Shrink fitting aluminum pulley to insert inner bearing

Objective

Heat aluminum pulley for insertion of an inner bearing for the automotive industry 

End Product

pulley

Equipment

Ambrell 2 kW induction heating system, equipped with a remote workhead containing two 0.33µF capacitors for a total of 0.66µF

An induction heating coil designed and developed specifically for this application.

Materials

Aluminum pulley 2.3” (60mm) OD x 1.6” (40mm) ID x 1” (27mm) high and inner bearing 0.7” (17.8mm) high x 1.6” (40mm) dia

Temperature

464 ºF (240 ºC)

Frequency

283 kHz

Testing

A three turn helical coil is used to heat the aluminum pulley. The pulley is heated to 464 ºF (240 ºC) in 20 seconds to expand the inner diameter and then the inner bearing is

inserted to form the completed part.

Benefits

Induction heating provides:

• Defined and controlled heat pattern

• Process easily integrated into automated system

• Even distribution of heating

Image