Gas mark 5
Member
- Messages
- 225
- Location
- Leeds / Harwell, UK
Hi all,
I started a new job recently, developing electric spacecraft propulsion. I'm more working on the control systems / embedded engineering side of things, but it's a small team so I get to chat with the mechanical guys too. One of the things they're looking at getting manufactured for the latest prototype are some tungsten electrodes. They're pretty tiny, but because of the geometry it would be much easier to manufacture them in two parts and stick them together. Something on the order of 0.3x5x10mm tungsten, getting attached to 1x5x5mm, very approximately.
What are the options for this sort of work? Can you spot weld tungsten, at that scale? I've heard of ultrasonic welding, is that a possibility? Or what other processes exist that might be relevant?
I just thought it would be interesting to hear from the collective, I'm sure someone has tried to do this before.
Thanks,
George
I started a new job recently, developing electric spacecraft propulsion. I'm more working on the control systems / embedded engineering side of things, but it's a small team so I get to chat with the mechanical guys too. One of the things they're looking at getting manufactured for the latest prototype are some tungsten electrodes. They're pretty tiny, but because of the geometry it would be much easier to manufacture them in two parts and stick them together. Something on the order of 0.3x5x10mm tungsten, getting attached to 1x5x5mm, very approximately.
What are the options for this sort of work? Can you spot weld tungsten, at that scale? I've heard of ultrasonic welding, is that a possibility? Or what other processes exist that might be relevant?
I just thought it would be interesting to hear from the collective, I'm sure someone has tried to do this before.
Thanks,
George