Note: Levitation melting of steel balls

Objective:

Levitation of steel balls during the melting process 

End Product:

Steel balls

Equipment:

Ambrell 10 kW induction heating system, equipped with a remote workhead containing two 1.5 μF capacitors for a total of 0.75 μF
An induction heating coil designed and developed  specifically for this application. 

Materials:

1010 low carbon steel balls ¼” (6.35mm) diameter 

Temperature:

2800 °F (1538 °C)

Frequency:

195 kHz

Testing:

A conical coil is used with a total of five turns with two turns on the bottom, a central turn and two turns wound the opposite direction on the top, this creates opposing fields that causes the steel ball to levitate. The ball is introduced into the coil on a quartz rod. When the power is turned on the metal is heated and the opposing magnetic fields levitate the metal ball inside the coil. The metal continues to heat until it melts.

Benefits:

  • Minimal contamination of conductive material during manufacturing

  • Removes insoluble inclusions while leaving desired alloying constituents intact

  • Even distribution of heating

Levitation melting of steel balls

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