The simplicity of creating a repeatable process makes induction brazing perfect for serial, high-volume manufacturing processes. Today, induction brazing, a precision process that heats only the point of fusion and the fusion alloy, is a faster, safer, and more effective technique, particularly if your shop is producing large volumes and includes some automation.
How Induction Brazing Works?
Brazing is a process for joining materials using filler metals (typically an anti-oxidizing solvent called a flux) to bond two closely spaced pieces of metal together without melting the parent materials. Today, induction brazing, a precision process that only heats the point of fusion, is a faster, safer, and more effective technique—mainly if your shop produces high volumes and includes some degree of automation.
Benefits
- Using an induction braze instead of the traditional torch may improve joint quality and reduce the time required per piece.
- The simplicity of creating a repeatable process makes induction brazing ideal for serial, high-volume manufacturing processes.
- The recent developments of low-temperature aluminum brazing materials have successfully replaced flame and oven heating for large-volume aluminum assembly. Brazing induction lowers the need for oxidation and expensive clean-up, especially if you use rapid cooling cycles.
- Because induction heat cycles are much shorter than those for flame brazing, more parts can be processed faster, with less heat released into the surrounding environment. As a result, induction brazing machines produce high-quality, airtight, and watertight joints with lower oxidation and cleaning requirements than those made using flame heating technologies.
- Induction brazing requires heating just the joiner interface, which allows brazing alloys to flow and capillaries to enter the joiner interface.
- With an induction brazing device, a user can set multi-step heating ramp cycles that will enable a user to raise temperature rapidly, then reduce the heat, so that braze alloy flows correctly, not overheating the joined parts.
Parts Mounting
An induction brazing system installed correctly will deliver heat in one particular, localized location to decrease distortions and optimize the overall process.
Induction brazing makes it easy to automate part mounting processes, freeing operator hands while also increasing the life expectancy of your equipment.
Metals That Can Be Induction Brazed
While nearly all metals can be brazed, provided that the heat and metal of the filler used during the process are carefully controlled, some metals require more care and precision during the brazing process. Induction brazing still will form an excellent bond holding your pieces together.
There are many metals appropriate for induction brazing.
- Metals like platinum, silver and gold are expensive to work with and accuracy is a must when brazing these precious metals.
- Copper and its alloys are used extensively due to their superior electrical and thermal conductivity properties. Their corrosion resistance, strength and fatigue performance are excellent. They can readily be soldered and brazed, and many coppers and copper alloys can be soldered using gases, arcs, and resistance methods.
- Brass, aluminum, iron, steel, and stainless steel are also popular metals for brazing.
- Tungsten is stronger than gold and silver combined and creates an excellent brazing seal.
- Chrome, an expensive brazing metal, is used in the automotive industry.
- Nickel and nickel alloys are also excellent brazing materials and are often used in chemical, nuclear and aerospace industries.
