argusmagnets

How to Separate Magnets

Tue, 30 May 2017 13:58:00 GMT

Whether for hobby, a science experiment, or playing with friends, every kid plays with magnets […] The post How to Separate Magnets appeared first on Argus International.

On a commercial level, industrial magnets both big and small can prove difficult to pull apart, and actually, often the smaller rare earth magnets are even more challenging to pull than its bigger counterparts. How you separate magnets while avoiding frustration depends on the type and strength of it, and with a few simple methods, you’ll be separating your magnets in no time.

Slide

The simplest method, sliding, separates magnets by sliding instead of trying to pull apart. Since magnets are measured on pull strength, they’re five times easier to separate by push, not pull.

Wedge

When magnets are so strong, they’re extremely difficult to separate and can even be dangerous. In this case, using a non-magnetic aid to wedge between the magnets works best. Try a wooden wedge, which can be customized to your specifications and needs, and use two people to safely separate them, ensuring they don’t jump back together.

Edge

When dealing with stronger magnets, you need a bit more leverage to create the gap needed to separate. Use the edge of something like a table for help; position the magnets where they’re adjoined to push them apart, and then keep the magnets separate to prevent pinching your fingers.

Always keep safety at top of mind when handling magnets in any capacity and store them separately once you get them apart. To avoid crushing or pinching fingers, where gloves and since magnets can chip or shatter, always where safety goggles, too.

The post How to Separate Magnets appeared first on Argus International .

Cyclists Use Magnets and Motors to Cheat

Tue, 02 May 2017 17:10:00 GMT

Forget steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, cyclists have taken cheating to a new level with ‘motor […] The post Cyclists Use Magnets and Motors to Cheat appeared first on Argus International.

Forget steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, cyclists have taken cheating to a new level with ‘motor doping.’ Professional cyclists in Europe have been found with magnets used in a small, hidden motor of their bikes in races like Tour de France.

image CBS news

60 Minutes’ Bill Whitaker investigated this, traveling to Budapest with a team of producers to visit the engineer of this tiny bike motor , Istvan Varjas. Varjas showed off his work, including his next big invention for cyclists – an electromagnetic wheel. After demonstrating the bikes in action to 60 Minutes, the producers couldn’t believe it – they really couldn’t detect any motor being used, by sight or even sound. He believes these motors have been used by professionals since 1998, though Varjas told producers that he didn’t create any products with the intention of being used to cheat.

How it works

The motor can be activated in several ways, including by a small hidden button by the handlebars, it can automatically start running once the cyclist’s heart reaches a certain limit, and it can even be triggered by a bystander remotely.

Magnets part in reinventing the wheel

The next advancement in the tiny motor technology is literally using magnets to reinvent the wheel. With his latest invention, Varjas has developed a model of a device that has small, hidden magnets inside the rim of the back wheel along with a battery and electromagnetic coils. When activated, the coils generate a magnetic field that propels the magnets forward, making the wheels spin faster. This silent technology is undetectable, even to the cyclist.

The post Cyclists Use Magnets and Motors to Cheat appeared first on Argus International .

How Magnets Make Football Safer

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 18:07:00 GMT

Because of the high-impact nature of the sport, football is notoriously linked with concussions and […] The post How Magnets Make Football Safer appeared first on Argus International.

Because of the high-impact nature of the sport, football is notoriously linked with concussions and head injuries. It’s not surprising though; concussions happen with impacts of more than 100 g’s, and on the field, players running at almost 20 miles per hour can cause up to 150 g’s of force upon impact. In fact, every year, more than 100,000 concussions occur at all levels of the 1.2 million people who play it in America.

Leave it to science to come up with a trick to reduce the risk of head injuries in this beloved sport. By adding magnets to helmets, research suggests that when two players collide, the magnets in their helmets would repel each other, reducing the force of the impact and protecting the players.

According to neuroscientist Raymond Colello, “All helmet design companies and manufacturers have the same approach, which is to try to disperse the impact energy after the impact’s already occurred.” While this has, of course, prevented some injuries, it hasn’t been the most effective design. With the addition of magnets, the impact would be slowed or halted before it occurred.

