Thursday, August 14, 2008

Where can I see a magnet float ?

There is a video available here.


In this video is a very good float setup because the height of the lifting magnet and the distance between diamagnetic faces are both adjustable. It also looks quite expensive. It uses thick sheets of Pyrolytic Graphite. Less expensive setups are available from K&J Magnetics.
It would be a good challange to build your own frame, a kit containing magnets and Bismuth are available. The frame could be made from wood or plastic, or even non-magnetic metals. Many designs stack things like pennies to make the spacing between the faces, and use long screws to suspend the lifter magnet above the diamagnetic gap containing the floating magnet. The lifting magnet could even be a stack of ceramic magnets,which could be added or removed as needed, but the screw is still necessary for fine adjustment.


Here is a photo of a frame I made from scrap plastic in just a couple of days.

Here it is again with the Ceramic lifting magnets, the Bismuth Diagmagnetic pole pieces, and the floater magnet in place. I am using plastic spacers that are glued to the lower Bismuth Diamagnetic face.

I purchased the Bismuth castings and a number of Neodymiun magnets as a kit from a company called United Nuclear.

A company called K&J Magnetics sells a well made wooden frame with Pyrolytic Graphite faces and several small Neodymium magnets for the lifting and the floating magnets.

The K&J Magnetics frame has an adjusting screw for the lifter magnet, and adjustment for the gap between the diamagnetic Pyrolytic Graphite faces.

No comments: