Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE), a leading supplier of electron beam and laser welding systems, and automotive manufacturer Ford have been awarded a £430,000 research grant from national public funding body UK Research and Innovation. The grant is part of the £5.8 million awarded to UK Research and Innovation under the Innovate UK funding programme.
The aim of the funding is to research and automate electron beam welding for joining copper and aluminium components used in the drive motors of today’s electric vehicles. In addition to contacting different component materials, the process is also to be used for classic welding applications, such as contacting the stator ends. The aim is to improve the quality of the weld seam and reduce the risk of short circuits during subsequent operation.
Electron beam welding, which is already used in the manufacture of wind turbines, for example, is associated with shorter process times compared to conventional contacting technologies, such as conventional laser welding. Accordingly, electric motors can be manufactured more quickly using this technology. In addition, electron beam welding is characterised by lower energy consumption and is therefore associated with reduced CO2 emissions and lower operating costs.
Figure source: https://camvaceng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Stator_image_LOW_RES.jpeg
Text source: https://camvaceng.com/cambridge-vacuum-engineering-ford-awarded-innovate-uk-funding-to-help-speed-electric-motor-production/
