Vaporizing foil actuator configured as consumable tape

An elongate tape, comprising:

• an electrically-insulative base layer, characterized by the length of the tape and a first width, as measured between a pair of side edges;
• an electrically-conductive layer, characterized by the length of the tape and a second width, as measured between a pair of side edges;
• and
• an electrically-insulative top layer, characterized by the length of the tape and a third width, as measured between a pair of side edges,
• wherein the layers are joined to each other to form the elongate tape with the electrically-conductive layer interposed between the electrically-insulative base and top layers.

A method for joining pieces of metal through an impulse metalworking process, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of sequentially-arranged consumable bodies for use as a vaporizing foil actuator in the impulse metalworking process, the plurality of consumable bodies configured as an elongate tape of indeterminate length;
• feeding a leading end of the elongate tape into a welding device adapted for conducting the impulse metalworking process;
• engaging the consumable body at the leading edge of the elongate tape with electrodes of the welding device;
• mechanically separating the consumable body at the leading edge of the elongate tape from the remaining sequentially-arranged consumable bodies;
• positioning the pieces of metal relative to the engaged consumable body;
• and
• joining the metal pieces by discharging an electrical current across a width of the engaged and mechanically-separated consumable body.