ABSTRACT
Some special features of the formation of penetration of thin sheets of low-carbon steel, titanium and aluminium with the electron beam with the continuous change of the distance between the focusing plane and the plane of the specimen are determined. It is shown that the results are consistent with the main special features of the formation of the layer in penetration of the sheets by the plasma arc but the continuous change of the distance results in a non-stationary melting process, the continuous change of the thermal efficiency of the process, changes of the geometrical characteristics of the penetrated layer and the change of the layer formation conditions – from the normal formation mode to the mode of formation of periodic burns.