Induction Heat Treatment1979454
The induction heat treatment occurs when a material that is electrically conductive is placed in a magnetic field. The heating process is a quick process in which current is induced straight into the part that is being heated. The system is a non-contact method of heating.
This kind of system is composed of the heating power supply, a water cooling source and an induction heating coil. The cooling source keeps the coil, as well as other internal components in the power supply cool. The induction power supply acts by sending alternating current through the coil, which generates a magnetic field. When the workpiece is placed in the coil, it enters the magnetic field where eddy currents within the workpiece are induced. This generates precise, localized heat with no physical contact between the workpiece and the induction coil .
The magnetic field that is required for the induction heating process develops in the induction heating coil through the flow of AC in the coil. This coil comes in many shapes and sizes, custom made to fit specific applications. The coils vary in size from tiny coils to large coils of copper tubing. The small coils are used when precise heating is extremely small parts that are used in applications like soldering. The large assemblies are used in various applications like pipe heating and strip metal heating.
One of the most important characteristics of the heating system is the coil design. The coil is custom-made to give each part or workpiece the precise heating pattern needed. It helps to maximize efficiency while allowing easy loading and unloading of the part. The induction heat treatment helps to benefit the work process in a number of ways. The heating can be highly repetitive after the initial adjustments have been made to the power supply. After the initial phase, many parts can be heated producing identical results, as long as the parts are put on the coil in the same way during each cycle.
The induction system leads to better utilization of materials and improved product yield. It can reduce or even eliminate the need for hiring skilled operators to perform functions such as soldering and brazing. The fact that all the parts can be heated in an identical manner leads to automation of the manufacturing process. The system heats the part in a localized way which is extremely beneficial.
Induction heating is a clean method of heating. It does not emit unpleasant heat or odor, as the current goes directly to the part being heated with no heat getting into the facilities environment. The point of the desired heat can be specifically defined to a set area on the workpiece achieving consistent and accurate results.