While this design has yet to be tested with real players in action, the research and data is extremely promising, pointing towards magnets to actually reduce injury by repelling each other.

So what are they testing in these helmets? Rare earth magnets, of course. These powerful and strongest commercial magnets are the perfect material for the job. When two rare earth magnets are only ¼ of an inch away from one another, they repel almost 100 pounds of repulsive force.

The addition of magnets to football wouldn’t completely change the design of the helmet, but would rather complement the existing model. Professional football helmets currently cost a few hundred dollar and adding magnets would increase the cost by anywhere from $50 to $100. For lower level players who do not have the force and impact that professional players exude could have these helmets made for less, with less powerful, more affordable magnets to match their force.

The post How Magnets Make Football Safer appeared first on Argus International .

How Magnets Make Football Safer

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 18:07:00 GMT

Because of the high-impact nature of the sport, football is notoriously linked with concussions and […] The post How Magnets Make Football Safer appeared first on Argus International.

While this design has yet to be tested with real players in action, the research and data is extremely promising, pointing towards magnets to actually reduce injury by repelling each other.

The post How Magnets Make Football Safer appeared first on Argus International .

Safety and Rare Earth Magnets

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 22:11:00 GMT

While rare earth magnets, such as neodymium magnets, have a variety of commercial uses, it’s […] The post Safety and Rare Earth Magnets appeared first on Argus International.

While rare earth magnets, such as neodymium magnets, have a variety of commercial uses, it’s also important to understand and appreciate their strength so you handle them safely. Since rare earth magnets are so strong, they’re perfect for industrial and commercial uses – it’s practically impossible to demagnetize them and they are permanent magnets. Because of this, it’s crucial to handle them with diligence and care.

Follow these safety tips when working with neodymium to keep yourself and others safe.

To find out if rare earth magnets are right for your needs, call us today .

The post Safety and Rare Earth Magnets appeared first on Argus International .

How to Glue Rare Earth Magnets

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 17:52:00 GMT

When it comes to adhering magnets for a project or job, you may wonder, how […] The post How to Glue Rare Earth Magnets appeared first on Argus International.

When it comes to adhering magnets for a project or job, you may wonder, how can I safely and effectively glue the magnet? What kind of glue can I use? Since many stock magnets use nickel, a metal highly resistant to corrosive attack, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the metal to react with most chemicals found in adhesives. Additionally, if nickel plating is used, it creates a very slick and smooth surface, making it more challenging to adhere to any other material.

Prepping the surface

No matter what kind of glue you use, if you don’t properly prep the surface, it won’t work. First, clean and degrease the nickel plating surface with an industrial solvent specifically designed to degrease. In this case, alcohol or other common cleaners are not strong enough and won’t get the job done.

Then you’ll abrade the surface with a gritted cloth, making sure not to remove the plating but to rough up the surface. Then, clean and degrease again.

Finally, if you want to make sure you prepared the surface properly, you can test it with water; you’ll know you prepped well if the surface wets but does not bead. Before applying your adhesive, dry the surface completely.

Glue

Since heat makes magnets lose their magnetism, you want to choose an adhesive that doesn’t require heat for its application. So hot glue guns aside, pretty much any adhesive will work for your prepped magnet, such as super glue, liquid nails, or urethane adhesives. Be sure to follow the instructions and abide by the proper drying procedures and times.

Recap

In order to properly glue rare earth magnets, like neodymium, you need to:

The post How to Glue Rare Earth Magnets appeared first on Argus International .

Neodymium Magnets

Thu, 29 Dec 2016 15:00:00 GMT

Neodymium magnets, or neo magnets, are a type of rare earth magnet with the highest […] The post Neodymium Magnets appeared first on Argus International.

Neodymium magnets, or neo magnets, are a type of rare earth magnet with the highest magnetic strength, which is why they’re commonly used in commercial applications. From consumer crafts to high-performance use in machinery and equipment, these magnets have a variety of every day and technical applications, and they’re the most commonly used type of rare earth magnet, made from neodymium, iron, and boron. Because of their permanent strength capabilities, they’ve taken the place of other magnets for modern applications and uses, such as magnetic closures, hard drives, and tools.

