2.

[0078] Such an operation, in which the deflection coil 23 causes the electron beam to oscillate, is carried out continuously from a welding start end, which is an irradiation start section of the tubular body T2, to a welding end, which is an irradiation end section of the tubular body T2. At the end of the welding

[0079] The control unit 50 first stops the operation of the electron gun 21 to halt the emission of the electron beam. Then, the control unit 50 stops the focusing operation of the focusing coil 22 and the deflection operation of the deflection coil 23. By performing this welding process, the welding machine joins 100 end sections of the metal plates T1 and produces a welded tube T3 with a weld seam W.

[0080] After the butt joint S is connected, the welded pipe T3 with the weld seam W is sent to a downstream +X side.

[0081] On this downstream side, a step of annealing the welded tube T3, a step of adjusting the sizes of an outer diameter and an inner diameter of the welded tube T3, and a step of rewinding the welded tube T3 into a coil form may be included.

[0082] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a tubular body T2 as a workpiece which has been pre-cut to a desired length, however a cutting step can be carried out after the welded tube T3, in which the joint S is connected, has been produced.

[0083] The above description presented an example in which a tubular body T2, which had been pre-formed into a cylindrical shape, is introduced into the first vacuum chamber 1V from the outside; however, it is also possible that a flat metal plate T1 is formed into the tubular body T2 in the first vacuum chamber 1V and the welding is carried out in the process.

[0084] When a vibration control is used for welding and the electron beam oscillates as in Fig. 4 or Fig. As shown in Figure 5, one form of melt pool M differs from that in the standard control, in which the electron beam does not oscillate, as in Figure 5. Fig. 3 is shown.

[0085] In general, the end section W of a weld often defines the shape of the weld pool M, and, when the electron beam oscillates, the weld pool M has a shape that extends over a surface of the tubular body T2. Since a temperature distribution within the weld pool M can be reduced, the shape of the weld pool M can therefore be stabilized.

[0086] Although electron beam penetration tends to become shallower with increasing welding speed, extensive studies by the inventors have confirmed that by fulfilling the first condition above, according to which the oscillation speed of the electron beam is greater than the welding speed, sufficient energy input can be ensured even if the thickness of the workpiece in one penetration direction of the electron beam is large or if the welding speed is high, thereby maintaining deep penetration and ensuring weld quality.

[0087] To ensure the first condition above, according to which the oscillation speed of the electron beam is greater than the welding speed, it is necessary to deflect a path of the electron beam at high speed.

[0088] The welding device 100 of the present embodiment is not configured to perform a deflection using a reflection mirror as with a laser beam, but rather switches a magnetic field generated in the deflection coil 23.

[0089] Therefore, a high-speed deflection of the electron beam can be achieved.

[0090] Therefore, the upper limit of the vibration frequency can be increased compared to a case where a laser beam oscillates, allowing vibration control to be performed in a high-frequency range. This enables increased welding speed and ensures high productivity.

[0091] Since the electron beam side oscillates instead of the workpiece side, the oscillation speed can be controlled with high precision, and the amplitude, oscillation direction, and position of the irradiation point P in the X, Y, and Z axes can be easily changed. Furthermore, oscillating the electron beam allows for the control of convection in the weld pool, resulting in a reduction of bubbles generated in the weld metal. Because the electron beam's oscillation speed is higher than the welding speed, bubbles are quickly removed from the molten metal.

[0092] As described above, the control unit 50 can also adjust an angle and amplitude of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to a direction parallel to the -X direction, which is the direction of movement of the irradiation point on the workpiece.

[0093] Provided the first condition is met, the electron beam can therefore be irradiated in such a way that the melt pool M has a defined shape.

[0094] Accordingly, the size and shape of the melt pool M can be precisely controlled, and, for example, circular scanning can also be performed.

[0095] By controlling the size and shape of the weld pool M, notches and the like can be prevented, weld quality can be improved, a reduction in the strength of the welded pipe can be prevented, and the reliability of the welded pipe can be increased.

