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Got magnets? 1200 lbs of force — Parallax Forums

Got magnets? 1200 lbs of force

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2012-09-17 16:42 in General Discussion
If you are looking for some powerful magnets, check here: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BZX0ZX0Y0-N52

This one has over 1200 lbs of pull force (for a mere $1027). It is a 4" x 4" x 2" Neodymium N52 grade.


BZX0ZX0Y0-N52L.jpg
You are looking at the largest, most powerful, most dangerous magnet we carry. At over 1200lbs of pull force, it is likely the strongest magnet available anywhere! These HUGE blocks are no joke. They are extremely powerful and very dangerous, and as such must be handled with extreme caution.

They will pinch hard enough to break the skin and could even crush if you get between two of them or one and a piece of metal. Much worse than getting a hand slammed in a car door. They are heavy, sturdy, and unbelievably strong.

Once a block this large is attached to a metal surface it will be impossible to remove it.


This magnet is not a toy and should only be handled by professionals. We recommend always having at least one other person help you handle this massive block. We use a team of at least three.


Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-09-15 18:56
    Crushed fingers, anyone?

    Not only that, but they must have to ship that thing in a really big carton. Even then, though, whatever magnetic-sensitive devices unfortunate enough to share a UPS truck with it could be in jeopardy.

    -Phil
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-15 19:01
    Crushed fingers, anyone?

    Not only that, but they must have to ship that thing in a really big carton. Even then, though, whatever magnetic-sensitive devices unfortunate enough to share a UPS truck with it could be in jeopardy.

    -Phil

    Pretty sure it is shipped in the wood container (bottom picture) and then in a bigger box/crate...
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2012-09-15 19:14
    And only $821.65 in quantities of 10 or more!!! So, what could you do with a few of those besides hurt yourself?
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-09-15 19:18
    I'd like to take it to a Boy Scout convention and hide it in the center. Then, when they pull out their compasses to figure out where they, the needle always points to the middle of the convention.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-15 19:19
    I can't wait until the day when I go out and buy a $1000 magnet.....that will mean I have enough money to have already bought everything I EVER wanted!!
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-09-15 20:38
    "Once a block this large is attached to a metal surface it will be impossible to remove it. "

    How 'bout getting another magnet just like it and jacking it in from the other side of the metal, approaching poles like to like... would that work?
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-09-15 21:20
    What if you hid it at the end of model airplane runway. Then, whenever somebody tried to take off the magnet would make the plane go into a nose dive...
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-09-15 21:44
    Or possibly for the RC jet fliers, have them experience a wireless trap. Or maybe loss of control due to EMP like effect as it moves though the monsters magnetic field....
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2012-09-15 22:05
    SRLM wrote: »
    What if you hid it at the end of model airplane runway. Then, whenever somebody tried to take off the magnet would make the plane go into a nose dive...
    Or possibly for the RC jet fliers, have them experience a wireless trap. Or maybe loss of control due to EMP like effect as it moves though the monsters magnetic field....

    Geez, what's with all the death and destruction? I'd use the magnet to bring about world peace and end hunger. :p
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-09-16 00:51
    Geez, what's with all the death and destruction? I'd use the magnet to bring about world peace and end hunger. :p

    I'm not sure how to do that with a magnet... Maybe go to a convention for "wealthy people with pacemakers" and hold them hostage until they donate all their money?

    Or maybe use the magnets to make giant speakers for a Bono concert?

    What about making a magnetic region that confuses migratory birds to fly in a circle. Then, you could raise geese and the like very inexpensively, anywhere. World hunger is solved.

    How about putting a bunch of these in African battle fields. Then, whenever people shoot at each other the bullets are deflected and miss their targets. So people stop shooting at each other. World peace solved.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2012-09-16 01:29
    Ear muffs.
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2012-09-16 03:24
    W9GFO wrote: »
    Ear muffs.
    Ouch.


    I was thinking more along the lines of an electrical application like a wind powered generator or small scale hydroelectric generator.
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2012-09-16 05:05
    Magnetic brake for an elevator? Side effect of erasing everyone's magnetic strip cards might be an issue!
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2012-09-16 05:11
    Mark_T wrote: »
    Magnetic brake for an elevator? Side effect of erasing everyone's magnetic strip cards might be an issue!
    How large of a magnetic field do you suppose a magnet like that creates? That could have some interesting results if it's more than a few inches!
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-16 06:49
    Check out the eddy current effect of this magnet dropping thru a copper pipe...

  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2012-09-16 06:55
    I have some smaller Neodymium magnets that I purchased several years ago from kjmagnetics.com. The magnets that I purchased were 1" X 1" X 1/2". Talk about magnetic force, it is truly a struggle just to seperate them. And when they mention "pinch" you better believe the warning. I once got careless, and these small magnets slammed together and pinched the skin on my index finger. All I can say is that it drew blood and hurt :)
  • varnonvarnon Posts: 184
    edited 2012-09-16 10:58
    Wow. Those are magnets.

