On Designing Control Systems for Electron-Beam Processing Plants

This study shows the need for a common structured approach to designing control systems for electron-beam welding, surfacing, and additive shaping plants. The main controlled parameters of the process are highlighted. The three-level hierarchical structure of the control system is described. The control processes are differentiated taking into account the process requirements for electron-beam treatment processes and the features of the vacuum system, the electron gun, and the positioning system, as well as the system of taking images of the treated area according to the signal of backscattered electrons. The types and quantitative characteristics of the parameters of the signals necessary for running the system are given. It is shown that it is effective to divide the control processes in three groups, depending on the requirements on the rapid response of the actuators, as well as on the need for synchronizing some processes with others over time. The presented differentiation is used to propose a method for selecting technical facilities for each of the mentioned groups. An example is provided of constructing a control system for an electron-beam process plant using hardware components available for purchase.