Moc Lego Technic Magnets

[Boxerlego]

One day I got the Idea to JB weld some powerful neodymium magnets to Lego. I wanted to see what I could possibly build with magnets using the Lego system as my structural design. I have manage to build two interesting contraptions at the moment. My goal is to build this

along many other machines in Lego Techinc. What are your thoughts on a Lego Technic Magnet?

Edited April 12, 2013 by Boxerlego

[Cheng Fei]

It seems like some sort of frictionless magnetic levitation. I think there will be more ideas branching out from here.

[Alasdair Ryan]

I would love to build one of these:

yes I know it's a train......

Maybe your idea above me help me/someone to build one of those.

Edited January 2, 2013 by Alasdair Ryan

[Hopey]

So how much weight can it support?

How about you flip the whole thing over and make it an axle? A true "floating" suspension .

Driving it would be interesting. A chain would be my first though, but that would pull it forwards. Maybe two chains? One in front pulling forwards, one behind pulling backwards? (with tensioner springs)

[Boxerlego]

@Cheng Fei: Indeed it is almost frictionless. It has only one point of contact.

@Alasdair Ryan: A Lego Maglev Train would be incredible to watch.

So how much weight can it support?

How about you flip the whole thing over and make it an axle? A true "floating" suspension .

@Hopey: A this distances it can support a couple of ounces. Making a true magnetic suspension field feels impossible.

Edited January 2, 2013 by Boxerlego

[Boxerlego]

Hello everyone, I want to share with you this simple Lego magnet design. This combination is composed of a 1/2 inch standard nut and that is threaded on to a Technic axle connector. The goal for this design is to use cylindrical shape of the magnet as a piston. With my previous design I used JB weld to make the bond Lego with the magnet and for this to happen the epoxy must cover the edges of the magnet sealing it in and this ruined the ability for the magnet to function as a piston. This new design relies on the magnetic bond between the steel nut. Note: that the steel nut possess a stronger bond with the neodymium magnet than the Lego magnet. I want to put some JB weld to this simple design in a manner that will not cover the edges to enforce the connective strength between the nut and magnet. I have made another magnet concept design this one focus on using both N/S sides of the magnet field.

Check out my playlist on magnets

[DLuders]

@ Boxerlego: I like your concept, but I don't believe you should be using JB Weld as the adhesive. The reason that your magnets are adversely affected by JB Weld is that the metal particles inside JB Weld is altering the magnetic field. Recommend using regular clear epoxy instead. See Brian Hahn's

below -- "This is what happens when a magnet gets near J-B Weld":

On the JB Weld website, it says that it is "steel-reinforced epoxy." From this thread, the JB Weld website once said:

"How does it work?

J-B WELD is packaged in two tubes. One contains liquid steel/epoxy resin, and the other contains hardener. When mixed together in equal portions, a chemical reaction occurs that turns the mixture into a compound as hard and tough as steel -- and with similar properties."

Edited March 8, 2013 by DLuders

[Boxerlego]

@ DLuders: Thanks for the suggestion. You definitely see the challenge I face when I use JB around anything that has magnets . I have consider using a non-magnetic epoxy and see the benefits that come along. One comparison is that JB weld requires 8 hours to harden when Loctite epoxy requires 300 seconds to harden. With my previous magnet design that uses the Technic axle connector with pole connected to the 16 tooth gear. The JB bond between these Lego pieces is practically inseparable for Lego standards. I have had a couple of magnets that have broken free from the JB bond but I never had any separation between the Lego parts when picking up heavy loads around 4.5 kg. The magnets that have broken free from the cold weld bond were due to the strong magnetic force that allows the magnets to slam together. Another possible contributing factor why the bond will fail is because of a unclean oily dirty surface that could be on the neodymium magnet. I dont know how well the clear epoxy will bond to the magnet and Lego . I am thinking about getting some clear non-magnetic epoxy and see how well it is able to bond to the surface of the neodymium magnet and do some Lego pull test to compare the different types of epoxy bonds. This would be interesting test to do.