build a magnetic switch

[rolf]

wanted to try some magnets with no holes like ring magnets. these are some rare earth ones from ebay. 10 mm by 1.5 mm.
they are conductive and very strong and small. they jump off the table at about 1.5 inches away !!
wrapped some paper around a marker pen and covered with scotch tape ...layed up some fiberglass to make a tube.also some flat stock to make other parts . the copper is a grounding strap heavy foil , cuts easy with sissors..the push botton is the top part of a sharpy pen!
covered the copper parts with silver solder and at this time soldered the wire before gluing ,not to melt the glue later. heat travels fast on the copper . potted the bottom with some epoxy to hold it together solid. but you have to use some 5 min epoxy with toothpick to seal the side gaps first. and carful not to leak into the works! on the final glue job for the top I put it in a c clamp to hold the magnets together and used j b weld with toothpick this stuff is strong and does not runn .. and takes the pressure of and had no problem of anything gluing together where its not spose to .
the size is 13.5 by 14.5 mm ..the top plate is oval to leave a gluing flange . the diameter is the same size as a turnagy 15 c round battery. final thoughts .. works great ! ...will pursue different ways to mount and simplify.
maybe two copper cups with opposing magnets in a syringe ?have funn !

 

[asdaq]

Pretty cool build rolf. You could miniaturize this with some 4 x 1 mm magnets even, and I'm not sure but did you glue the magnets to something in there too or are they free floating?

 

[rolf]

asdaq !
the bottom magnet is sandwiched between two fiberglass disks and epoxyed in the tube.(with the copper gap )
the top magnet is glued to a disk which is glued to the actuator botton . when pressed down it bridges the gap in the copper bottom to make the contact. smaller magnets would be nice for a a switch for the dna20 with smaller wire ...this one will carry the full current for a mechanical mod .
free floating probably not work in this one the magnets would jump and re attach them selves ...smaller tube maybe ?
the feel with these magnets is realy nice . one thing I will try later is drill a hole in one for another for another type switch .
that is if you explain your bycicle valve !!! hint hint
be good

 

[asdaq]

Let me know what to explain!

The conductivity is good with these magnets too, I use them for my positive contacts. I checked, and neodymium itself is conductive, but they are plated with copper and then nickel, which is also what the surface of the battery contact is. I expect the current mostly goes through the plating, but if it needs to go through the core of the magnet it can as well.

I wasn't sure if you had these glued to something, but it sure makes it easier to keep them from flipping.

 

[rolf]

hi asdaq
one thing I have not tried is to directly solder to them .somebody said that destroys the magnetism . since I got 100 of them I will try that.
the conductivity of them is good tried that with battery contacts to at least better than I can mesure. another thing I noticed is that I can grind a slot in them without destroying the magnetic field. so drilling should be no problem either .the bottom contacts of my build are copper insulated from the magnet with the fiberglass washer interrupted with a slot .the top magnet is used to make that contact direct .
it just has to bridge the the to copper contacts about a 16th . as you said the conductivity of these magnets are good .
so many more possible ways to build different switches .
what I like to know is there a more detailed thread on your build ...?? I think you are using ring magnets ?firing pin to make contacts where ? are we having fun jet ?

 

[asdaq]

Yes the heat kills the magnet, better to not even try. I solder to a ferretic piece of tin I believe it is and then stick the mag to that.

I will have to dig around and see where the proper instructions are hidden.

edit: the thread itself is pretty old, but it is still quite accurate and I've repeated it many times. The top of the screw has a piercing to keep the knurled nut from falling off.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/211313-simple-switch-opposing-magnets-safety.html

 

[rolf]

thanks asdaq!
jes that helps me to understand your switch ...nice work...still going to look at your wooden mods again and again ..soooo nice.
I think I have to borrow some ideas for some of my mods . but the garage is to cold right now for my taste. its that or my carpet eats small parts!! be good.

 

[asdaq]

Thanks rolf. The kitchen isn't carpeted is it? You could bundle up for quick big missions in the garage and then refine the work piece in the warmth of the indoors. I can stand 10-15 mins out on the balcony at a time which is sometimes just enough for a tooling setup.

Sent from my 4.4'd Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[rolf]

asdaq the king of brass
my kitchen wont work ...I will get shot ! borrowed a propane heater for the garage so.
I have a big plank of walnut waiting for my forstner bits and radial saw ...hmm
sitting here and hypnotizing a sharpy pen . the cap is 11 mm id ...a piece of that would make a nice tube for the magnets !
other parts of the pen for the bottom seal ..and also the plunger. hmm. permanent ink all over the place.
like you suggested some ferric material ..had some sheet metal from ductwork ..the bottom magnet is no problem it is stationary.
the top magnet contact will have to travel and don't think ther is room for a wire loop ..maby soldering braid.??
got to think a little bit.http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r512/rolfi6/DSC_0374.jpg