Abstract: An energy storage system for use in a magnetic pulse welding and forming apparatus includes a bank of capacitors and a very-low inductance conductive bus system interconnecting the capacitors. The bus system provides the ability to generate a very high frequency, short duration impulse which is needed for welding. The bus system includes first, second and third flat bus panels disposed in closely spaced overlying relation. The second, or middle, bus panel is the “hot” bus and is electrically insulated from the first (lower) and third (upper) bus panels by sheets of electrically insulating material. The first and third bus panels are connected together cooperatively form a ground bus. The bus system overlies the upper ends of the capacitors wherein the second bus panel is electrically interconnected to the respective hot contacts of the capacitors, and further wherein the ground bus is electrically interconnected with the respective ground contacts of the plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: An external inductor for magnetic pulse welding and forming includes an outer steel frame and an inner beryllium-bronze alloy insert which is removably mounted within the frame. The steel frame and the beryllium bronze insert respectively split the responsibility for higher mechanical strength and more concentrated pulse current on the inner surface of inductor's central opening. The improved external inductor design is capable of creating greater impulse forces onto the outer workpiece and has been demonstrated to perform at least 25-30% more deformation than a simple one piece simple steel external inductor for a full metallurgical joint.