Hello guys, As you know, it has been like 4 year since we've retrofitted our induction hardening machine for camshafts with LinuxCNC.
I would like to start melting some iron and I think this is one of the best places to ask for advice. The heater itself can lock onto frequencies between 10 Khz and 40 Khz using work coils from 0.4 uH to 1.2 uH approximately. The maximum output power the heater can output is about 60 Kw. Based on some equations and information I've found around the internet it's more than possible that this power output locked at 10 Khz can melt 60 Kg or 70 Kg per hour of iron. So, my idea is to replace the impedance matching transformer that the machine has now (That I think is with another one with less transformation ratio (I guess 3 or 4 to 1) and make a large work coil with the proper size and shape to match the inductance required to lock onto the minimum frequency allowed and also to accommodate the scrap iron for melting. The machine also uses a water cooled capacitor that has no label on it telling me anything about it, but I guess that the capacitance could be determined easily. My main concerns are: -How can I calculate the transformation ratio for the new matching transformer without too much trouble?. Because If I use too few turns the work coil would be drawing too much current and the machine should trigger the overcurrent alarm. Also If I use too much turns the current on the work coil will be too little and then I can't melt the iron. Remember that the transformer is made out of welded cooper and has water chanells for cooling through it. -How can I calculate the total inductance the machine sees now with the actual transformer and work coils (coils going from 0.4 uH to 1.2 uH). I thought about using a signal generator and make the circuit resonate with a capacitor of a known value. Or may be buy an inductance meter but I'm not sure. Hope you can help me out with this. My idea is to start some trials with this heater and if it works ok I intend to buy another one of less frequency and may be 100 Kw of power. Thanks as always for your help! Leonardo. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
