Industrial Magnets and Their Uses

The mystical behavior of a piece of iron in the proximity of a magnet never ceases to amaze an audience. The effect termed as magnetic effect seems magical and amazing and explains the relationship between a piece of magnet and a piece of iron. There fore, the study and usage of magnets has preoccupied human for centuries as newer technology has created advanced magnet use in the industries of transportation and manufacturing. Some of such industrial uses are as follows: -

Conveyor Belt Use

One way in which magnets are extensively used in industries is for metal detection with conveyor belts. A Recycling Plant is the best example for this type of conveyor belts use of magnets. In Recycling Plant, the items to be recycled are divided by the nature of their material, as in metal, aluminum, plastic etc. The items that are to be recycled are placed on the conveyor belt and a magnet is employed to detect the metal pieces. The magnet then pulls them off the belt to separates them from other materials. Similarly, in food processing, this method is used to detect and remove any metal pieces that may have accidentally gotten into the food products.

Heavy Lifting and Transporting Use

Again, industrial magnets are extensively used for heavy lifting and transportation uses. The industrial magnets are endowed with a strength that can translate into the ability to lift metal items anywhere from 4 pounds to well over 4,000 pounds. A lifting magnet can be effectively used to quickly clean up an entire floor covered in scrap metal. The same can also assist in transporting a large, heavy metal pipe from one area to another.

Cleaning and Collection Use

Last but not the least; industrial magnets can be used to pick up metal debris from roads and even underwater locations. There are also magnetic brooms as well as broom rakes that have weights up to 100 pounds on them. These brooms can be pushed manually or attached to forklifts, trucks, and cables.

Magnets have many uses that help manufacturers to work faster and safer, producing better products. Many labor and time saving services can be performed by industrial magnets which has found an acquired a place of great importance in our lives.

Permanent Magnet, A Popular Magnet Choice

The use of magnets has pervaded many sectors of human lives. Magnets are extensively used for a wide range of applications such as commercial, domestic and industrial purposes. Again, magnets are mostly found in three kinds namely permanent magnets, temporary magnets and electromagnets. Moreover, in all these type of magnets, the permanent magnets are the ones the average person is most familiar with. A very good example of permanent magnets used in daily life is the refrigerator magnets.

Definition Of Permanent Magnets

Permanent magnets are highly appreciated because once magnetized, they retain their level of magnetism. A permanent magnet comprises of an object made from a magnetized material which further creates its own persistent magnetic field. Good permanent magnets are available in an array of shapes and produce a high magnetic field with a low mass. Further, when looking for good permanent magnet, one has to look into its stability against the influences that can demagnetize it.

Properties Of Permanent Magnets

Different permanent magnets can display diverse characteristics and properties. Parameters that distinguishes one permanent magnet from the other are-

• How easily they can be demagnetized
• Their strength
• Change in their strength depending on the temperature

Types Of Permanent Magnets
Some of the names of different types of permanent magnets used for diverse applications are Neodymium, Samarium-cobalt, Alnico, Ceramic (also known as ferrite) and so on.

Neodymium and samarium-cobalt magnets are classified as rare earth magnets. This kind of rare earth magnet produces the largest magnetic flux with the smallest mass. Neodymium and samarium-cobalt magnets are known for being the strongest of all the permanent magnets and are difficult to demagnetize. Again, the Alnico magnet comprises of aluminum, nickel and cobalt. This type of permanent magnet is not easily affected by temperature but on the other hand, it is easily demagnetized.

Lastly, the ceramic or ferrite magnets are perhaps the most popular type of magnet, mostly because of their flexibility. This type of Ceramic magnets is flexible and often thin, meaning that they can be bent and moved in a number of different ways. These features make the Ceramic magnets excellent choices for advertising and marketing applications. Also, the Ceramic magnets exhibit sturdy construction and are not easily demagnetized. However the strength of Ceramic magnets varies greatly according to the temperature.

Permanent Magnets Usage

Again, the permanent magnets are also used in diverse applications, including:

• Mechanical applications
  Mechanical applications depending on the attractive and repelling force of the magnet includes Magnetic separators, magnetic holding devices, Magnetic torque drives and Magnetic bearing devices Again, Mechanical energy applications rely on using the magnetic field of a magnet to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy in cases such as Meters, Motors, Speakers and Relays
  
• Electrical energy applications
  Electrical energy applications entail the conversion of magnetic field of a magnet to mechanical energy and then into electric energy. Such applications include generators and alternators and Eddy current brakes
  
• Direct Applications
  Direct Applications are meant to shape and control electron and ion beams by using a magnet's magnetic field. Such applications include Ion Pumps, Cyclotrons and Cathode-ray tubes

Thus, Permanent magnets are the most widely used magnet that is used in numerous applications. At the same time, the correct choice of a permanent magnet is of utmost significance and should be done on the basis of strength, performance in temperature and whether it is easily demagnetized.