You can make plate magnets from two combinations of rare earths. These elements have come to replace all the previous materials used to make these types of magnets. Rare earth magnets are superior in nearly all respects when compared to magnets made from iron or alloys that incorporate iron. These newer magnets were only invented in the 1960’s.
When these materials are used to make plate magnets, they create very powerful devices for removing metal fragments from moving conveyors, chutes and ducts. In this age when high precision and accuracy are regarded as necessities in nearly all industrial applications, these sorts of magnets are vital to the successful manufacturing. When samarium cobalt was finally developed into suitable forms to make plate magnets, manufacturers were thrilled by this new material’s superiority over the magnets previously used.
Samarium-cobalt is sometimes alloyed with iron, copper and zirconium to give it different magnetic qualities and also to affect its general durability. When produced as an alloy with these multiple metals, samarium cobalt plate magnets significantly outperform those made ferrite and alnico in two key areas. This type of magnet has a much higher coercivity rating. This means that the magnets made from these metals do not lose their magnetism nearly as easily as others. Furthermore, samarium cobalt magnets produce a very dense magnetic field. The density of this field can be three times as great as that of an alnico magnet.
The cost of these magnets was very high. Researchers began to look for less expensive magnets that would have similar or greater power. They looked again to the rare earths that had helped produce the samarium cobalt variety. Neodymium magnets held great promise. They were similar or superior in strength to most other magnets and were cheaper than those made from samarium cobalt. However, these new magnets had one key deficiency. They suffered from very low Curie temperatures. This meant that they began to lose magnetism at high temperatures. Since many industrial applications require exposure to high temperatures, this made neodymium problematic.
The problem was solved when developers toyed with the mixture of elements in the neodymium alloy. Originally, the alloy contained neodymium, iron and boron. In order to improve resistance to heat, researchers added small amounts of other rare earths. This still did not give the alloy an equal Curie temperature when compared to alnico magnets or those made from samarium cobalt. However, its superiority in other areas and its inexpensive costs made it worth accepting that drawback.
Even with the arrival of inexpensive neodymium on the market, there is still a place for samarium-cobalt plate magnets. Their high Curie temperature makes them necessary in the hottest applications. The older types of magnets now find their primary uses in certain products.
Plate magnets are essential for many industrial processes in most industries. Their use in industrial processes ensures that products are not contaminated and the conveyor machine systems do not break down. Plate magnets are used to remove tramp iron and other ferromagnetic materials during the process of mass production of products. The magnets pick out ferromagnetic materials as the products move along a conveyor system. These magnets can be used to remove metals from sugar, plastic, newspapers, flour, medicine or any other product that is assembled or produced using a conveyor system. By removing lumpy and abrasive elements, the plate magnets ensure that the system is not choked or worn out faster than expected. The separators can be installed above or below the conveyor as required.
This separation process using magnets is the backbone of any industrial process as virtually every industrial process requires a conveyor belt system to facilitate production. The use of conveyor belts began in the 19th century but they system used then was cumbersome and primitive compared to what is being used today. The system was invented by Richard Sutcliffe in 1905 for use in the advanced mining and production of coal in the US. Ford motor company later on, in 1913, started using conveyor belts when the proprietor, Henry Ford started using it in his vehicle manufacturing plant. In 2008, Siemens introduced the longest running airport conveyor system for handling luggage at Dubai International Airport. The longest conveyor belt system running on one belt in the world runs from Bangladesh to India and covers 11 miles. It is used to transport limestone and shale from a quarry in India to a cement processing factory in Bangladesh.
A conveyor system is used for a number of important functions in a factory. As mentioned earlier, it is used for separation. Other uses are sorting, labeling, dispensing, inspecting, stacking, diverting, reading bar codes, merging, counting, transportation of products among other important functions. An industrial process will have an extremely low output if all the processes involved were to be carried out manually without the use of conveyor belts. Without the use of plate magnets, the conveyor belt system will have a very short life. Industrial processes involved in production of plastic products, food and chemicals are made error free by using plate magnets.
Stainless steel is used to make plate magnets. This material is preferred because it is a durable and strong material. Their are designed to swing freely with ease away from the conveyor belt for cleaning. They can be cleaned either manually or automatically. Most high volume industries prefer to suspend plate magnets above the conveyor to get rid of impurities before the manufactured item makes its way down the chute. There are many different types, size and shapes of suspended conveyor belts. Plate magnets must be used in any safe industrial process in order to increase efficiency, production and cut down on production costs.
