FBO_Combined_Synopsis_Solicitation_Questions.docx

Questions and Responses – Solicitation Number SB1341-16-RQ-0629

Question #1 Will you require the workhead to be on some sort of fixture with a handle that the operator can turn so that the induction coil is heating up either a part that is horizontal or vertical? If so are we to provide this fixture?

Answer #1 The workhead (necessarily separate or remote from the power supply, etc) is light and small (bench scale..quick and easy movement managed by one person) with flat sides one should be able to rotate it 90 degrees in-order the switch from the vertical to horizontal position. This is the minimal situation.

“A remote head is required to provides separation of the operator from the heated work piece to ensure safe operation. The work head design should also allow for a quick switch (2 minutes or less) between vertical and horizontal orientation of the water-cooled helical coil, by simple rotation of the work head as opposed to switching out coils.”

Question #2 Please elaborate on the capacitance required for the induction heater. You require .66 MFD in total capacitance but you state that it can either be .33 MFD in parallel or 150 capacitors in parallel. You call for the tuning of the induction heater in consultation with you. Does this mean that you will want to change the capacitance from .66 MFD to something else by either adding or subtracting capacitors or by the configuration of the induction coil. In our machines the capacitance is fixed but the coil can be modified with more or less turns.

Answer #2

2. The specification is clear “0.33 microfarad FP or CSP150 (conduction cooled) 150 capacitors in parallel for a total capacitance of 0.66 microfarads.” In terms of application the coil design and workhead capacitor combo need to enable the following “The heating coils should be designed for heating 1.) Cu single crystals that can be upto 2.5 cm in diameter and 0.4 cm in thickness and 2.) Au and Pt specimens that 1cm in diameter and 0.1 cm thick. The Cu crystal will sit within a pyrex tube (provided by user) with an outside diameter of 3.5 cm that the RF coils will surround. The quartz tube will contain a flowing protective inert gas atmosphere to protect the specimen surface during annealing. The single crystal specimens to be heated vary in size from Cu disk that are 2.5 cm in diameter and 0.4 cm thick, and will be annealed at temperatures up to 900 C. In contrast, the Pt and Au disk 1 cm in diameter and 0.1 cm thick will need to be annealed at temperatures up to 1400C for Pt and 900 C for Au and thus may require use a different RF coil in order to reach 1400 C with the limitation being that the inside diameter of the RF coil cannot be smaller than 2 cm.”