Recent Evolutions of Electromagnetic Pulse Processes in the Industrial Mass Production

Abstract

Electromagnetic pulse processes used to be niche production applications. Apart from research and development (R&D) use, pulse generators were found in few production facilities and low production volume applications only. During the recent years, significant advances in certain key applications have been made. For example, the crimping of cables and the welding of bus bar connectors are both high volume applications in the automotive industry. The machines (pulse generators and tool coils) as well as the processes have undergone extensive certification routines for quality assurance and meet the requirements for mass production. The manufacturers’ specifications have been developed with regard to the particularities of electromagnetic pulse processes and machines. Enabled by the continuous development, it became even possible to enter markets with high production rates and volumes. The success for these applications does not only result in an increased number of production machines, but also act as ‘door opener’ for further applications in and beyond their current field of application. Next steps are for example the development of a crimping and tube welding operation which joins a copper connector via an aluminium tube (welding) to an aluminium cable (crimping).