Pulsed electromagnetic attraction of nonmagnetic sheet metals

This paper is dedicated to a study of pulsed electromagnetic attraction based upon recently developed inductor design – “Inductor System with an Attracting Screen”. The concept of attraction in this inductor system is based upon inducing currents flowing in the same directions in the screen and in the sheet metal blank, which, according to Ampere law, results in attraction forces between the screen and sheet metal blank. This system is capable of applying attraction forces to non-ferromagnetic sheet metal materials, for example, stainless steel or aluminum using low frequency discharges. An analytical model based upon solution of Maxwell equations was developed to estimate the attracting forces for low frequency discharges. In addition to the analytical model, the described concept is illustrated by the experimental results on attraction of sheet metal blanks of stainless steel employing a single turn inductor and a flat screen.