[0096] Furthermore, the control unit 50, provided the first condition is met and the melt bath M has a set shape, can change at least the amplitude and frequency of an oscillation direction of the electron beam as a function of the advance of the irradiation point P in the first direction.

[0097] For example, if the thickness (pipe wall) of the tubular body T2 gradually increases or decreases in a penetration direction of the beam, the amplitude can be gradually increased or decreased while maintaining the amplitude that fulfills the first condition, depending on the advance of the irradiation point P in the first direction.

[0098] Therefore, the shape of the melt pool M can be adapted depending on a property of the workpiece.

[0099] Furthermore, an inert gas is unnecessary, since the electron beam is emitted within the outer housing 10, which maintains a vacuum. Accordingly, oxidation of a welded section can be suppressed.

[0100] Furthermore, extensive studies conducted by the inventors confirmed that weld quality can be further improved by adjusting the amplitude, provided the first condition is met, such that the electron beam amplitude is greater than the thickness of the workpiece in one penetration direction of the electron beam. For example, if the plate thickness t = 0.4 mm and the welding speed is 10 m / min, it was confirmed that the shape of the weld pool M can be stabilized if the beam oscillation speed is twelve times or more than the welding speed and the beam oscillation amplitude is three times or more than the plate thickness.

[0101] As described above, the amplitude of the electron beam is adjusted to a suitable value depending on the thickness of the tube wall of the tubular body T2 within a region in which the first condition is met.

[0102] Next, a 100A welding machine with a configuration different from the one in Fig. The welding machine shown in section 1 is different from the others. Components that are essentially the same as those of welding machine 100 are given the same reference symbols and their detailed descriptions have been omitted.

[0103] Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the welding machine 100A according to embodiment 1.

[0104] In the welding machine 100A, a motion device 30A is provided on an upper wall of a housing 2 as a motion unit, which is configured to move the electron beam welding machine 20 in an X-axis direction. In contrast, the motion device 30 in the housing 1 is for moving the tubular body T2 in the X-axis direction, which is located in the welding machine 100 in Fig. 1 is provided, not provided, and the position of the tubular body T2 is fixed in the first vacuum chamber 1V.

[0105] Accordingly, a feed hole 1 in for guiding the tubular body T2 into the first vacuum chamber 1V and an output hole 1 out for ejecting the tubular body T2 from the first vacuum chamber 1V into the housing 1 are not provided.

[0106] The welding machine 100A, configured as described above, installs the tubular body T2 of a desired length in the first vacuum chamber 1V, and, after a sufficient degree of vacuum has been established in the first vacuum chamber 1V, welding is carried out by the electron beam.

[0107] During welding, while the position of the tubular body T2 is kept fixed, the electron beam welding machine 20 is moved in the X-axis direction by the motion device 30A to perform a scanning of the electron beam by vibration control. Therefore, the electron beam is directed along the end S of the tubular body T2, which extends in the X-axis direction, from an end section on the +X-direction side to an end section on the -X-direction side of the tubular body T2, and the end S is joined.

[0108] It should be noted that either the movement device 30 is used to move the tubular body T2, as in Fig. 1 shown, or the motion device 30A can be used to move the electron beam welding machine 20, as long as the motion unit can move a relative position between the workpiece and the electron gun so that a position of the irradiation point P of the electron beam on the workpiece progresses in the -X direction.

[0109] In the case of the motion device 30A, which moves the side of the electron beam welding machine 20, a conveying mechanism for moving the side of the tubular body T2 is unnecessary, thus simplifying and miniaturizing the device.

[0110] Since the position of the tubular body T2 in the first vacuum chamber 1V is fixed and no positional deviation occurs due to transport of the tubular body T2, the accuracy of adjusting the size and shape of the melt pool M can be further improved.

[0111] Accordingly, weld quality can be further improved.

[0112] Next, a 100B welding machine with a configuration different from the one in Fig. The 6 welding machines shown are different, 100A.

[0113] Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the welding machine 100B according to embodiment 1.