    I've got some pretty big ones I pulled out of two old polygraph machine from the 70s. The machine was like the size of a person. We were storing because we previously had some museum space, but after that got cut they were just clogging up the lab. So we gutted them and finally got the university to haul them away.

    Each needle on the polygraph was nested between a pair of magnets, bolted to a metal frame so they appeared as giant horseshoe magnets. I think each one weight around 7lbs. And if you got them stuck together they were NOT coming apart. I was definitely afraid of getting my finger caught between them.
  • jonesjones Posts: 281
    edited 2012-09-16 12:58
    Once a block this large is attached to a metal surface it will be impossible to remove it.


    There's that word again. Like to wager?

    It's quite possible. Heat it above the Curie temperature and it will fall off. It won't be a magnet anymore, but as big as that thing is, that might be better anyway. Safer, at least.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2012-09-16 15:10
    jones wrote: »
    There's that word again. Like to wager?...Curie temperature.

    That might not be as easy as you think, that magnet weighs over 3 lb and it's going to be locked onto another piece of metal at least as large. However, there are mechanical ways to do a direct separation; 1200 lb sound like a lot of force, and it is compared to human strength, but it's not that big a deal for machines. Once you get the magnet off of the metal (hint: self-locking side grippers and winch or come-along) far enough to insert shims, you're pretty much golden.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-09-16 15:22
    localroger,

    1200 lb for the right machine is easy. But you are going to have to find a non-magnetic gripper else you'll need another machine to .....
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-09-16 16:45
    shame they dont use steel cans for drinks anymore think of the fun you could have had placing a magnet under a table and watching a person trying to pick the can up for a drink :lol:
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-16 17:18
    This guy's magnet is 6" diameter and 2" thick - 2650 lbs of force!
  • jonesjones Posts: 281
    edited 2012-09-16 21:16
    localroger wrote: »
    That might not be as easy as you think, that magnet weighs over 3 lb and it's going to be locked onto another piece of metal at least as large. However, there are mechanical ways to do a direct separation; 1200 lb sound like a lot of force, and it is compared to human strength, but it's not that big a deal for machines. Once you get the magnet off of the metal (hint: self-locking side grippers and winch or come-along) far enough to insert shims, you're pretty much golden.

    In truth I'd never have to get that beast off anything because I wouldn't have it anywhere near me. :smile:

    As you say, 1200 lbs isn't a lot for a machine, but similarly 3 lbs of metal isn't a big deal to heat up if you have the right tools. An oxy-acetylene torch with a good-sized rosebud tip would do it and they're common enough. I have one in my own shop. When I had some 2" x 0.5" disk magnets arrive stuck together, I made a scissor-like kludge out of a couple of pieces of wood and a bolt for a pivot, with a hole to fit the magnets bored through the wood near the bolt end so I'd have some leverage. They are far easier to slide apart sideways than they are to pull straight apart. The trick is to keep them apart and for that thing it would be a trick indeed.
  • yarisboyyarisboy Posts: 245
    edited 2012-09-17 11:04
    If you are looking for some powerful magnets, check here: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BZX0ZX0Y0-N52

    This one has over 1200 lbs of pull force (for a mere $1027). It is a 4" x 4" x 2" Neodymium N52 grade.


    BZX0ZX0Y0-N52L.jpg


    Proper packaging for shipment would require both the wood jacket to get forces down to a manageable level AND a steel jacket layer to shunt the magnetic field before it can really mess up automated shipping equipment.
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2012-09-17 14:04
    Those of a squeamish disposition are advised not to follow this link: http://gizmodo.com/5156490/guy-loses-a-chunk-of-his-finger-in-neodymium-magnet-accident-nsfw
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-17 15:55
    Mark_T wrote: »
    Those of a squeamish disposition are advised not to follow this link: http://gizmodo.com/5156490/guy-loses-a-chunk-of-his-finger-in-neodymium-magnet-accident-nsfw

    Ouch!!! Glad I didn't order any monster magnets. (might get some of the less powerful ones though...)
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2012-09-17 16:11
    Just a figure to chuck in, neodymium-iron-boron magnets are typically upto 1.4T in magnetic field strength, which is equivalent to a magnetising current of over 1000 A/mm, so the 2" long slab magnets are equivalent to a 50kA current loop.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2012-09-17 16:36
    These would make some great motors or generators. (most likely their intended purpose)

    Have you pulled a 3.5" hard disk apart? There are great little magnets inside for the head assembly. Very strong and I am sure you could pinch skin easily.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-17 16:42
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    These would make some great motors or generators. (most likely their intended purpose)

    Have you pulled a 3.5" hard disk apart? There are great little magnets inside for the head assembly. Very strong and I am sure you could pinch skin easily.

    Yes. They are thinner than a dime and glued to non-ferrous brackets but even they can give you a good pinch!
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