Hello arduinofolks!
I am thinking about starting a project with this kind of metalball levitating in the air with an electromagnet(Solenoid).
So I need some help with the basic physics here, if i go for a electromagnet like this one (https://www.elfa.se/elfa3~eu_en/elfa/init.do?item=54-610-09&toc=19914) with a retention force of 115 Newton which is pretty powerful would it be possible to levitate an object with the weight 11 Kilograms? (9.82 * x = 115, x = 11.7 kilogram)
How much weaker is the attractionforce when the object moves away from the electromagnet?
Or do you have any better suggestions of electromagnets, please let me know!
Thanks for the help guys!
//Archie
No, that won't work. The clamping load quoted there is for something in contact with the magnet. While it would (just, barely, if everything works optimally) be able to support your mass while it was in contact, the attractive force drops off sharply as soon as the two parts are moved apart. So, it would be able to support it but not levitate it.
Magnetic force drops off with the square of distance but I wouldn't like to predict what happens to that force when you have magnetic bodies disrupting the field. You also need to provide a significant over capacity so that the system has the authority to 'catch' your levitating mass if it drops through the desired position - bearing in mind that as the mass drops the distance to the magnet increases so the effect of the magnetic is reduced.
One way to do this is to choose a magnet and then discover by trial and error how big an iron mass it can levitate at a given distance. With experience I expect you could soon work out how to size the magnet for a given mass and distance, but I don't have that experience.
PeterH:
No, that won't work. The clamping load quoted there is for something in contact with the magnet. While it would (just, barely, if everything works optimally) be able to support your mass while it was in contact, the attractive force drops off sharply as soon as the two parts are moved apart. So, it would be able to support it but not levitate it.Magnetic force drops off with the square of distance but I wouldn't like to predict what happens to that force when you have magnetic bodies disrupting the field. You also need to provide a significant over capacity so that the system has the authority to 'catch' your levitating mass if it drops through the desired position - bearing in mind that as the mass drops the distance to the magnet increases so the effect of the magnetic is reduced.
One way to do this is to choose a magnet and then discover by trial and error how big an iron mass it can levitate at a given distance. With experience I expect you could soon work out how to size the magnet for a given mass and distance, but I don't have that experience.
Okay that's what I thought. Is there a formula for the magnetic force which I could use?
But lets say I buy the electron magnet I mentioned in my first post and just try some smaller metal objects and see if I could get them levitating?
Do think that would work?
So I should be able to levitate both heavier and lighter objects just if i adjust the distance to the electromagnet?
Archelon:
But lets say I buy the electron magnet I mentioned in my first post and just try some smaller metal objects and see if I could get them levitating?
Do think that would work?
Sounds reasonable, as long as that isn't too pricey. It's just some wire wound round an iron core at the end of the day, but since it has mountings and apretty casing and so on I guess they'll feel free to charge you an arm and a leg.