[0114] The in Fig. The 100B welding machine shown in Figure 7 is configured by removing the 30A movement unit from the housing. Fig. 6. Welding machine 100A shown and making a configuration within housing 2 equal to that of the one in Fig. 1 of the welding machine shown 100.

[0115] Instead of the in Fig. In the welding machine 100B, the motion device 30A shown moves a deflection coil 23, a center of oscillation of the electron beam in an X-axis direction, to perform a scanning of the electron beam.

[0116] This means that in the welding machine 100B, the deflection coil 23 also functions as a movement unit for moving a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam in the X-axis direction.

[0117] Therefore, the electron beam is radiated along the collision S of the tubular body T2, which extends in the X-axis direction, from an end section on the +X-direction side to an end section on the -X-direction side of the tubular body T2, and the collision S is connected.

[0118] The 100B welding machine can also provide the same effect as the 100A welding machine, and the device configuration can be further simplified.

[0119] It should be noted that the above description showed an example in which end sections of a single metal plate T1 abut and are welded together to join them; however, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Since the welding device can perform 100 welds while maintaining deep penetration without reducing the heat energy input, it is also possible, for example, to join two workpieces that overlap in a Z-axis direction.

[0120] The welding machine configured as described above is a welding machine for joining a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam, comprising: an electron gun which is provided in an outer housing which maintains a vacuum and is configured to irradiate the workpiece with the electron beam; a control unit which is configured to control the electron beam emitted by the electron gun;and a motion unit configured to move a position of an electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece in the outer housing in a set first direction, wherein the control unit performs a vibration control which scans the electron beam such that an electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a set amplitude and frequency, and adjusts the amplitude and frequency such that in the vibration control a vibration velocity of the irradiation point is greater than a movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction through the motion unit, thereby satisfying a first condition.

[0121] Since the amplitude and frequency are adjusted so that, while the electron beam oscillates, the oscillation velocity of the irradiation point is greater than the movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction through the moving unit to meet the first condition, it is therefore possible to ensure a penetration depth and a high weld quality even if the material of the workpiece is copper, or even if the wall thickness, which is the thickness of the workpiece in a penetration direction of the electron beam, is large, or even if the welding speed is high.

[0122] Since the welding speed can be increased, the productivity of the welded pipe can also be improved, leading to a reduction in the cost of the welded pipe.

[0123] In the welding machine configured as described above, the control unit also adjusts the amplitude of the electron beam so that, if the first condition is met, the amplitude of the electron beam is greater than the thickness of the workpiece in a penetration direction of the electron beam.

[0124] The amplitude of the electron beam's oscillation is therefore adjusted to a value such that the oscillation velocity fulfills the first condition and the amplitude is greater than the workpiece thickness in one penetration direction of the electron beam. Accordingly, high weld quality can be ensured depending on the workpiece thickness in one penetration direction of the electron beam.

[0125] In the welding machine configured as described above, the control unit further adjusts, provided the first condition is met and the weld pool, in which the workpiece has been melted by electron beam irradiation, has a set shape, at least the amplitude and frequency of the electron beam's oscillation direction relative to the first direction. In the welding machine configured as described above, the control unit further adjusts, provided the first condition is met and the weld pool has the set shape, at least the amplitude and frequency of the electron beam's oscillation direction relative to the first direction, depending on the movement of the irradiation point in the first direction.

[0126] Therefore, at least the amplitude and frequency of the repeated oscillation are adjusted so that, under the first conditions, the weld pool has the desired shape. Accordingly, convection and heat conduction of the molten metal in the weld pool can be controlled, and a higher weld quality can be ensured. Design 2.

[0127] In the following, embodiment 2 of the present disclosure is described with a focus on sections that differ from embodiment 1 described above.

[0128] The components that are identical to those in embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and their detailed description is omitted.

[0129] Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a welding machine 200 according to embodiment 2.

[0130] The welding device 200 of the present embodiment comprises a sensor 205 as a detection unit which is configured to detect the size of a gap between the two end sections of a metal plate T1 at a butt section S of a tubular body T2.

