Thread: Magnets - any ideas?

Get yourself an old harddrive and take the very powerful magnets out of it, they are small but very very strong

they make for interesting playthings on the service counter at work...

the look on peoples faces when they get bitten after being warned is classical...

A few years back, I did some work for someone who had invented magnetic gearing - magnets replaced gear teeth (the magnetic flux patterns resemble gear teeth when magnets are arranged this way). No contact, no lubrication, no friction and no heat. Move the gears (magnets) closer together, or back off to control the slip torque - handy to prevent overload or if jambing can occur. (google "magnetic gearing and turbine")

He used rare earth magnets, and was one of the biggest users in Aus.

Most rare earth magnets come from China. There are a few importers in Aus, but the only one I can recall at the moment is at Heatherbrae (near Raymond Terrace, north of Newcastle).

But rare earth magnets, in the size you are talking about, are very dangerous to handle - if you have one in your hand and move anywhere near steel, it will literally smash you hand against the steel, with enormous force, in milliseconds.

that would be why they have ally cases on rovers then

good idea IMHO, but arent rare earth magnets kinda fragile?

i would say brittle just like glass.......
as soon as it sticks to some steel at 100kph......it will break.......
it still sticks...but in little pieces......with sharp edges.......just like glass.....


open up an old hard disc drive and have a look and a play with the magnet out of that.....
you will be amazed at its strength......it wont come off its bracket in one piece......
but there is no need to remove it.......

I needed a magnet the other day for a specific purpose and checked the yellow pages, found a business that specialised in magnets and got what I needed at a price which I thought cheap. They have a very diverse range.

You are all so good.

Thank you - keep the lateral ideas going - you've answered so much more than I've asked.

I do things for a reason and I'll explain why when I've got the photographic evidence (and I have to make a sincere apology to someone else).

Abdxi: Dans page is out there!
Blknght: standby
Vmorph: as above, it's a hobby job which means zero $$$, if possible.
JDNSW: I referred to an aerial earlier, but not for this purpose (however, the roof on the Discovery is steel). Your 1st idea is the main idea, thanks JD.
Ladas: Top stuff, I'll get one and see if it works. Blowing up old tvs is sooo much fun.
Echidna: An old 1gb HDD is now in bits, cute things aren't they?
Bush65: That's deep, methnks of maglev trains...
Zook/Dobbo: Now I'm thinking of so many other applications
RichardK: Thankyou.

Did I miss anyone?

Thank you all.

GQ

Do I smell long extension subwoofers being built at home?