My Automatic Induction Annealing Project

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gearheadpyro

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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.
 
I reload from 22 caliber to 375 Ruger and will not go higher, however 80% of my reloading is from 264 to 338 caliber.

Features?

timer
inexpensive (around $150.00 or less possible?)
easily replaceable parts for the ones that wear out
case guide to help hold the case neck in the center
case or sturdy box for storage
 
woods:

Thanks for the input, it really does help. The tool will be fully automatic when completed. You will just need to set your case's height, then dial the time to anneal the case. After that just load your cases and let it roll.

Unfortunately this tool will cost significantly more than $150. The heater portion alone will be several times that at my cost. I am not sure yet what it will sell for as I do not have a finished unit built yet.
 
.308 (7.62 x 51) case form----that includes .243, .260, 7mm-08 and .308.
and, also .44 mag.

The price? Well, it depends on the amount of automation and precision of regulation of heat. It sounds like you are going to use a timer.

How about feed into the heat station and removal out of the station into a cool down area? Or is this just hold the case in place with a welder's glove, push a button with the other hand and hold until the timer dings?
 
inexpensive (around $150.00 or less possible?)
Click to expand...

Not sure how automatic the machine he intends to build but just the case feed will cost more than that.
 
Once the machine is set up for the cases you intend to anneal you will need to load cases into a turntable as it processes them. That's it. They will drop into a cool down bin at the base of the machine automatically after annealing.

The heat delivery will be exactly the same for all cases in a lot as the height, time of heat, and amount of heat will not change. To reset will be very simple as the controls will just be dials, no flames to adjust or anything like that. The machine will run off of a computer chip, this will take the human hand completely out of the equation.

I may add a case feeder later, but it's not in the works right now.

I do appreciate the help guys. The first version will not be made to handle the .50 BMG. I'm going to concentrate on most of the cases listed here, and the common varmint/competition/wildcating cartridges as that seems to be where the demand for it is at.
 
Once the machine is set up for the cases you intend to anneal you will need to load cases into a turntable as it processes them.
Click to expand...

If you are annealing 1000’s of cases (remember these machines are not cheap) I would make sure you build it with a case feed in mind. I am not sure how fast your machine takes to anneal say a .223; but with the one I built, keeping the turntable full of brass got old real quick.

A case feed where you fill the hopper every 20 minutes it’s the only way to be truly automatic. Not to mention I can size/deprime and trim concurrent with annealing.

Do you have any photos of what you have so far or are you just gathering ideas at this point?
 
.223, .308, .30-06

If you are looking to keep it simple I would stick with service rifle calibers. Bolt gun shooters can do one at a time. :)

I enjoyed your other thread and would serious consider purchasing one. Do you have an ETA in mind?
 
Good point Jmorris, I hadn't thought of it like that. I don't really have any photos to speak of just yet as I haven't done much in the way of building. What I do have is on my blog. I have assembled my prototypes housing, and have since been working on the case drop tube.

I do not have an ETA yet, partly due to the fact that I don't have the actual heater I plan to use yet. The boards are being printed last I heard, but I'm waiting for the designer to let me know they are available. This is holding up a lot of my development. There are a few specifics related to the heater unit I really need before continuing.
 
No open flame would be a big safety point for me. Also, the RF heating should be more precise and repeatable. I assume you will include a heat indicating paint stick for the initial setups. Can you have one coil or "applicator" cover the .243 to .308 range?
 
Very nice machine Jmorris. I like it, got a few good ideas from it too. Is that a Dillon case feeder?

I will likely include one paint stick or bottle of tempilaq with the machine. The coil will be a set size, no need to change it.
 
Yes, that one is a Dillon. I made my own collator a few years ago but it is a lot eaiser to just use all of the Dillon parts that come with every conversion.
 
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