[0131] The size of the gap detected by sensor 205 is transmitted to a control unit 50 via a control line (not shown).

[0132] The control unit 50 stores in a storage device 56 as a database DB an amplitude, a frequency and an angle of an oscillation direction of the electron beam, which are assigned to a size of a gap between the end sections of the metal plate T1 and fulfill the first condition.

[0133] During a welding process in which the electron beam is scanned, the control unit 50 first obtains a gap size at an irradiation point P as required from the sensor 205.

[0134] The control unit 50 selects from the storage device 56 values ​​of the amplitude, frequency and angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam, which are assigned to the referenced size of the gap.

[0135] Then, using the selected values ​​of the amplitude, frequency, and angle of oscillation of the electron beam, the control unit 50 adjusts at least the amplitude and frequency, thereby fulfilling the first condition and performing a heat input which is assigned to the size of the gap.

[0136] In the welding machine configured as described above, a detection unit is provided, which is configured to detect the size of a gap between end sections of the workpiece; and a database is provided in which an amplitude, a frequency, and an angle of oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction under the first condition, which are associated with the size of the gap between the end sections, are stored, wherein the control unit scans the electron beam such that a gap section between the end sections of the workpiece repeatedly oscillates as a center of oscillation of an irradiation point of the electron beam, and during scanning of the electron beam obtains a gap size at the irradiation point from the detection unit as required and retrieves values ​​of the amplitude from the database,selects the frequency and angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction, which are associated with the relative size of the gap, and, using the selected values ​​of the amplitude, frequency, and angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction, adjusts at least the amplitude and frequency as required.

[0137] During welding, in which the electron beam is scanned, the control unit in the welding machine detects the size of the gap between the end sections of the tubular body at the irradiation point and adjusts the amplitude and frequency accordingly. Since the amplitude and frequency to be adjusted are selected from those pre-stored in a database and assigned to the gap size based on simulations or experiments, adjustment to an optimal amplitude and frequency can be achieved. Therefore, even if the gap between the end sections of the tubular body T2 varies along the X-axis, high weld quality can be guaranteed.

[0138] The following describes an example of a hardware configuration of the control unit 50 with reference to the drawings.

[0139] Fig. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the control unit 50 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 50 comprises a processor 60 and a memory device 56.

[0140] The storage device 56 includes a volatile storage device, such as random access memory (not shown), and a non-volatile auxiliary storage device, such as flash memory.

[0141] A hard drive can be provided as an alternative to flash memory as the auxiliary storage device.

[0142] Processor 60 executes a program that is input from memory device 56. In this case, the program is input into processor 60 from the auxiliary memory device via the volatile memory device.

[0143] The processor 60 can output data, for example a calculation result, to the volatile memory device of the storage device 56, or it can store the data in the auxiliary memory device via the volatile memory device. Design 3.

[0144] In the following, embodiment 3 of the present disclosure is described with a focus on sections that differ from embodiment 1 described above.

[0145] Components that are identical to those in embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and their detailed description is omitted.

[0146] Fig. Figure 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a welding device 300 according to embodiment 3. The welding device 300 of the present embodiment comprises an image sensor 331 as a shape detection unit, which is configured to obtain an image as shape data of a weld pool M on the tubular body T2.

[0147] The image sensor 331 can be located inside the first vacuum chamber 1V or outside the outer enclosure 10. As long as the shape data of the melt bath M can be obtained, the installation position is not limited. Although the image sensor 331, which obtains an image, is described as an example of the shape detection unit, another sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor, which is configured to obtain shape data other than an image, can also be used.

[0148] The control unit 50 of the present embodiment comprises an image processing unit 354 as a control unit configured to perform computational processing on an image obtained from the image sensor 331. The overall control unit 55 not only performs overall control of the operating control units 51, 52, and 53, but also overall control of the image processing unit 354. A welding processing operation performed by the control unit 50 based on shape data obtained from the image sensor 331 is described below.

