Transducer diaphragm elements and methods and apparatus for making same

In apparatus for making edge mounted diaphragm elements by electron beam welding, each diaphragm element including a diaphragm and a heat-conducting first tubular member, the improvement comprising in combination:

• an elongate frame;
• a fixture including a plurality of pairs of aligned first and second shafts spaced from each other and rotatably mounted on said frame for retaining between any pair of first and second aligned shafts a first tubular member in heat-transfer relationship with a first peripheral region on one major surface of a diaphragm and for retaining between the particular pair of first and second aligned shafts a heat-conducting second tubular member in heat-transfer relationship with a second peripheral region on the opposite major surface of the particular diaphragm;
• and
• means for rotating said diaphragm and retained first and second tubular members in mutual heat-transfer relationship relative to an electron beam, including means coupled to said pairs of shaft for simultaneously driving the shafts of each pair of shafts, said driving means including means coupled to both of the first and second spaced shafts for simultaneously driving both of said first and second shafts and thereby said first and second tubular members via said first and second shafts, respectively.