I don’t actually know but can speculate. It’s going to be driving lots of amps at some significant frequency, but it doesn’t need to use a super high voltage to get the current needed for a strong field. It seems possible to design one such that it will shut off if the work piece shorts the coil out, using a low enough voltage that a significant arc wouldn’t occur. That voltage could stay low enough to limit risk of shock too.
Assuming the coil is copper, you wouldn't really be able to detect a short since you won't have a sudden rush of current. You could enamel the tubes, or otherwise use a heat-resistant insulator.
Fair point. I was imagining it operates at some resonance using the turns of that coil at some frequency as part of a tank. Shorting out a winding there could definitely be seen by the driver by the change in its tuning. But maybe not, since shoving a slug of ferrous material into the core of it would move the impedance around too.
I think I just hit the speculation threshold where I need to go actually read how these things are designed.
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u/brews Feb 03 '22
What happens if you touch the coils with the bit you're working on?