Re: How to weld on planet Mars ???

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#251

From: richard.smith.met
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 21:14

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Brian

In space, where you are in a high vacuum, electron beam is the one to
use.  Electron beam is really neat but only in a vacuum - but in space
that's exactly what you are in - a vacuum.  So all you need is the
"gun", open - no shields, chambers, pumps, ancilliaries or anything.
Can hold an in-space electron beam welding torch in one hand.

The Soviets were ahead in this.  See
http://www.thefabricator.com/Articles/Welding_Article.cfm?ID=553

Also see
http://www.aws.org/about/photo/hist_pho24.jpg
and with accompanying text
www.aws.org/about/ time_by5.html

On Earth, you have to have a vacuum chamber to hold your weldment and
pumps to pump it down to a very low vacuum.  It's a major hassle.  If
the chamber is big, it takes  long time to pump down.  If it's small,
there will often be some part of your job which won't fit in.  Laser
can be used in air.  So although lasers are expensive, they tend to be
used on Earth.  But in space...  No such problem.

You can see the Soviet astronaut just holding the electron beam gun up
against what she is welding and the thing works.

Richard S.

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From: richard.smith.met@ntlworld.com
Newsgroups: sci.engr.joining.welding,finet.unet
Subject: Re: How to weld on planet Mars ???
Date: 13 Jun 2005 14:14:26 -0700
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