My Automatic Induction Annealing Project

[Gearheadpyro]

Hello all;

As many of you know I have become rather fascinated with annealing using induction heat. I had a thread on this forum a while back showing how I was doing it, and the results I was getting. Many of you replied enthusiastically and for that I thank you.

I am working on making an automatic machine to anneal cases (the I.C.A. 2000) and hope to be able to bring it to market in the near future. I would like to get some input from you guys on what you would be looking for in an annealer before I build/buy the next set of parts.

What cartidges do you reload? Specifically I am looking for the largest and smallest cases (including pistol) that you would/do anneal. I had considered making the machine to handle the monster 50 BMG, but I'm not sure that demand is high enough for the 50 to make it worth the diminshed performance with smaller cartridges.

What other features would you like to see in my induction annealing machine?

Any advice you offer is much appreciated as I try to develop the I.C.A. 2000.

 

[mikecr]

If looking for a challenge, try to keep it compact and easy to store.
Maybe a nice box for it..

Will your offering include a timer?

 

[TheSnake]

223 to belted Mags would cover it for me. You do have a point with the big 50’s though. I am sure those guys would want to get the most number of reloads per case because they are so costly. Thinking in my mind about the ones I have seen. If the top disk could be replaced by one with the larger holes for the 50’s and there be fewer of them to go around, that could do trick. That way us little case guys could opt out from purchasing the additional/larger top. I don’t know what yours will look like or if it will even have a top but this is just a thought.

 

[Gearheadpyro]

mikecr:

The end product will be fully automatic. Set the case height, set the time to anneal, load the cases and watch it happen.
How would you define compact? Right now it's looking like 18" x 18" x 12"

TheSnake:

The induction annealer will have a tube located inside that the cases fall into, the top disc will be a set size that does not need to be changed for various cases. The issue is the work coil size, the bigger the coil the less energy gets transferred. If I make the coil .850" for the .50's then a small case like a .223 may not anneal as quickly as would be desired.

 

[TheSnake]

Understood. I wish you good luck with your design because it sounds like losing the flames will be a good thing. Please let us know when you have a prototype so we can give it a look.

 

[johara1]

This sounds like a winner,if you can do it at a reasonable price. Keep us informed.... I'm tired of the flames.........jim

 

[JRinCo]

.50 cal., This cartridge is specialized in every respect. I would't sacrifice the functionality of the annealer in order to accomidate the .50, 90% of shooters won't need it. With that being said I anneal everything from .300 RUM on down to .223 Rem. but even in my case 90% of the annealing that I do, happens with my competition size cartridges and comp. size brasss is what an annealing machine has to do well.

There are already some very good automatic high capicity machines on the market that have large price tags. You will be more competitive if you can make one that is compact and less expensive. I think that's where the market is for people who don't already own one.

 

[Gearheadpyro]

Thanks to all, got some great advice.

My first version of the machine will not include the big 50's. I'm going to make it more geared toward the smaller cartridges that are frequently used for competition and wildcating.

I'm doing my best to keep cost at a minimum, but I won't sacrifice quality to do it. Cost will be at best similar to the other machines, but it may go a little higher. The induction heater circuits are not inexpensive by any measure.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

where are you at RE production? I would make it large enough to do the 338 LM.

 

[Autoverminator]

I'd like to see the unit ran with an Allen Bradley micro 820 with a 4-20 expansion card. 4" touch screen for setting times when ran in time duration mode. The use of a ir thermal scanner for real time process temp with a 4-20mA output signal to run the process. It would be great to stop the process based on actual temp in real time vs the trial and error time duration.

If folks are pushing to automate these units, we mine as well go industrial on them. IM me if you want to chat.

 

[itchyTF]

The OP was last "seen" on 9/30/11 so you may not get an answer.