[0149] Fig. Figure 11 is a diagram showing a welding state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 300 performs welding by standard control according to the present embodiment. Fig. Figure 12 is a diagram showing a welding state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 300 performs welding by vibration control.

[0150] In the case where the control unit 50 performs a standard control in which a voltage applied to the deflection coil 23, which deflects an electron beam, is kept constant, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, and if the irradiation point P of the electron beam does not oscillate repeatedly, the control unit 50 obtains an image as shape data from the image sensor 331, and the image processing unit 354 detects a shape of the melt pool M in a liquid phase state.

[0151] In particular, during execution of the standard control, the image processing unit 354 detects a first length B1a, which extends in the X-direction parallel to the first direction between the two edges of the melt bath M with the irradiation point P lying in between.

[0152] Next, the control unit 50 performs an oscillation control in which a voltage applied to the deflection coil 23, which deflects the electron beam, is varied over time, as in Fig. Figure 12 shows how to scan the electron beam so that it oscillates repeatedly. The control unit 50 adjusts an amplitude A1 such that a second length B1b, which extends in the X-direction between the two edges of the melt pool M with the irradiation point P lying between them, is greater during the execution of the oscillation control than the first length B1a of the melt pool M during the execution of the standard control described above.

[0153] By making the second length B1b in the X-direction along the welding direction of the melt pool M larger than the first length B1a when the electron beam is not oscillating, it is possible to reduce a temperature difference within the melt pool M, and an effect of stabilizing the shape of the melt pool M can be achieved.

[0154] Furthermore, convection generated by a temperature difference within the weld pool M, which increases with increasing welding speed, can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent welding defects, such as a notch, caused by a disturbance of the shape of the weld pool M due to the influence of such convection, thereby improving the weld quality.

[0155] The control unit 50 can adjust the amplitude A1 of the electron beam in the vibration control so that it is greater than the first length B1a of the melt pool M during the execution of the standard control.

[0156] By performing such control, the second length B1b in the X-direction along the welding direction of the melt pool M can be reliably made larger than the first length B1a when the electron beam is not oscillating, thereby stably obtaining the same effect as described above.

[0157] The description above showed an example in which the electron beam repeatedly oscillates parallel to the X-direction along the welding direction. However, the control unit 50 can scan the electron beam as described below.

[0158] Fig. Figure 13 is a diagram showing a welding state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 300 performs welding by standard control according to the present embodiment.

[0159] Fig. Figure 14 is a diagram showing a welding state of the tubular body T2 when the control unit 50 of the welding machine 300 performs welding by vibration control.

[0160] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 13, during the execution of the standard control by the image processing unit 354, the control unit 50 detects a first length B2a, which extends in the Y direction, orthogonal to the X direction along the welding direction, between the two edges of the weld pool M with the irradiation point P lying in between.

[0161] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 14, the control unit 50 next performs a vibration control in which the electron beam is scanned so that it oscillates repeatedly in the Y direction. The control unit 50 adjusts an amplitude A2 such that a second length B2b in the Y direction between the two edges of the melt pool M with the irradiation point P in between is greater during the execution of the vibration control than the first length B2a of the melt pool M during the execution of the standard control described above.

[0162] Even with such control, the shape of the weld pool M can be stabilized, and convection can be reduced to improve weld quality.

[0163] The control unit 50 can adjust the amplitude A2 of the electron beam in the Y direction during oscillation control so that it is greater than the first length B2a of the melt pool M in the Y direction during standard control.

[0164] This allows the second length B2b in the Y-direction of the melt pool M to be reliably made larger than the first length B2a in the Y-direction when the electron beam is not oscillating, thereby stably maintaining the same effects as described above.

[0165] The above description showed an example in which the image processing unit 354 detects two lengths: a first length B1a in the direction parallel to the X-direction with the irradiation point P lying between them, and a first length B2a in the Y-direction orthogonal to the X-direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The image processing unit 354 can detect shape data of the melt pool M, as long as it can detect its shape. Accordingly, it can detect a length up to the edge of the melt pool M, which extends around the irradiation point P as its center. Furthermore, the control unit 50 can adjust the vibration angle relative to the X-direction in the vibration control as a function of the obtained length of the melt pool M.

