IndustrialHeating.com ■ MAY 2015 45We will focus on heat-treating equipment in this article since
almost every requirement for heat treating requires a specific
technical review. I will outline many of the areas that need to
be clarified when buying induction heat-treating equipment.
The materials, hardness pattern(s), part geometry, part mix,
production rate and other details of every application must be
reviewed to be sure the equipment offered will be suitable.
Standard Scanners May Not Be So Similar
If the equipment being considered is a “standard” machine, all
of these details must be considered. If it is a standard machine
with added automation or a custom-automated machine, it is
even more important to consider all the details since this type
of system will probably be less f lexible than a standard machine
alone. All of these machine possibilities may have a number
of different power supplies from which to select. Many times
when there are a number of different parts to process on a single
machine the power supply will have to be a compromise between
the best for one part requirement and the best for another.
If you are embarking on a quest to purchase a new induction
heat-treating machine, the most common offering is a standard
scanner. The following items still need to be evaluated:
- Determine process requirements
- Identify companies capable of providing equipment suited
to your needs - Review quotes and determine best approach
- Review quote details and responsibilities
- Understand exactly what is being included (e.g., dual-
quench manifolds with separate valves) - Revise quotes to include any changes necessary
- Negotiate commercial and service details (terms, acceptance
tests, service, training, warranty, etc.) - Order placement
- Engineering review prior to manufacture
- Project overview during design and manufacture
- Machine runoff and acceptance
- Installation and start-up
- Final acceptance and final payment
An example of the variety of systems that can be offered
is shown in the figures included in this article. The system
requirement used was a 150-kW, 10-kHz dual-spindle
induction scanning system suitable for handling up to 100
pounds of parts and tooling. I asked a number of companies
that are involved in the U.S. market to provide a photo of their
standard system. Shown are images of the equipment that the
manufacturers offered. Some were able to meet the specified
requirements and some were not.
In addition, we asked a number of other companies that did
not offer photos. They all offer suitable equipment with each
having their own levels of quality and sophistication. Some
may be acceptable for your application, and others may be
much more or less complex than needed. Each company will, of
course, point out the reasons their product is best for your needs.
There are many features and ways of accomplishing the desired
results. Each of these systems includes: mechanical and quench
systems; tooling and inductors; power supply; matching station
and cooling system; machine controls and process monitoring;
production process verification; and start-up, training and
aftermarket support.Sorting it Out
How do you decide which you need and which is the best
value (not always the lowest price)? How do you evaluate the
differences to decide which is best suited for your needs? Is one
minimally acceptable and another excessively expensive with
features you do not need? Although many of these standard
products may meet the basic specifications, there can be manyFig. 2. Standard scanner with moving
parts over fixed shafts and tooling
(courtesy Induction Tooling)Fig. 3. Standard scanner with
moving parts over fixed shafts and
tooling (courtesy Induction Systems)Fig. 4. Standard scanners with moving parts over fixed shafts and
tooling (courtesy Ambrell)