Thermal processing techniques for metallic materials

A method of thermally processing a material with a thermal processing system, the method comprising:

• providing a material for treating in an in-line thermal process to a heating system comprising an induction coil;
• providing a force to the material at a portion of the material configured to be heated by the heating system;
• providing an alternating current to the induction coil to cause the induction coil to generate an electromagnetic (EM) field;
• and
• causing, by the EM field, heating of the portion of the material to a specified temperature value while the portion of the material is under the force to change a magnetic property of the material.

A method for thermally processing a material with a thermal processing system for forming a rotor of a linear motion device, the method comprising:

• providing an amorphous metal material for treating in an in-line thermal process to a heating system;
• providing a first force to the material at a portion of the amorphous metal material configured to be heated by the heating system;
• adjusting the heating system to a first temperature value for a first segment of the amorphous metal material;
• strain annealing the first segment of the amorphous metal material using the first temperature value and the first force;
• providing a second force to a second segment of the amorphous metal material;
• and
• strain annealing the second segment of the amorphous metal material using the second force.