Induction Bonding for the Medical Industry

A client came to THE LAB at Ambrell looking to heat two lens housings to 400 ºF (204 ºC) for a bonding application in the medical device industry. THE LAB determined that an EASYHEAT^TM 4.2 kW, 150-400 kHz solid state induction power supply with a workhead and peanut induction heating coil specifically designed for this application would work well for this induction bonding application.

More Bonding Application Notes

The assembly was placed on a non-conductive board to simulate the circuit board in the actual application. The area around the induction coil was very congested, with several electrical components in the immediate vicinity. Initial tests were conducted to optimize the power delivered to the part. Temperature indicating paint was utilized to establish heating profiles and time-to-temperature. Power was then applied until the temperature indicating paint melted. The metal-to-plastic assemblies needed 3.5 seconds to form a strong bond.

Induction heating offers several benefits when compared to other heating options for this medical industry bonding application. First, it can improve processing quality by delivering uniform heat to two parts at once using a single-turn ‘peanut’ coil. Additionally, it also offers localized heat which enables easy alignment of optical components during final assembly. Precise and repeatable heating were two significant benefits to this client, which led them to use induction heating over other methods.

Check out our Medical Applications Brochure to see other medical applications using induction heating.  And, if you'd like your application tested, contact THE LAB to take advantage of complimentary induction heating application testing from our expert applications team. Be sure to ask about our new Virtual Lab Service, where you can observe testing live from the comfort of your home or office.