Edge Welded Bellows — Technical Guide

Edge welded bellows technical guide — compare edge welded vs. hydroformed bellows, explore manufacturing process, material selection, and industry applications. From Alpha Technology.

What Are Edge Welded Bellows?

Edge welded bellows are precision metal diaphragms manufactured by welding thin metallic discs alternately at their inner and outer diameters to form a flexible, leak-tight convolution structure. Unlike hydroformed bellows, edge welded bellows deliver superior stroke length, higher cycle life, and tighter spring rate control — making them the preferred choice for demanding high-vacuum (HV) and ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) applications.

At Alpha Technology, we produce custom edge welded bellows in materials including SS316L, AM350, and Inconel, with OD ranges from 6mm to 200mm+, serving semiconductor, aerospace, medical, and scientific research industries worldwide.

Edge welded bellows with square flange - precision metal diaphragms from Alpha Technology

Technical Resources

📐 Specification Catalog

Complete AT-Series model database with OD/ID dimensions, wall thickness,
and spring rates. Find the exact bellows for your design envelope.

View Specs →

🔬 Material Selection

Detailed comparison of SS316L, AM350, and Inconel: corrosion resistance,
temperature range, magnetic properties, and cost.

Compare Materials →

⚙️ Design & Selection Guide

How to calculate spring rate, determine stroke length, select convolution
geometry, and specify end fittings.

Design Guide →

🏭 Manufacturing Process

From diaphragm stamping to precision micro-plasma welding and helium leak
testing — see how we build bellows that last millions of cycles.

See the
Process →

Edge welded bellows manufacturing process - precision micro-plasma welding

Parameter Edge Welded Hydroformed
Stroke Capability ✅ Up to 60% of
free length		 ~15-20% of free length
Cycle Life ✅ 1M+ cycles
typical		 50K-100K cycles typical
Spring Rate Precision ✅ ±5% ±15-20%
Wall Thickness 0.05mm – 0.5mm 0.08mm – 0.3mm
Vacuum Compatibility ✅ UHV (10⁻¹⁰
Torr)		 HV (10⁻⁶ Torr)
Cost Efficiency Higher for low volumes Better for high
volumes

Edge welded bellows diaphragm stack - thin metallic discs welded alternately

Applications by Industry

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