ECRA Project

The objective of the project is the development of heating stations that allow, through automatic adjustment, the performance of consecutive thermal treatments that require the use of differentiated frequencies to achieve the corresponding heating patterns. The achievement of this objective makes it possible to avoid the need to develop two heating stations to carry out the indicated treatments, which directly translates into a significant reduction in the costs implicit in the development of this type of equipment. On the other hand, the arrangement of two heating stations, in addition to increasing the complexity of the equipment, is an important source of breakdowns and wear of the equipment, given the switching that allows the operation of each of the stations, depending on the treatment accomplished. The concept to be investigated and developed consists of the use of passive filters, which allow, through the use of a single station, to adapt automatically to the differentiated thermal treatments that will take place within a global process that encompasses both treatments, which will additionally be developed consecutively.

The indicated concept allows the realization of thermal treatments with two frequencies, markedly differentiated, with the use of a single heating station and inductor, likewise, another of the objectives of the present project is to perform automatically, without intervention by the user, the transition between each of the indicated treatments. This fact allows a significant reduction in the cycle times required for the performance of the indicated treatments. The achievement of the defined objectives will clearly increase the productivity and competitiveness of the sectors covered by this development, especially the automotive sector, as well as the competitiveness and productivity of GH by reducing material costs, staff hours, as a saving of the technical assistance within guarantee. The present development will allow GH to have a clear competitive advantage over other companies in the market. All this seeking to maintain or improve the performance, size and durability of current facilities. The type of installation object of development of the present project, would suppose the introduction of a product currently required by a market whose demands have increased remarkably in recent times.

The main technical objectives of the project are the development of the following elements, which make up the final prototype object of development.

• Conception, design and evaluation of new inductors with the capacity to carry out differential treatments, consecutively and with automatic adjustment, achieving optimal performance and reliability values.
• Conception, design and evaluation of heating stations with the capacity to carry out different treatments, consecutively and with automatic adjustment, achieving optimal performance and reliability values.
• Automation of the transition between consecutive thermal treatments with heating patterns and different operating frequencies.

Project summary

The scope of the project has focused on the development of a demonstrator for the thermal heating by induction of copper strapping in high productivity equipment, fulfilling optimal performance and reliability values. To this end, the following developments have been carried out satisfactorily:

1. Development of inductor for the performance of thermal treatments differentiated consecutively and with automatic adjustment.
2. Development of new heating stations for the performance of differentiated thermal treatments consecutively and with automatic adjustment.
3. Development of the mechanical system of the prototype and its transmission system.

This project has been co-funded by CDTI, and the European Union through the Operational Programme Smart Growth ERDF 2014-2020. The reference number of the project is EXP 00098812 / IDI-20170337.