In the latest induction heating application video from THE LAB at Ambrell, a steel rod is heated for a forging application with an Ambrell EASYHEAT^TM induction heating system and a custom-designed coil. As you'll see in the video, heating the steel bar to 2220 °F (1204 °C) took just 20 seconds. Here is the preheating for forging video:

Induction forging is a process in which an induction heating system preheats metals and presses them into shape using a hammer or press. The applications for induction forging vary greatly, but before you get started assessing your applications, it's helpful to have a good understanding of the process. So, let's get started.

Principal Process
First, it's important to understand that induction heating is a non-contact process that uses the main principles of electromagnetic induction in order to effectively produce heat. Electric current can flow through a material when it is placed in a strong alternative magnetic field; this causes Joule heating. With magnetic materials, the excess heat is generated below the Curie Point -- the Curie point is the temperature at which certain magnetic materials undergo a sharp change in their magnetic properties. The Curie point of iron, for example, is 1,418 degrees Fahrenheit (770 degrees Celsius).

A client attempted to cold forge a steel part with a flange, but wasn't getting the desired results. Consequently, they turned to THE LAB at Ambrell to see if hot forging would meet their time and quality objectives. Their goal was to heat the part to 1800 ºF (982 ºC) within 30 seconds.