[0166] The above description shows an example in which the control unit 50 adjusts and sets the amplitude in the vibration control in advance based on the previously obtained shape of the melt pool M during the execution of the standard control.

[0167] However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The control unit 50 can detect the shape of the melt pool M during the execution of the vibration control using the image sensor 331 and the image processing unit 354, and can adjust the amplitude of the electron beam together with the advance of the irradiation point P in the first direction based on the detected shape of the melt pool M. By performing a feedback control that obtains the current state of the melt pool M in real time using the image sensor 331 and the image processing unit 354 and adjusts the amplitude accordingly, an effect of further stabilization of the shape of the melt pool M can be achieved.

[0168] The in Fig. The image sensor 331 shown in 10 can be attached to the one in Fig. 6 shown welding machine 100A or the one in Fig.The welding machine 100B shown in section 7 can be attached, and in such cases the same effects as described above can be obtained.

[0169] The welding machine, configured as described above, includes a shape detection unit configured to detect the shape data of a weld pool formed by melting the workpiece through electron beam irradiation. The control unit is configured to adjust the amplitude based on the shape data of the weld pool detected by the shape detection unit. By obtaining the current state of the weld pool in real time and adjusting the amplitude accordingly, further stabilization of the weld pool's shape can be achieved.

[0170] In the welding machine configured as described above, the control unit detects a first length between the two edges of the weld pool, with the irradiation point lying between them, from the shape data during a standard control run in which the electron beam's irradiation point on the workpiece does not oscillate repeatedly. The oscillation control then adjusts the amplitude so that a second length between the two edges of the weld pool, with the oscillation center of the irradiation point lying between them, is greater than the first weld pool length during the standard control run. In this way, the first length, which is the size of the weld pool, becomes larger than the length when the electron beam is not oscillating, and at least the amplitude in the repeated oscillation is adjusted, while fulfilling the first condition mentioned above, so that the weld pool has a predetermined shape.

[0171] Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference within the melt pool and to ensure a melt pool shape that achieves the effect of suppressing the occurrence of a notch.

[0172] Furthermore, convection and heat conduction of the molten metal within the weld pool can be controlled, thus ensuring a higher weld quality.

[0173] In the welding machine configured as described above, the control unit detects a first length between the two edges of the weld pool, with the irradiation point lying between them, from the shape data during a standard control operation in which the electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece does not oscillate repeatedly. The oscillation control then adjusts the amplitude so that it is greater than the first length of the weld pool during the standard control operation. This control reliably ensures that the first length, which is the size of the weld pool, is larger than when the electron beam is not oscillating, thus stabilizing the weld pool size and reliably guaranteeing higher weld quality.

[0174] Although the disclosure above is described by various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it is to be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited to their applicability to the specific embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied individually or in various combinations to one or more of the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0175] It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications, not described by an example, are conceivable which do not exceed the scope of this disclosure. For example, at least one of the components can be modified, added, or omitted. At least one of the components mentioned in at least one of the preferred embodiments can be selected and combined with the components mentioned in another preferred embodiment.

[0176] The following sections describe various aspects of the present revelation together as appendices.

[0177] (Annex 1) Welding apparatus which joins a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam, comprising: an electron gun which is provided in an outer housing which maintains a vacuum, wherein the electron gun is configured to irradiate the workpiece with the electron beam; a control unit configured to control the electron beam emitted by the electron gun; and a motion unit which is configured to move a position of an electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece in the outer housing in a predetermined first direction, wherein The control unit scans the electron beam in such a way that the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a predetermined amplitude and frequency, and adjusts the amplitude and frequency such that a first condition is met in which the oscillation velocity of the irradiation point is greater than the movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction through the movement unit.

[0178] (Annex 2) Welding equipment according to Annex 1, wherein The control unit is configured to adjust the amplitude of the electron beam so that the first condition is met and that the amplitude of the electron beam is greater than the thickness of the workpiece in a Penetration direction of the electron beam is.