Characteristics

As one of the more cost-effective rare earth magnets available, neo magnets are less prone to cracking and more sensitive to temperature. While they’re more expensive than your typical ceramic magnets, they’re much more powerful – you need a smaller product to achieve the same outcome, meaning you’ll have a lower cost per size for your magnet.

Common uses

Because of their strength and power, neodymium magnets have a variety of daily and commercial uses such as:

Use with caution

While known for their strength, be careful with neo magnets – they’re hard but brittle and can break if dropped or snapped together with too great of force. Since one of its components, sintered Nd2Fe14B, is susceptible to corrosion, which causes deterioration, typically a protective coating is applied, such as nickel plating or copper-nickel plating.

If you’re not sure what magnets are right for you, contact us today .

The post Neodymium Magnets appeared first on Argus International .

Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense?

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:36:00 GMT

Can humans really have a link to a sixth sense? And no, we’re not talking […] The post Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense? appeared first on Argus International.

Can humans really have a link to a sixth sense? And no, we’re not talking about the creepy Bruce Willis movie – scientist Joe Kirschvink is making it his mission to find out if it’s possible. So what are we talking about here? Magnetoreception, a sense of the Earth’s magnetic field that animals and insects use daily. Kirschvink, a geophysicist from the California Institute of Technology, has been testing people to determine if we are capable of tapping into this subconscious sense.

Magnetoreception and animals

While most researchers have discounted magnetoreception for humans, they have very much agreed that various other animals use this sense all the time, like birds, fish, and other animals that migrate, which makes sense because they need this internal compass in order to survive. Other creatures such as frogs, lobsters, bees, worms, mice, rats, and cattle, to name a few, have also been found to possess this important sense. So why not humans? Did we lose our evolutionary need for it? Did we ever have it at all? Can we get it back?

The experiment

In a two-level underground lab at the university, Kirschvink works and tests subjects in clean rooms that are magnetically shielded. With liquid helium cooling his superconducting instrument used to measure minute magnetic fields, his test subject gets injected with electrolyte gel into the scalp via an electrodes cap. Now Kirschvink can measure brain waves while the subject is exposed to magnetic fields generated by electric coils.

With many skeptics against his work, Kirschvink prevails, and a $900,000 grant from the Human Frontier Science Program helps to make it possible. In a way, he’s carrying on the work of biologist Robin Baker who tested magnetic capabilities on British students at the University of Manchester in the late 70’s. His studies, that blindfolded students after a long, windy drive in the countryside, found that students could almost always find their way back in the direction of home.

Now, Kirschvink uses the setup pictured below in order to test for human subconscious magnetic sense, by putting them in a metal box and applying custom magnetic fields. The cage is lined with wire coils that runs magnetic fields through them. By rotating the magnetic field to mimic Earth’s, Kirschvink and his team can check the EEG records to see if the brain is responsive. In his small study of 24 human subjects, his tests proved consisted and repeatable, as colleagues across the globe have tested and repeated his experiment.

As Brain & Behavior, Engineering, Technology reported, “he relishes the thought of showing, once and for all, that there is something that connects the iPhone in his pocket—the electromagnetic laws that drive devices and define modernity—to something deep inside him, and the tree of life. “It’s part of our evolutionary history. Magnetoreception may be the primal sense.”

C. Bickel/Science

The post Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense? appeared first on Argus International .

Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense?

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:36:00 GMT

Can humans really have a link to a sixth sense? And no, we’re not talking […] The post Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense? appeared first on Argus International.

Magnetoreception and animals

The experiment

C. Bickel/Science

The post Magnets Linked to Sixth Sense? appeared first on Argus International .

Do Magnets Heal?

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:49:00 GMT

Thousands of years ago when magnets were first discovered, people believed in their healing powers; […] The post Do Magnets Heal? appeared first on Argus International.

Thousands of years ago when magnets were first discovered, people believed in their healing powers; in fact, in the 19 th century prior to chiropractors, magnetic healer D.D. Palmer helped people’s aches and pains before founding chiropractic care. Ever since, magnetic healing has been a popular path of alternate care, even developing into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Magnet Therapy

Magnet therapy, or magnotherapy, uses static magnetic fields as a source of alternative medicine. Those who practice magnet therapy believe when using permanent magnets on certain parts of the body, their magnetostatic fields have health benefits.

