It may seem O.T. but actually it is exactly in the right place.
Anyone up on magnetism, magnetic lines of force, etc. theory and all that physics stuff?
I am building something that will have three small, cylindrical rare earth magnets. The magnets are 1/8" dia. X 1/16" thick and will be mounted in pockets spaced about 1/4" apart in a 1/8" thick piece of (non-magnetic) aluminum. I want to make sure the poles are lined up properly so the magnets hold the piece of aluminum to ferrous metal with max force.
If there were just two magnets I think I would know how to do it- it would be like a horseshoe magnet, but three magnets confuses me. The diagram below shows how I think they should go, but I am not sure. I don't show the piece of aluminum since it has no part in the problem, it just supports the magnets. The red represents a ferrous surface that the aluminum/magnets will be attached to. I guess I can put two magnets on a piece of iron and see what happens when I try to add the third one, either between the two or at the end. If the third magnet is attacted to the iron then that is how it should be mounted. But what if the third magnet can be attached either way? Or should I just try to go with two magnets?
Anyone up on magnetism, magnetic lines of force, etc. theory and all that physics stuff?
I am building something that will have three small, cylindrical rare earth magnets. The magnets are 1/8" dia. X 1/16" thick and will be mounted in pockets spaced about 1/4" apart in a 1/8" thick piece of (non-magnetic) aluminum. I want to make sure the poles are lined up properly so the magnets hold the piece of aluminum to ferrous metal with max force.
If there were just two magnets I think I would know how to do it- it would be like a horseshoe magnet, but three magnets confuses me. The diagram below shows how I think they should go, but I am not sure. I don't show the piece of aluminum since it has no part in the problem, it just supports the magnets. The red represents a ferrous surface that the aluminum/magnets will be attached to. I guess I can put two magnets on a piece of iron and see what happens when I try to add the third one, either between the two or at the end. If the third magnet is attacted to the iron then that is how it should be mounted. But what if the third magnet can be attached either way? Or should I just try to go with two magnets?