Stripping for enameled wire. My little know-how.

[Zampotech]

In the manufacture of transformers, I had a problem to clean the enamel wires from the varnish.
I made a small tool for myself. It can quickly clean enameled wire with diameter from 0.2 to 0.65 mm

The operation of the tool is shown in the video.

YouTube

Treated wire under microscope. The varnish peel off the tube like a sock.

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

I use a soldering iron and flux.

 

[Zampotech]

Yes, there are some wires, which varnish is destroyed at low temperature.I don't use these wires. When heated, the transformer may die.

 

[simon7000]

I use a small torch.

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

Yes, there are some wires, which varnish is destroyed at low temperature.I don't use these wires. When heated, the transformer may die.

The varnish is destroyed at temperatures in excess of 130℃. I would think any transformer running at that or near to that temperature has issues.

 

[Zampotech]

I use wires with a guaranteed operating temperature of up to 155 degrees and up to 180 degrees. 155 degree is normal wire, 180 degree is heat resistant wire. The lacquer insulation of these wires will be alive up to 240 degrees.

 

[kasey197]

Looks good but How do you make the tool ?

 

[Zampotech]

At home, repeat is unlikely. The need for special magnetic materials. I had them made to order.

 

[nigelwright7557]

I just scrape off the varnish with a knife.

 

[Zampotech]

I did that too. But he has become very lazy
And maybe I have curve hands, it does not always work well scratched, sometimes break wire.

 

[billshurv]

Odd for a first post. No introduction and fishing for youtube hits?

 

[JMFahey]

It wouldn´t be that bad IF he explained how to make it.
As is, it´s just bragging.

 

[Zampotech]

Very simply. A powerful high-frequency generator (about 1 kilowatt per pulse) and a specially shaped inductor made of ferromagnetic material that withstands such frequency and power.

I do not know the composition of the magnetic material, it was made to order in the research laboratory on my technical assignment..

Such inductors are not commercially available.

 

[scott wurcer]

I think a bigger problem is stripping 175 strands of #40 Litz wire.

 

[Zampotech]

Yes, Litz wire my tool doesn't handle. For the Litz wire I use aspirin. I don't know anything more convenient. But very smelly process.

 

[soundchaser]

When I worked in the transformer business (early 1980's) we used Strip-X. A very caustic syrupy liquid. It worked on heavy Formel, Formvar and polythermaleze insulated magnet wire. Took a few minutes of soak but it worked.

If you got it on your hands it started to burn/irritate almost immediately; made Easy Off (oven cleaner) look like mother's milk!

 

[Zampotech]

I know that now in factories producing transformers use ABISIFIX for thick wires and heating the wires on the PVC plate for thin wires. Hot PVC plate releases hydrogen chloride. Very poisonous gas.

 

[kodabmx]

Brake fluid will eat most enamel... I usually just use a Bic lighter though.

 

[phaselag]

There are a number of magnet wire insulations. I worked at a company that made transformers and coils and was familiar with the types. Many insulations are sold as "solderable" which meant that temperatures of melted solder would melt off the insulation. It was common to dip the ends in a solder pot to make clean, tinned ends. Higher temperature insulation grades did not melt and require some sort of mechanical removal. You can check the wire with a blob of solder on an iron tip, held up to the end of an enameled wire. If it melts back from the end and tins the wire, it is a solderable insulation. If the insulation does not melt with a soldering iron, then mechanical removal is required.


Paul

 

[trobbins]

Was the technique aiming to induce an eddy current (and using skin effect) around the circumference of the single copper wire (along a certain length of the wire), and hence raise the copper wire skin temperature rapidly to a point where the enamel melts/burns/expands and smokes, and then allows the enamel to be quickly wiped off whilst it is still somewhat hot?

Did you change the frequency, or find it of most use with that range of wire diameters? And what was the frequency?

Did you get to melt the copper at all, or the parts used to generate the field, during prototyping?