A Magnet Machine

This machine manipulates small spherical rare earth magnets, slicing one at a time from the end of a long chain, moving it around a bit, then dropping it back to re-connect at the tail end of the chain.

It also demonstrates a little snippet of science called eddy currents. Watch how slowly the magnet falls through the aluminum tube compared to falling through air: the falling magnet generates an electrical current in the tube, and that current in turn generates a magnetic field that opposes the movement of the magnet, slowing it down dramatically. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current if you want more.

I made this machine for my father-in-law for his 75th birthday: astute viewers equipped with video analysis software and way too much time on their hands might find that the magnet drops 75mm from the tip of the slicer until caught by the lifter, and that the lifter then drops it through a 75mm long aluminum tube.

These magnets are currently a popular toy, and can be purchased on the web or in stores (usually in a set of 216, which makes a 6x6x6 cube). Many different brands exist: Zen Magnets (http://zenmagnets.com/), Buckyballs (http://www.getbuckyballs.com/), nanodots (http://www.thenanodots.com/), Neo Cube (http://www.theneocube.com/), and more. I highly recommend this toy! Watch some videos at the above sites.

I used a plastic drywall anchor for the main screw drive that pulls the chain of magnets through the machine. The 2 other driven axles -- the slicer and and the lifter -- are geared directly to the screw drive. (Steven Garrison's gear cutting method was invaluable to make the gears operate smoothly, see http://www.stevengarrison.com.) The lifter is based on a standard four bar linkage (a film advance mechanism) but was modified to dip very low before lifting back up and stroking its straight vertical line at the top.

See http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogrocket/sets/72157626544506603/ for still photos of building it.

I don't know who first figured out that 5mm spherical rare earth magnets could be so much fun, but whoever they are, I thank them.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Automata
• automaton
• rare
• earth
• neodymium
• magnet
• machine
• buckyball
• zen
• magnets
• four
• bar
• linkage
• slicer
• lifter
• eddy
• currents
• all
• the
• monkeys
• can
• see
• you

[cffellows]

I think this is one of the most imaginative videos I've seen on youtube. Nice work!

[djohnson16mindspring]

@cffellows Thanks!

[AdashofMutant]

Put a coil on the end of that Aluminium tube and Connect that to a electric motor to drive that crank... have you tried that?

[djohnson16mindspring]

@AdashofMutant Well, if I could make the whole machine with ZERO friction...then...it still wouldn't work. Perpetual motion, ya know.

I did think, though, about lighting a little led as it drops through...

[kat06sa]

This is what happens when PSN goes down

[devidjonson8989]

The Design is excellent.....

If you want to get the Plans for the Free Energy Generator

Go to Google......

Search for "Best Magnetic Generator Review"

From the results choose the top one (Don't forget to Skip the Advertisements)

[arifkkindonesia]

idiot machine,, LOL

[zappr5]

You're not very clever. Cancel that, you're a fucking genius!

[iamnanosec]

so it WAS magnets the entire time.

[seizonsenryaku]

I could listen to this forever...

[curbshoppin]

i have always been a gadget man......and thats one cool gadget