Note: Pre-heating a Truck Axle Seam for Welding

Objective:

To pre-heat the seam of a truck axle to over 300 °F within 15 seconds for a welding application and maintain temperature within the welding zone for 15 seconds after the power is turned off. 

End Product:

Truck axle

Equipment:

Ambrell 20 kW induction hrating system
remote heat station with four 1.2 μF capacitors and a specially designed pancake induction coil. 

Materials:

Steel truck axle; 350 ° and 400 Ă °F temperature indicating paint
350 °, 375 °and 400 Ă °F temperature indicating “crayons” 

Temperature:

350 °F

Frequency:

135 kHz

Testing:

A fixture was constructed to rotate the axle 400 °F in 15 seconds and the induction coil was placed above the axle. The circumference of the axle (beneath the coil) was painted with 350 ° and 400 °F temperature indicating paint. While the axle was being rotated, RF power was applied for 15 seconds. All of the paint melted, confirming that the axle temperature was above 400 °F. The RF power was shut off and the temperature “crayons in were immediately placed against the axle to monitor temperature. The 400 °F crayon did not melt; the 375 °F crayon melted for 15 seconds; the 350 °F crayon melted for 30 seconds.

Benefits:

The steel axle was heated to over 400 Ă °F within 15 seconds and temperatures above 350 Ă °F were maintained for 30 seconds after power was turned off, meeting the requirements of the welding application.
Pre-heating a Truck Axle Seam for Welding

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