Coil Winding
by Dan Bates
The coils conduct the current of charge, charge that is pushed back and forth along the wire by the passing magnets. They form the heart of the machine.
Coil winding is a slow and steady piece of work. Continuity is important, each coil having to match each other by a twentieth of their weight. The copper is heavy, the reel is large and the coil winder is clamped tightly to the table. One person winds and ensures the copper is lain properly, from left to right, making layers of copper wire. On part of the person holding the reel of copper, a steady strength is involved in keeping the wire tense, but that’s not nearly the hardest part.
Arthur winding a coil
The hardest thing is keeping count. “Is it twenty-two, or twenty five? Doh!” The best approach is to have both people count, saying out aloud the numbers. It’s much harder to forget about the voice than it is to forget about the thoughts.
Once all the winds have been done, weather it’s 70, 80 or 90 winds, the coil has to be taped tight while still tense, otherwise it would spring out of the winder as it was taken out. It’s a tedious little task but it so worth the satisfaction of finally taking the side panel from the winder, removing the coil, and feeling it’s weight and sturdiness, fit for the Heart of the machine.