Interestingly enough though, scientific research does not actually support the claims of magnetic healing powers in therapy, stating that most of the claims made my magnetic marketing are unsupported, completely false, or exaggerated and misleading.

The idea behind magnotherapy is that the magnetic part of your blood is drawn to the magnet, changing and directing the blood flow away from the source or pain. While hemoglobin in the blood has a weak diamagnetic or paramagnetic charge, when magnetic therapy is used, the magnitude is not strong enough to measurably impact the flow of blood.

Magnetic applications

With magnetic therapy, permanent static magnets are used in products like jewelry, body straps for wrists, ankles, and knees, mattresses, blankets, creams, and supplements. The claim is that magnets can improve blood flow, which is a common cause of pain in many underlying health issues, when in scientific reality, blood flow and tissue oxygenation is unaffected by the application.

While these applications are considered safe, the issues lie in the significance and efficacy of the treatment itself.

Lasting thoughts

So how do patients report reduction of aches and pains with magnetic therapy? Is there a placebo effect? And if there’s a placebo effect that works, can we say that magnetic therapy can still be useful, even if it is not substantiated in medical or scientific proof?

The post Do Magnets Heal? appeared first on Argus International .

Ingestible Magnetic Robot

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 15:41:00 GMT

When you think of robots, you normally imagine a large, metal, clunky object, but in […] The post Ingestible Magnetic Robot appeared first on Argus International.

Photo credit: MIT

This ingestible robot is still in the testing stages, but soon living patients will experience it. The origami-like structure of the robot allows it to be folded up into a pill and swallowed. Once it hits the stomach, it unfolds itself and can maneuver around for its purpose, which may include clearing obstruction or patching up wounds.

The frame of the robot is made from two layers of dried pig intestine with small magnetic components laid inside. The unique slit patterns allow for its origami-like properties of being able to fold and unfold. The tiny robot is also capable of propelling itself using an external magnetic field; then once in the stomach, it sticks to the stomach lining from friction yet can move about freely when the body moves.

Scientists believe there are numerous ways this robot can help patients, such as when children swallow small objects, like coins or batteries, that can be extremely dangerous to their health.

“It’s really exciting to see our small origami robots doing something with potential important applications to health care,” says Rus, who also directs MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). “For applications inside the body, we need a small, controllable, untethered robot system. It’s really difficult to control and place a robot inside the body if the robot is attached to a tether.”

As Bradley Nelson, robotics professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich points out, “This concept is both highly creative and highly practical, and it addresses a clinical need in an elegant way. It is one of the most convincing applications of origami robots that I have seen.”

The post Ingestible Magnetic Robot appeared first on Argus International .

What is a magnetic assembly?

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:50:00 GMT

Magnetic Assemblies What is a magnetic assembly? You may not have heard of a magnetic […] The post What is a magnetic assembly? appeared first on Argus International.

Magnetic Assemblies

What is a magnetic assembly?
You may not have heard of a magnetic assembly, but chances are you have come in contact with one. Magnetic assemblies are used in common, everyday life, such as in fixtures, displays, signs, latches, sirens, lanterns, and more.

Magnetic assemblies are great for these uses because they are high in strength and low in cost, making them a sensible solution for users. A magnet is set into another non-magnetic material to produce the assembly, which are generally found in round base magnets, cup magnets, or channel magnets in order to boost the magnetic force in a certain direction.

Ideal uses for magnetic assemblies

Aside from the common uses for magnetic assemblies, these types of magnets are also ideal for transferring, stacking, unstacking, and conveying. Use magnetic assemblies for projects like:

Try out automation magnets to streamline a job, making a two or more person job manageable for one, specifically for lifting and working. Contact us today to find out the best magnets for any commercial needs.

The post What is a magnetic assembly? appeared first on Argus International .

Industrial Magnet Packaging Solutions

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 18:34:00 GMT

For any business that sells a product, that product needs packaging. Because of the competitiveness […] The post Industrial Magnet Packaging Solutions appeared first on Argus International.

