Author Topic: Graphite levitation  (Read 8661 times)

Offline DavesWimshurst

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Graphite levitation
« on: July 26, 2009, 11:27:18 PM »
Some kinds of graphite do strange things in a magnetic field:



This property is called diamagnetism.  The field of the array of magnets causes the graphite to set up an opposing field which floats the graphite sliver.  :scratch:



The pyrolytic graphite comes as a thick slab that must be split up using a razor blade into pieces about 1/2 mm thick.  The magnet array has two north poles on opposite corners up and the other two south pole up.  These are neodymium iron boron 1/2 inch cubes, large enough to pinch fingers! :bugeye:

Dave


Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2009, 09:13:20 AM »
Dave,

That is pretty damn cool. The levitation stuff is neat.

Eric
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Offline Darren

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2009, 10:00:33 AM »
I've never seen levitation as simply executed as that before.....thanks for showing... :thumbup:
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bogstandard

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2009, 10:34:19 AM »
Quote
I've never seen levitation as simply executed as that before.....

Darren,

Shame on you.

Bit of bad machining, bad mood, boot, cat -----> levitation simply executed

Bogs

Offline Darren

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2009, 10:56:15 AM »
 :lol: :lol: :lol:

Good grief no......I'd kill it......she's not that well after the accident, me thinks the vet didn't have "her" best interest at heart....


Made me laugh though, that was a good one.... :clap:
You will find it a distinct help… if you know and look as if you know what you are doing. (IRS training manual)

Offline Bernd

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2009, 11:29:37 AM »
Dave,

Very interesting. I bet kids would get a big kick out of that. A bit of black magic if you could hide the magnets. :)

Thanks for posting that. I always thought you needed super cooled material to do that.

Bernd
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bogstandard

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2009, 11:46:02 AM »
Sorry about going off topic there Dave, I just couldn't help myself.

Getting back to the magnet things.

I would never have thought that with graphite, maybe it is because of that type of graphite being in layers, I suppose it must have some sort of polarity of it's own.

Ever since these neodoodah magnets have come onto the mass market scene, modellers are really filling up their boots with new ways of putting them to use.
I'm pretty sure some amazing engines will become known in the not too distant future. When guys get their heads around the properities of them, and how they can be used to produce motion, and most probably not just rotary.


Bogs

Offline Bernd

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2009, 01:11:49 PM »
Bogs,

Funny you should mention the engine connection with magnets. Back in the Spring 1980 issue of Science & Mechanics Howard Johnson ( not of the hotel chains over here) had an article on using permanet magnets to make a 15 hp motor that was supposed to power a 5000W generator.

Not much was heard about that after the article was written. Then several years ago on some forum I saw talk about him and his motor. Several people had tried to contact him but no sucess. Seemed like he had dissapeared off the face of the earth. Makes you wonder if he really had something there or not. Ofcourse this was during one of the gas crisis created by the oil companies.

Bernd
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bogstandard

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2009, 07:23:09 PM »
Bernd,

This post has got my head spinning, but I daren't get sidetracked any longer, I have some important things to make.

So after they are out of the way, I might just go back and see if any of my ideas will work.


Bogs

Offline Bernd

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2009, 08:32:34 PM »
Sorry. I guess I can't take my own advise.  :offtopic:  :)

Bernd
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bogstandard

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2009, 10:03:46 PM »
Nothing against you Bernd, but if I start going off at a tangent, chasing ideas thrown up by this post and others, like the blinged rocker engine, I will never get to my planned projects, and there is a very tight deadline to get them finished.

Bogs

Offline foozer

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2009, 12:08:48 AM »
Hmm Grape motor, I wonder ?? Grapes

Robert
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Graphite levitation
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2009, 12:27:20 PM »
No problem Bogs. Don't want you to get side tracked.  :)

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds