Note: Heating a Nitinol spring assembly for shape setting

Objective:

To heat a nitinol spring assembly to 800 °F (426.6 °C) for shape setting application 

End Product:

Nitinol spring

Equipment:

Ambrell 5.0 kW induction heating system, equipped with a remote workhead containing two 1.5 μF capacitors for a total of 0.75 μF
An induction heating coil, designed and developed specifically for this application

Materials:

0.018 in (.457 mm) Nitinol wire wrapped around a 0.08 in (2.03 mm) Nitinol mandrel 15 in (381 mm) long 

Temperature:

800 °F (426.6 °C)

Frequency:

270 kHz

Testing:

A six-turn split helical coil is used to heat the nitinol wire assembly to 800 °F (426.6 °C). The assembly is pulled through the coil at a steady rate to evenly heat a 1/2 in (12.7 mm) section of wire continuously in 4-5 second.  

Benefits:

  • Hands-free heating that involves no operator skill for manufacturing

  • Even distribution of heating along the wire

  • Wire is heat treated on the winding machine, eliminating a secondary process

  • Desired heat treating temperature can be adjusted by varying the time the wire assembly spends in the coil

Heating a Nitinol spring assembly for shape setting

Visit our Applications Lab to learn more about free applications testing.
1655 Lyell Ave, Rochester, NY 14606 USA | Tel: +1 585 889 9000