One of the most common uses for induction heating is the heat staking of threaded metal inserts into plastic.
Most thermoplastics are too soft to sufficiently hold a thread, so brass or steel threaded inserts are added. Post-molded installation is more cost-effective than molding in place and induction is a proven way to pre-heat the inserts prior to installation. For heat staking, the insert is preheated with induction and then pressed into a hole in the plastic part. This is accomplished by positioning the induction coil over the hole and then holding the insert in the coil for a short period of time.
Heat Staking application notes
Get our design guide 'Inserting Metal into Plastic with Induction'