Definition
A welding process in which the metal parts to be joined are heated by a high-frequency alternating electric current passed through a coil placed around or near them. The changing magnetic field from the coil induces eddy currents in the metal, which heat it rapidly to welding temperature without the coil itself touching the work.
Plain English
A way of welding where a coil produces a strong magnetic field that heats the metal from the inside until it gets hot enough to fuse. The coil never actually touches the metal.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing discussions of approved welding methods for metal parts, tubing, or assemblies.
Derivation
‘Induction’ comes from the Latin inducere, meaning ‘to lead in.’ Here it refers to electrical induction — energy being ‘led into’ the metal by a magnetic field rather than by direct contact. That captures the core idea: the heat is generated inside the metal itself, not applied from outside.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots and mechanics may encounter induction-welded components in airframe tubing and engine parts. Knowing how the joint was made helps in understanding inspection criteria and repair limitations.
Analogy
It is similar to an induction cooktop heating a pan: the heat is made in the metal itself, not by an open flame underneath it.
Intuition Check
Induction here does not mean engine air intake or a training ceremony. It means using an electrical effect from a nearby coil to heat metal for welding.
Example Sentence 1
The steel tubing in the fuselage cluster was joined using induction welding to produce a clean, consistent weld with minimal distortion.
Example Sentence 2
Induction welding produced a clean, consistent bond on the exhaust manifold repair.