What Are Modular Induction Heating Systems?

We use a variety of different tools and heating systems to heat treat items for our customers, but one of the best pieces of equipment we have is our induction heating system. An induction heater consists of an electromagnet and an electronic oscillator that work together to create an electromagnetic field. This field generates high heat and is one of the best heat-treating methods for hardening.

The biggest downside of most induction heating systems is that they can’t be easily scaled for higher production or reconfigured for different applications. That’s where the modular induction heating system comes into play.

Modular systems are made of building blocks known as RF modules. Each module is installed in a common cabinet, but it’s directly connected to the alternating current (AC) line used to create the electromagnetic field. Each RF module is an independently operating power source rated to deliver up to 25 kilowatts (kW) of output power. The modules can work alone or in conjunction with one another to deliver up to 600 kW of power.

RF modules can operate on a variety of different frequencies, ranging from 2 kilohertz (kHz) all the way up to 400 kHz. This is beneficial for when we need to simultaneously treat several pieces of equipment at different temperatures.

What are the benefits of modular induction heating systems?

A modular induction heating system isn’t a small investment, but it pays for itself in the long run due to all of the benefits it offers over a traditional induction heater. These are a few of the reasons heat-treating specialists upgrade to modular units:

  • Space saving: Traditionally, a heat-treating shop would need to have several different induction heaters on the floor. One unit would be used to harden a metal at a lower temperature, while another would be heating a piece to a higher temperature. Because we can operate multiple RF modules at different temperatures from the same cabinet, we can free up a ton of floor space in our shop.
  • Reduced downtime: There’s hardly any downtime with modular induction heaters. If one RF module fails in the cabinet, the others will automatically adjust their power output to compensate for the failing module. For example, if a piece requires 100 kW of power and you’re running five RF modules, each RF starts running at 20 kW. If a module fails, the others will kick up their output to 25 kW to compensate for the broken module.
  • Scalability: Heat-treating needs change from project to project. Instead of turning down projects or buying new equipment to meet a customer’s needs, a team with a modular induction heater can simply add a new RF module to allow the heater to generate the required amount of heat for the piece.

Find your equipment today

The best heat-treating results require top-of-the-line equipment, and that’s just what you get when you partner with J.F. Heat Treating Inc. for any project requiring heat treatment. Contact us today to get a quote or to learn more about all of our heat-treating methods.

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