I Finally Got My Bar Magnet Magnetic Field Levitation Working

Hook

I finally got a stable floating disc using nothing but permanent magnets and a simple finger whip. The bar magnet magnetic field is doing the heavy lifting here with six donut magnets around a central pole.

Watch this experiment

I set up six donut magnets surrounding that middle pole. They lift an eight inch disc that has rectangle magnets on it. There's another disc on top that spins and gets pulled down by the big circle magnets. I gave it a little spin and timed it. The whole thing rattled nicely but stayed floating on the edge for about four minutes.

What you'll learn

You'll see how the push from the bottom disc and the pull from the top disc create a counteraction that keeps everything in the air. I talk about why adding extra magnets usually slows things down, how close spacing tricks the fields, and what might happen when I switch to nine inch discs.

From the bench

This is different from my usual pulse motor stuff. No coils, no electronics, just straight permanent magnet levitation. The six donut magnets sit around a center pole. The levitating disc is eight inches with rectangle magnets. A top disc sits above it getting pulled down. I start it with a finger whip instead of propping it up. You can see some of the donut magnets are a little underneath the disc. I couldn't get the phone right above it without messing up the shot but the edge lift is clear. The rectangle magnets sometimes clash with the round ones and make a nice rattle.

How it works / what we changed

These magnets on the disc are lifting the whole assembly while the big circle ones pull the top disk down. It's a balance I've been chasing after several failed attempts. One earlier try used a disc with circle magnets but didn't work as well. This time the counteraction feels right. I used to prop it up and push in but now I just push up and let it find its own spot. The spin lasts about four minutes from a quick whip. All the added magnets I've tried before have slowed down the rate or the distance. So far it seems the only magnets you really need are the levitating ones but I'm still experimenting.

Magnetic field lines magnet

I stumbled on this by putting the magnets close enough together. It tricks all the magnets into thinking there's only one side of the coin even though the other side is right there. The magnetic field lines magnet seem to get clamped because when you get them close the field only goes up a certain amount and the other field goes up higher. I always knew there were two field intensities but now I understand it better from these tests.

Magnet which now

Instead of having the disc just on the edge I'm going to put a nine inch disc that gives an extra half inch out around the whole thing. That magnet which now sits over the actual face of the magnet instead of just the edge should give more power. I think we're going to get a lot of wobble like this but a nine inch disc might levitate a six inch one and a six inch could levitate a three inch. That would make the six inch the most powerful because the sizes are interchangeable in the patterns like three six nine or two four six eight.

Magnetic field on a bar magnet

The way I figured out how to make it levitate is by getting the magnets close enough together so the magnetic field on a bar magnet gets tricked. Even though the other side is right there the fields can't fully feel it. It only goes up say that much and then the opposing field goes higher. That's how the whole stack stays up with the bottom pushing and the top getting pulled down. It's still there but the close spacing changes how the magnetic field on a bar magnet interacts in this setup.

Builder checklist

• Six donut magnets around a central pole
• Eight inch disc with rectangle magnets for levitation
• Separate top disc that gets pulled downward
• Start with a simple finger whip instead of propping
• Measure runtime and note any rattle or friction
• Try nine inch discs for better face coverage
• Keep testing whether added magnets help or hinder

Troubleshooting

The round magnets clash with the straight rectangle ones and generate some friction. If it won't lift, move the donut magnets a bit closer or adjust the top disc weight. Wobble increases with bigger discs so balance the magnets carefully. If spin dies quick, check that the levitating magnets are the only ones really needed. I found adding extras usually slows it down.

Safety

Don't put your phone directly above a strong spinning magnet setup. The fields can mess with electronics. Keep fingers clear when it's rattling. Larger discs will have more wobble so build on a stable base. These are strong neodymium style magnets so watch for pinch points.

FAQ

How long does it spin? About four minutes from a finger whip.

Do extra magnets help? So far they hinder rather than help. The levitating ones seem to be the key.

Will nine inch discs work better? They should give more face contact instead of edge only and might let one size levitate the next smaller one.

Why does it stay up? Close spacing tricks the fields so one side dominates and creates the counteracting push-pull.

Related on this site

• How to Build a Pulse Motor: Complete Beginner's Guide
• Pulse Motor Rotor Design: Magnets, Materials and Balance
• Magnetic Levitation on a Pole – Experiment 1: Push, Pull & Balance
• 7+ Minutes of Motion: Magnetic Disc Spinning With Just a Wrist Flick
• Donut Magnets — Outside Poles & Motion

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