[0179] (Annex 3) Welding equipment as per Annex 2, The control unit is configured to adjust at least the amplitude and frequency of the electron beam's oscillation direction relative to the first direction, based on the amplitude and frequency and an angle of oscillation direction relative to the first direction, so that the first condition is met and that a melt pool in which the workpiece has been melted by irradiation with the electron beam has a predetermined shape.

[0180] (Annex 4) Welding equipment as per Annex 3, The control unit is configured to vary, from the amplitude and frequency and an angle of an oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction, at least the amplitude and the frequency together with the advance of the irradiation point in the first direction, such that the first condition is met and that a melt pool has a predetermined shape.

[0181] (Annex 5) Welding equipment in accordance with one of Annexes 1 to 4, a detection unit is configured to detect a gap size between end sections of the workpiece; and a database in which, subject to the first condition, the amplitude, frequency, and oscillation direction angle of the electron beam relative to the first direction, which are assigned to the gap size between the end sections, are stored, wherein the control unit scans the electron beam such that a shock section between the end sections of the workpiece repeatedly oscillates around a center of oscillation of the electron beam irradiation point, obtains the gap size at the irradiation point from the detection unit during scanning of the electron beam, and selects values ​​of the amplitude, frequency, and oscillation direction angle of the electron beam relative to the first direction from the database as required, depending on the obtained gap size.and, as required, adjusts at least the amplitude and frequency using the selected values, based on the amplitude, frequency, and oscillation direction angle of the electron beam relative to the first direction.

[0182] (Annex 6) Welding machine according to Annex 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the oscillation direction angle of the electron beam to 0° relative to a direction parallel to the first direction.

[0183] (Annex 7) Welding machine according to Annex 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the oscillation direction angle of the electron beam relative to a direction parallel to the first direction to be greater than 0° and less than 90°.

[0184] (Annex 8) Welding machine according to Annex 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the oscillation direction angle of the electron beam to 90° relative to a direction parallel to the first direction.

[0185] (Annex 9) Welding apparatus according to any one of Annexes 1 to 8, wherein the motion unit moves a relative position between the workpiece and the electron gun such that a position of the electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece in the outer housing advances in the first direction.

[0186] (Annex 10) Welding apparatus according to Annex 9, wherein the motion unit moves the electron gun in a direction opposite to the first direction, so that a position of the electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece in the outer housing advances in the first direction.

[0187] (Annex 11) Welding method for joining a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam emitted by an electron gun, comprising an adjustment step of: scanning the electron beam such that an irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a predetermined amplitude and frequency during a progression of the position of the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in a predetermined first direction, and adjusting the amplitude and frequency such that an oscillation velocity of the irradiation point is greater than a movement velocity in the first direction.

[0188] (Annex 12) Welding process according to Annex 11, wherein end sections of a single metal plate abut each other to form a cylindrical tubular body as the workpiece, and a butt joint between the circumferentially opposite end sections of the metal plate is joined by repeatedly oscillating the electron beam irradiation point around its center of oscillation. Description of reference symbols 10 outer casings 21 electron gun 22 Focusing coil (control unit) 23 Deflection coil (control unit) 30 Exercise device (exercise unit) 30A Motion device (motion unit) 50 Control unit (control unit) 205 Sensor (detection unit) 100, 100A, 200, 300 welding machine 331 Image sensor (shape detection unit) DB database T2 tubular body (workpiece)

