Knowledge Base
Insights, expert advice, and industry-leading information to fuel your understanding
Our permanent magnets and magnet assemblies are designed to meet the unique needs of your application. Therefore, as a valued customer, you are assured of quality products, timely service and competitive pricing. Here is a self-serve repository of information pertaining to our magnetic products.
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Eddy Current / Foucault’s Current
An eddy current is an induction current, generated by an alternating magnetic field around an electrically conductive material. Eddy currents are also referred to as Foucault currents. These are the electric currents intentionally or unintentionally induced in a flat conductor. It is a physical phenomenon that occurs when, for example, a changing magnetic field is in a metal plate. This could be an alternating field from an electric coil, but it could also be the result of movement that causes the plate to cut through the field lines. When a conductor cuts through magnetic field lines, a current is introduced in the conductor.
Electromagnetism
In the case of electromagnets, the magnetic field is produced by an electric current generated by a conductor. Typically, these magnets consist of a magnetic or ferromagnetic material (like soft iron) with a coil wound around it.
In applications requiring a strong magnetic field, electromagnets are preferred to permanent magnets. The advantage of using them is that the magnetic field can be changed or turned off by controlling the amount of electric current in the winding.
Electroplating
Electroplating is the process of applying a metal coating on another piece of metal (or another conductive surface) through an electro-deposition process. In electroplating, the deposited metal becomes part of the existing product with the plating/coating.
Environmental Testing
Environmental testing is the measurement of the performance of equipment under specified environmental conditions, such as:
- Extremely high and low temperatures
- Large, swift variations in temperature
- Blown and settling sand and dust
- Salt spray and salt fog