Basic Design Consideration

A few basic and often simple alterations to a magnetic circuit could result in a dramatic improvement in the results achieved from magnets.

• Magnetic flux lines always start at one pole and end at the opposite pole.
• Magnetic flux lines take the path of least resistance.
• Magnetic materials such as iron have a low resistance for magnetic fields.
• The resistance to a magnetic field of air is about 1000 times higher than iron.
• Air gaps in the path between the poles represent a high resistance to magnetic flux.
• If the metal in a magnetic circuit is too thin it will saturate. Once metal saturates it is difficult to increase the flux in the circuit.
• Flux lines will take the shortest air gap between poles.

Choice of magnet materials