Claims

[1] Welding equipment, comprising: an electron gun which is provided in an outer housing which maintains a vacuum and is configured to irradiate a workpiece with an electron beam; a control unit configured to control the electron beam emitted by the electron gun; and a motion unit which is configured to move a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in the outer housing in a first direction, wherein The control unit performs a vibration control which scans the electron beam in such a way that the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece repeatedly oscillates with a set amplitude and frequency, and adjusts the amplitude and frequency so that a first condition is met according to which, in the vibration control, a vibration velocity of the irradiation point is greater than a movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction through the movement unit. [2] Welding machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the amplitude of the electron beam under the first condition such that the amplitude of the electron beam is greater than a thickness of the workpiece in a penetration direction of the electron beam. [3] Welding machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit adjusts at least the amplitude and the frequency of the amplitude, the frequency and an angle of a direction of oscillation of the electron beam relative to the first direction, while fulfilling the first condition, such that a melt pool in which the workpiece has been melted by irradiation with the electron beam has a set shape. [4] Welding device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit adjusts at least the amplitude and the frequency of the amplitude, the frequency and an angle of a oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction, while fulfilling the first condition, as a function of the movement of the irradiation point in the first direction, such that the weld pool has the set shape. [5] Welding device according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a shape detection unit which is configured to detect shape data of the melt pool in which the workpiece has been melted by irradiation with the electron beam, wherein the control unit adjusts the amplitude based on the shape data of the melt pool detected by the shape detection unit. [6] Welding machine according to claim 5, wherein the control unit detects a first length of the melt pool from the shape data during a standard control in which the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece does not oscillate repeatedly, wherein the first length is a distance between both edges across the irradiation point, and adjusts the amplitude in the vibration control such that a second length of the melt pool in the vibration control is greater than the first length of the melt pool in the standard control, where the second length is a distance between both edges via a vibration center of the irradiation point. [7] Welding apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein The control unit detects a first length of the melt pool from the shape data during a standard control in which the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece does not oscillate repeatedly, where the first length is a distance between both edges across the irradiation point. and adjusts the amplitude in the vibration control so that the amplitude is greater than the first length of the melt pool in the standard control. [8] Welding apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first length and the second length of the weld pool during vibration control are on a surface of the workpiece along a direction which is parallel to the first direction or perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second length is a distance between both edges via a vibration center of the irradiation point. [9] Welding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a detection unit configured to detect the size of a gap between end sections of the workpieces; and a database in which the amplitude, frequency and angle of an oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction that satisfies the first condition are stored, assigned to the size of the gap between the end sections, wherein The control unit scans the electron beam in such a way that the irradiation point of the electron beam repeatedly oscillates around a section serving as a center of oscillation, at which end sections of the workpiece are opposite each other. and relates to the size of the gap at the irradiation point from the detection unit during scanning of the electron beam, and selects from the database values ​​of the amplitude, frequency and angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the first direction, each of which is assigned to the relative size of the gap, and adjusts at least the amplitude and frequency of the electron beam's oscillation direction relative to the first direction using the selected value, based on the amplitude, frequency, and angle of oscillation direction. [10] Welding machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the direction parallel to the first direction to 0°. [11] Welding machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the direction parallel to the first direction to greater than 0° and less than 90°. [12] Welding machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts the angle of the oscillation direction of the electron beam relative to the direction parallel to the first direction to 90°. [13] Welding device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the movement unit moves a relative position between the workpiece and the electron gun in order to move a position of the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in the outer housing in the first direction. [14] Welding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the movement unit moves the position of the electron beam irradiation point on the workpiece in the outer housing in the first direction by moving the electron gun to one side opposite the first direction. [15] Welding method for joining a workpiece by irradiation with an electron beam from an electron gun, the welding method comprising: an adjustment step of scanning the electron beam during a movement of a position of an irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece in a set first direction such that the irradiation point of the electron beam on the workpiece oscillates repeatedly with a set amplitude and frequency, and of adjusting the amplitude and frequency such that in a vibration control a vibration velocity of the irradiation point is greater than a movement velocity of the irradiation point in the first direction. [16] Welding method according to claim 15, wherein end sections of a single metal plate abut each other to form a cylindrical tubular body as the workpiece, and the end sections of the metal plate opposite each other in a circumferential direction are joined together by repeatedly oscillating the irradiation point of the electron beam about a section serving as a center of oscillation where the end sections of the metal plate are opposite each other.

Images