Tools/InductionHeater
EVE Induction Heater
Introduction[edit]
The EVE Induction Heater is a handheld tool that uses magnetic induction to heat small metal objects such as nuts and bolts. Read the safety instructions below before use! It's primarily used to release stuck bolts by rapidly heating and cooling them in order to break them free from rust. It's most effective on ferrous materials but can heat anything conductive to some degree. It's kept next to the nuts and bolts kit, under the chop-saws table.
As well as freeing stuck bolts the heater can also be used for
- Forging of very small objects
- Sub-critical heat bending of metals
- Putting inserts into 3D printed parts
- Fitting bearings
- Surface hardening steel
- Small-parts brazing
- Silver soldering on Ferrous materials
- Any other odd project that needs heating up something small without the hazards of open flames.
Additional coils for heating oddly shaped objects can be made from 3mm solid-copper wire bent into shape, insulated with fibreglass braided insulation and secured with heat-shrink. This will allow a coil to be made to fit almost any ferrous object that needs heating.
Current Status[edit]
| Date | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 29th Dec 2021 | Fully functional | Main IGBTs replaced, functioning normally. Try to avoid bolts over M16 as it seems to cause an overload |
Safety[edit]
- This tool generates powerful magnetic fields and MUST NOT be used by anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted/worn medical device!
- Remove all rings, watches, bracelets or any other metal items before using the induction heater, it's designed to heat round metal objects up to red-hot and you don't want it heating anything that's attached to your body!
- The output coil is carrying a lot of current, ensure the clamps are firmly hand-tightened or it may catch fire!
- The output is NOT isolated from the mains, make sure there's no risk of you coming into contact with the coil or anything electrically connected to it
- The object being heated and the heating coil will both get very hot, ensure you take proper precautions to avoid getting burnt
- The maximum on-time for this tool is 5 minutes with a 10 minute cool-down time after, leave it plugged in during the off-time so that it's fan continues to cool it down
Planned Upgrades[edit]
Parts and upgrades that are planned/Budgeted/Purchased for in the near future
- None planned
Induction Heater Caretakers[edit]
Knowledgeable Users[edit]
The following people are experienced using the induction heater and are willing to provide help and advice
| Name/Contact | Notes |
|---|
Maintainers[edit]
These are the people who look after and repair the induction heater, they're the ones to contact if there's any problems with it
| Name | Notes |
|---|
Recent Changes[edit]
If you make any non-trivial changes to induction heater or perform maintenance please note it here, delete records older than 1 yr
Image Gallery[edit]
Please feel free to add to this gallery if you have interested photos of the induction heater in use.
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Heating up an M10 bolt, took about 20 seconds
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Red hot M10 bolt
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M6 bolt heated to red hot in under 8 seconds