For any business that sells a product, that product needs packaging. Because of the competitiveness that occurs on the retailers’ shelves, vendors are seeking to develop inventive packaging. Magnetic closures are the perfect solution to enhance the consumer’s experience with any business’ packaging.

Benefits of magnetic closures

With the visual social media and Youtube trend of users showing their “unboxing” experience of a variety of e-commerce products, if you’re skimping on custom packaging, you could be missing out on a great opportunity to make a remarkable first impression and even get free marketing exposure.

Here are some of the benefits to investing in custom magnetic closure for your packaging:

– Ease of use to open and close devices

– Strong and simple closure option

– Packaging convenience

– Positive impression on the consumer

– Chance for free, positive exposure in popular unboxing Youtube videos

When customers are leaving feedback about a product, usually packaging is a factor of their experience in the review. Don’t miss out on a simple opportunity to wow your consumers; put yourself in their shoes and consider the annoyance and frustration of trying to open difficulty or messy packaging. Protect your product and your brand by considering your packaging solutions.

Custom magnetic packaging solutions are within your reach – contact us today to discuss how magnetic closures can work for your company.

The post Industrial Magnet Packaging Solutions appeared first on Argus International .

Why Magnets Attract and Repel Each Other

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:32:00 GMT

Magnets are interesting ever since we are kids – why? It’s quite simple – their […] The post Why Magnets Attract and Repel Each Other appeared first on Argus International.

Magnets are interesting ever since we are kids – why? It’s quite simple – their ability to attract and repel each other is pretty fun and cool to play with. But why is it that magnets are drawn together or forced apart?

Basic magnet anatomy

In their most basic sense, magnets are objects that have magnetic fields, and this field is what allows that to attract to each other and other metals, like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt.

Opposites attract

You know the old relationship cliché that opposites attract; well this principle applies to magnets. Magnets have a North and South pole, and when you place one magnet’s North pole near another’s South pole, they’re attracted to each other and stick. Similarly, when you put a magnet’s North pole to another North pole, they’re pushed apart. Since the Earth contains magnetic materials, the poles are named because a magnet’s North pole points near the Earth’s north pole and vice versa.

Electromagnetism

Like gravity, electromagnetism is a basic force of the universe, and it’s the force that exists between charged particles. There are two types of charges, positive and negative; positives charges seek negative, and negative seek positive. When the two find each other, they stick together.

Magnetism occurs from relative movement of charged particles, like electrons and protons; electromagnetic forces come about when particles swap protons back and forth.

While physicists understand and can explain magnetism, it’s difficult to explain in simple terms since magnetism is best described through equations.

To recap

For a full range of magnetic types, shapes, and sizes, check out argusmagnetics.com or contact us today to discuss your industrial magnet needs.

The post Why Magnets Attract and Repel Each Other appeared first on Argus International .

What is a strong magnet?

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:55:00 GMT

If you’re in the market for magnets as a consumer or manufacturer, it’s likely that […] The post What is a strong magnet? appeared first on Argus International.

If you’re in the market for magnets as a consumer or manufacturer, it’s likely that you have come across the term ‘strong magnet.’ Have you ever wondered what constitutes a strong magnet? Wouldn’t you assume that ‘strong’ is a given property of any magnet? Are some magnets weak? We’ll clear this all up for you.

While all magnets, including Alnico and ceramic, are excellent for a variety of industrial applications, they are not classified as ‘strong magnets.’ And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. The term strong magnet will most likely refer to the specific type of magnet that is the strongest class of magnets – rare earth magnets .

Rare earth magnets are made from rare earth elements and are significantly stronger than other types of magnets, such as ceramic or Alnico. At Argus, we offer all types of magnets to fit your specific need and function in a variety of shapes, grades, and sizes.

Don’t I want to use only strong magnets?

When you hear strong, you most likely think better, but that’s not always the case. Each magnet type has their own purpose, so there are situations and projects where one type of magnet is preferable to another. Some factors we consider before recommending the perfect magnet for your industrial needs include temperature constraints, the magnetizing field, and the magnetic force for your needs.

For a personal consultation on your commercial magnet needs, contact us today .

The post What is a strong magnet? appeared first on Argus International .