How to test toroidal permanent magnet with inside field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around testing a toroidal permanent magnet and its properties, particularly in relation to its magnetic field and potential applications in motor design. Participants explore theoretical and experimental aspects, including the effects of external currents and the magnetization process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the toroidal magnet has no distinct north and south poles unless physically altered, such as cutting it into halves.
  • There are suggestions about testing the magnet's effectiveness using methods likened to testing "Write-Only Memory," which some participants dispute as a valid analogy.
  • One participant proposes inserting a straight wire carrying a high current through the center of the toroid to create opposing magnetic fields, questioning whether this would generate torque.
  • Another participant argues that achieving significant torque or motion from the toroidal magnet is unlikely, suggesting that reversing its magnetization would be difficult and may not yield useful results for motor applications.
  • There are discussions about the manufacturing process of the magnet, including the challenges of reversing magnetization once established.
  • Speculation about future advancements, such as room temperature superconductors, is mentioned as a potential avenue for improving motor designs, though this is challenged as not being appropriate for the forum.
  • A suggestion is made to experiment with cheaper alternatives, like horseshoe magnets, before proceeding with the more expensive toroidal magnet.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of the toroidal magnet in motor applications, with no consensus on whether significant torque can be achieved or if the proposed methods will work as intended.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations are noted regarding the assumptions about the magnet's properties and the conditions under which it may operate effectively, particularly concerning the uniformity of the magnetic field and the challenges in reversing magnetization.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring magnetic properties, experimental physics, and motor design, particularly in the context of toroidal magnets and their applications.

cairoliu
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As the permanent magnet is magnetized by donut shape coil, thus field B = 0 outside.
How can I know if seller screwed me or not?
 
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cairoliu said:
As the permanent magnet is magnetized by donut shape coil, thus field B = 0 outside.
How can I know if seller screwed me or not?
You test it the same way you test Write-Only Memory.
 
There no N & S polar for the donut magnet.
If I cut into 2 semi circles, then there are N & S polars. But I will keep it integral.
 
cairoliu said:
There no N & S polar for the donut magnet.
If I cut into 2 semi circles, then there are N & S polars. But I will keep it integral.
Is it a pretty paperweight?
 
berkeman said:
Is it a pretty paperweight?
About a few of ounces made of NdFeB
 
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Through the center, if I vertically insert a straight wire carrying 100A current, and make sure the induced magnetic field is opposite to the inside of the said donut magnet, will the donut spin (assuming friction zero) ? I think there should be torque in theory if the 2 fields are fighting in counter directions.
 
berkeman said:
You test it the same way you test Write-Only Memory.
You are kidding me. No such thing of write-only memory.:wink:
 
cairoliu said:
You are kidding me. No such thing of write-only memory.:wink:
Yes, but the object you are asking about seems to be of about as much use as write-only memory...
 
berkeman said:
Yes, but the object you are asking about seems to be of about as much use as write-only memory...
I back-order it by customization in the purpose of experiment of the simplest motor - no windings, only a straight conducting axle as described in previous text. Is there torque anyway?
I know the ball bearing electric motor is named the simplest motor: Video - A strange electric motor
If my experiment success, this may be another simplest motor, and more useful than the ball bearing motor.
 
  • #10
I think all you can succeed in doing with a very strong current passing through the hole in the donut is to reverse the direction of magnetization. If this does occur, a loop of wire that wraps the toroidal part would show an EMF when this occurs. In practice, achieving this reversal of the magnetization of the permanently magnetized toroid is likely to be extremely difficult. Wrapping the toroid in a solenoidal manner and sending a large current through the coils would be more effective at reversing the direction of magnetization, but even that method would require many loops and very high currents. ## \\ ## As for making a motor out of it, I think you are likely to get zero motion of this thing. There simply isn't any torque of any significance.
 
  • #11
Charles Link said:
I think all you can succeed...As for making a motor out of it, I think you are likely to get zero motion of this thing. There simply isn't any torque of any significance.
No torque even 2 fighting fields in opposite directions? But, moving a bar magnet with N polar toward the N of another bar magnet, the other bar will be pushed backward.
The manufacturer must use donut coil to magnetize it, but I can not use donut coil in counter direction as a motor, because even there is torque, because of closed wire blockage, no way to output the torque and drive a load. It seems: only by straight wire through the center, the magnet spin can drive a load.
Anyway, I am waiting for its shipping and delivery, then I can try.
 
  • #12
One day, the room temperature superconductor age will come, even 2000A current just small deal, then, this simplest motor can be put in applications.
 
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  • #13
In the manufacturing process, (I'm no expert in this part, but I think I have it correct), the material is typically magnetized starting in the molten state above the Curie temperature. It only requires a weak applied magnetic field to get the alignment of the magnetization in one direction. Once that magnetization is established , requiring cooling below the Curie temperature, , it can be very difficult to reverse it, unless you heat the magnet above its Curie temperature. ## \\ ## Meanwhile, toroidal magnets would not have the same type of repulsive or attractive forces properties that you find from cylindrical "pole" magnets. The force in the case of two pole magnets is caused by the gradient in the magnetic field from one, interacting with the magnetization in the other. In the case of a pole magnet in a completely uniform magnetic field, it experiences zero force. In the case of the toroidal magnets, not only is the external magnetic field nearly uniform, it is also nearly zero.
 
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  • #14
cairoliu said:
One day, the room temperature superconductor age will come, even 2000A current just small deal, then, this simplest motor can be put in applications.
That is speculation, which is not allowed at the PF. This thread is done.
 
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  • #15
I know it's bad form for a Mentor to post in a locked thread, but just a suggestion to the OP @cairoliu -- you can make the same magnetic structure out of two horseshoe magnets. I would recommend that you try your experiment with two cheap horseshoe magnets from the hardware store, before you accept delivery of the more expensive "cylindrical magnet" that you ordered. Best of luck.
 
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