Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the alignment of a corpuscular beam, such as an electron or laser beam, to the abutting surfaces of stepped cylindrical segments whose abutting surfaces may be several inches in thickness, so that the beam will be directed along a path which includes all portions of the abutting surfaces to be joined by welding. The parts to be welded are segments of a stepped cylinder having sections of different radius. The parts to be welded are fixed to a table which can rotate the parts about a fixed axis about which the parts are positioned to form the cylinder. The coordinates at several points along the outer periphery of the joint to be welded are determined with respect to two mutually perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to the axis about which the rotary table and cylinder rotate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for surface hardening metals over selected areas on a workpiece by means of a concentrated beam of electrons.The electron beam is directed and focused to the surface of the workpiece and is caused to move continuously along a predetermined path over a localized area on the surface. The path is traversed a preset number of times while the instantaneous speed of the beam along the path is varied and the electron beam current is varied in order to bring the selected area of the workpiece above the transformation temperature and close to the melting temperature and maintain it at this temperature for a predetermined time.The beam current is then discontinued to allow the material to be quenched and surface hardened locally.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process of welding by an electron beam. The process is one in which the beam is rapidly deflected from point to point of a predetermined matrix of spots over which the beam rests for predetermined lengths of time in order to produce a predetermined distribution of energy over a defined area along the surface of the material being welded along a seam formed at the adjacent edges of workpieces. The length of time the beam is maintained at each position and the total beam power may be varied from spot to spot in order to produce a desired distribution of energy over a given area. This process is useful to avoid defects in partial penetration welds and in the welding of joints in which the gap between the edges to be welded may approach the diameter of the electron beam. The method is also useful in avoiding defects which may normally occur at the beginning and end of a weld seam.