Performance Knowledge

Progressive induction hardening of ball screw shaft with Fluxtrol concentrator

Fluxtrol flux concentrators (controllers) help induction heating users achieve increased productivity by focusing heating on critical areas only (via control of magnetic fields) and thus greatly reducing time to temperature. In addition, more power is transferred into the selected area of the workpiece with the same coil current. Precision heating occurs exactly where it should, improving workpiece quality, production output and process efficiency. And because our proprietary soft magnetic materials reduce energy consumption, as well as, minimize distortion thus reducing scrap, they are environmentally friendly.

What is Induction Heating?
Induction Heating is an electromagnetic heating method of electrically conductive bodies, which absorb energy from an alternating magnetic field, generated by induction coil (inductor).

How Does Induction Heating Work?
When an alternating (varying) electrical current flows through an inductor (or coil) an alternating magnetic field is generated in the surrounding space. If an electrically conductive body (part or workpiece) is placed in this magnetic field, eddy currents are induced in its volume generating heat.
In magnetic materials additional heating occurs due to the orientation of the magnetic domains according to field direction (hystersis losses). Induction heating is caused by the thermal effect of strong eddy currents induced by magnetic alternating flux. The lines of magnetic flux produced by the coil current must be closed. A sufficient part of coil ampere-turns must be consumed for flux pushing through the magnetic resistance of the back path. Hence, excessive current must flow in the coil to produce the required flux resulting in additional losses in the coil, supplying circuit and power supply. A typical inductors magnetic field is distributed over a large area which causes a much wider temperature effected area resulting in undesired heating of part or workpiece in close proximity to the coil.

Heat Treating Hardening Tempering Heat Treating Annealing Stress Relieving		Joining Brazing Welding Joining Sealing Soldering
Surface Engineering Curing Plasma Coating Surface Engineering Hard Facing Sintering		Mass Heating Melting Forging Melting & Mass Heating Forming Crystal Growth

The Fluxtrol Advantage!