I Spun My New Disc with Staggered Magnet Setup NS-NS Pattern

Hook

I just started wobbling but this new disc with the staggered north and south on one side has been spinning pretty good so far.

Watch this experiment

I gave the new disc a quick whip to show how it runs. With the 6-inch stabilizer underneath it smoothed out nicely and had very little wobble even though the magnets are staggered.

What you'll learn

You’ll see why four equal magnet pieces always latch, how a simple stabilizer fixes it, and my early ideas for 72-magnet discs, 5- and 6-degree spacing, and a double helix build that climbs in offset spirals.

From the bench

All right so I just started wobbling I don’t know how long it’s been spinning for but it’s my new disc with the staggered north and south on one side. We’re just seeing how it goes. It’s been going pretty good so far. The thing with it being four equal pieces is that it’s gonna latch no matter what you do so you gotta get a stabilizer in this instance I used a six inch stabilizer underneath and it has had very little wobble up until now.

How it works / what we changed

I’m gonna give it a quick whip here just to show you a little whip. Now the six inches is glued to the other discs so it slid around but that’s okay I was just there to keep it from latching to the disc below it. Look at that that is so smooth that is very very smooth for it being a staggered magnet setup.

staggered magnet setup ns-ns pattern

The staggered magnet setup ns-ns pattern on this new disc uses north and south poles alternating on one face only. With four equal pieces it still wants to latch strongly so the six-inch stabilizer underneath was required. Once spinning it ran smoother than expected and gave a clean demonstration of how the offset poles interact without a top drive magnet in the middle yet.

staggered magnet setup

I’m thinking about doing more staggered permanent staggered discs. The current staggered magnet setup already shows promise but the stabilizer must sit on top in the final version so the drive can go in the middle. I plan to keep experimenting with different counts and gaps to reduce latching while keeping the smooth spin.

magnet setup pattern

I’m thinking about doing a six three on three off and then I’m thinking about doing a nine which you know each one of these eight inch discs and ten inch disc and six inch disc I try to put 72 magnets on them so I can stagger one of these discs with eight on nine off I think come up with nine or nine on eight off because nine times eight is 72. It’s five degrees but I’ve been experimenting in my mind with what six degrees would look like. You lose 12 magnets but you gain the ability to maybe turn it into a magnetic gear because there’s enough space now for that south to see the other pole a little bit more.

Builder checklist

• Cut and balance new 8-inch, 10-inch or 6-inch disc
• Place 72 magnets when possible for flexible staggering
• Glue 6-inch stabilizer underneath to fight latching from four equal pieces
• Test with simple wrist-flick start before adding drive coil
• Plan offset starting points for double helix sections of three magnets each
• Decide on top pegboard stabilizer if modularity is not needed

Troubleshooting

The disc wanted to latch hard because of the four equal magnet pieces. Adding the six-inch stabilizer underneath fixed most of the wobble. If it slides around that’s okay for early tests. The spin was less than I hoped because the stabilizer blocks the middle; final builds will move it to the top.

Safety

These are strong neodymium magnets. Keep fingers clear when the disc is spinning fast. Glue joints can let go so wear eye protection. Work in a clear area so nothing flies if a magnet breaks loose.

FAQ

Why does it latch so much? Four equal pieces create repeating north-south attraction no matter the angle.

How long did it spin? I don’t know exactly but it kept going nicely after the whip.

Will the double helix need extra stabilization? Probably a top pegboard glued down but that loses the modular stacking I like.

What spacing are you moving to? Thinking 8-on-9-off or 9-on-8-off using 72 magnets per disc for roughly 5° steps.

Related on this site

• How to Build a Pulse Motor (Parts, Coil Placement & Circuit)
• Pulse Motor Rotor Design: Magnets, Materials and Balance
• Neodymium Magnets for Pulse Motor Rotors
• 7+ Minutes of Motion: Magnetic Disc Spinning With Just a Wrist Flick
• Building a Double Helix Magnetic Sculpture
• Donut Magnets — Outside Poles & Motion

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