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Welding ferrite?

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:22 pm
by xwrench
A customer asked me to weld some ferrite pieces from some kind of transformer core. Is this even possible? what process would one use? Filler?

Thanks
Eldon

Re: Welding ferrite?

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:47 pm
by Braehill
Eldon,
I've always been under the impression that the ceramic ferrite core in a transformer is the same material as a magnet is made of. If it can be welded I have no clue as to how or with what. Maybe super glue. :)

Len

Re: Welding ferrite?

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 7:43 pm
by ldbtx
Eldon,

If it's the same type of ferrite material that's used in electronic chokes and around cables to minimize interference, it would seem to be some kind of pressed powder. I can't say for sure because I've never experimented with a failed piece, but I've got a hunch that once there's a physical break in the material, the path for the lines of EMF is broken and even if it's glued back together, it wouldn't do its job.

ldb

Re: Welding ferrite?

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 7:57 pm
by rake
There's also a ferrite iron. It's a crystalline structured pure iron that holds a stable field when current is applied to a coil
around it.

If it's iron ferrite I'd bet silver solder would be a good choice to bond pieces together.

Re: Welding ferrite?

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:38 pm
by WerkSpace
I glue ferrite pieces together with epoxy.
I typically use two E-cores and install a wire bobbin in the middle.
I shim the two E-cores with sheets of paper until I'm able to tune the core just right.

My primary application for this technique is in the manufacture of high power acoustic weapons.
These devices were originally used by the military for riot control, but my purpose is to protect property.
More information on this topic can be found here. http://www.amazing1.com/ultrasonics.html

Re: Welding ferrite?

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 12:56 pm
by xwrench
The stuff is definitely not weldable. At least not in any conventional way. My tig will spark the hi freq but won't strike an arc on it. I started the arc on a piece of steel and walked it over to the ferrite which promptly exploded into powder near the arc.
Thanks for the replies.

Cheers
Eldon