INDUCTION heating is a process or method by which metal parts are heated by simply placing them in an alternating magnetic field.
The action is that of the transformer, whereby electrical energy is transferred or passed over to another isolated electric or secondary circuit by means of the magnetic field; thus, no physical attachments or electrical contacts are necessary to have electrical currents, which are dissipated as heat, flow in the parts to be processed.
The strength and frequency of the alternating magnetic field can be selected to produce any desired rate of heating and ultimate temperature.
A circuit can be set up to dry lacquer at 160 deg. fahr. on thin sheet-metal parts or to melt in record time immense steel ingots.
Induction heating is now commercially applied in automotive production to many processes, and these are specified.
The development of lower cost electrical apparatus suitable for induction heating has greatly stimulated its commercial use, and the field of application will rapidly expand as the many values of the process become better known.