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Re: NEON- Re: Scientic Sys - induction heaters

OK, here's the scoop on Scientific Systems induction heaters,
straight from a phone conversation I had with the guy who seems to
be in charge of both engineering and building them :::::::

-    The model he says is specifically designed for electrode    
     processing *is* the IND30, and that's the one shown in the
     "neon" catalog John mentioned

-    The coil assembly (which he referred to as a "doughnut") is
     approximately 3/4" ID, and will handle 15mm trodes

-    He says the average shell gets cherry red within 20-30 seconds

-    Power of the unit is approximately 150W; it runs at 50 KHz

-    It's to be considered an intermittent duty device due to heat
     being absorbed by the coil assembly; swapping coils (they're
     apparently plug-ins) and cooling one off while using the other
     is how he suggests increasing the duty cycle -- says the
     electronics can handle it

-    The price is $149.50, extra coils are $50 each.  In view of
     John reporting $199.50 from the other catalog, either the
     price has come down or I was incorrect when I thought I heard
     that a coil is included

-    The units are said to be cheap partly because they're not
     pretty, meaning they're something like "laboratory grade" and
     not meant to be general market production items

-    Since they're not general production allow a couple of weeks
     or thereabouts for lead time
..............

If that last item seems to imply "build to order," that's pretty
much what the guy told me.  But as Morgan points out (thanks,
Morgan!) that can be an advantage.  I was figuring on needing two
units to do a standard tube, but it definitely seems like the 
jacks and 2nd coil are the way to go.  Or maybe the coil swapping
mentioned above means it's a standard feature now???

Ah, coils:  I asked about the potential for home-brew coils, with
the idea of avoiding having to put on the coil and then seal the
tube to the manifold.  The guy said that's not a good idea unless
one is good at calculating inductance and such - that the electron-
ics could get easily zapped otherwise.  Then he said he's been
working on a U-shaped coil for some time.  Good?

Sort-of.  He went on to say the problem is building an open kind of
coil that won't spew out RF all over the place, inviting all sorts
of problems with FCC certification and stuff.  None of which is
probably worth it for low volume, low cost devices like this.  Then
he had an inspiration:  He could offer the U-shaped coils in "kit"
form, and that doesn't require certification as long as individual
users don't buy a bunch of them and use them for mass production.

I told him I'd put that information out to the list and see if I
could get a reading on how much interest there'd be in the "kit"
coils.  Soooooooooooo, if all of y'all who might be potential
buyers (and it sounds like very little real assembly would be
required) would like to shoot me a short e-mail indicating such,
next time I call him I can pass the info along and maybe he'll go
ahead and build a few if there are enough affirmative votes.

JD

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> From:          neonmc@earthlink.net (Morgan Crook)
> Subject:       Re: NEON- Re: Scientic Sys - induction heaters
> Reply-to:      neon-l@lists.io.com

> I'm using one of these induction heaters.  It may not be the best but it's
> cheap (Dirk, how much did you pay for that one you have?  Not  less than
> $200 US) Tip: get them to make it with jacks and a second coil; if you are
> doing something with 2 electrodes, it lets you seal one on over the
> tubulated end, and then have the 2nd for the non tubulated end.
> 
> Morgan
> 
> 
> >> >JD wrote:   Induction heaters and whether or not Scientific Systems
> >> >(a.k.a. Information Unlimited) still sells them, their e-mail to me this
> >> >week says that they do.  That's about *all* they said, other than a
> >> >comment that their "IND30" is the one being used by neon shops.  They're
> >> >supposed to be sending info snail-mail, so if anyone is interested in
> >> >these units let me know and I can pass it along.
> >
> >I have their most current "Amazing & Facinating Devices" catalog.  They
> >show the following for inductions heaters:
> >
> >   IND1     plans:  10.00     kit+plans:    99.50
> >   COIL1 (optional wound coil)              29.50
> >   IND30 (higher power, ready to use)      199.50
> >
> >On the page opposite the "Anti Gravity" devices. <g>
> >
> >Their current "NEON" catalog lists an "Induction Heater" for 149.50, but
> >they don't give a part number.  Don't know how it compares with the above
> >units.       
> >
> >  -John


--
JD Schueler
lightem_up@socketis.net
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