On and Off Switch for My Low-Volt Pulse Motor (Graphite Balance)

Papa Bale gets a Utron spinning on a makeshift maglev with donut magnets, tests voltages from 12V to 48V, swaps in better magnets for smoother motion, and shows how a simple on and off switch plus graphite balance helps the low-volt pulse motor settle down around 400 RPM. Shaking, balance issues, and future reed switch plans are all on the bench.

Key takeaways

• 36V runs the Utron smoother than 48V on this maglev setup
• Two ferrite donut magnets in the center plus two on the base give workable repulsion but still shake at speed
• Graphite and balance tweaks plus stronger N52 magnets improve consistency over square ones
• Reed switch with 9V battery and dual coils is the next step once the rotor shrinks to fit
• Magnets sticking during disassembly makes repeated adjustments tricky
• Around 400 RPM achieved but balance remains the biggest hurdle

Papa Bale here in the workshop. I pulled out the Utron again and finally got it floating on a maglev setup using donut magnets. The ride is bumpy but it's spinning. I tested voltages live: 12V, 24V, 36V all worked, but 48V didn't perform as well so I settled on 36V. The shaking is ridiculous and I doubt I can eyeball a perfect fix. There's space for a little magnet in the center so I'm thinking three small ones pushing off the energy in the middle of a double or quadruple stack instead of the magnet face itself.

I tried gluing a magnet on the outside but that made it rockier. The bearings slide because the hole is a little big so maglev was the workaround. New 10mm inner neo rings are on the way and should help. The Utron doesn't spin great as a plain rotor; it seems to like aluminum and eddy currents for real speed. I keep trying to fit a motor inside but the dimensions are always just off. I've got the rotor here that needs shrinking so a 9V battery and reed switch with four coils (two and two) can go in the middle.

I also played with the side discs and square N52 magnets. They move okay but I swapped to different magnets with more surface area, orienting north-south as needed for smoother consistent motion. Sometimes the on and off switch works right away, sometimes it needs coaxing. The middle one gets going fast at 12V once the top magnets are stronger. Balance is still the main issue with those donuts inside.

Excited to build a ferrocell with the 3.75 inch round glass I have while I wait for better parts. Scotch tape should still work even if it's not square. Overall it's floating and spinning at about 400 RPM but the unbalance is obvious. Small changes like graphite for balance and a clean on and off switch make noticeable differences on this low-volt pulse motor.

Related on this site

• Pulse Motor Rotor Design: Magnets, Materials and Balance — Directly supports discussion of donut magnets, balance issues, and rotor shrinking for reed switch fit
• I Finally Got My Pulse Motor Running (Reed Switch) — Matches the exact next-step plan mentioned with 9V battery and reed switch
• Magnetic Levitation with Six Donut Magnets — Similar maglev experiment using donut magnets that parallels the current Utron setup
• How to Build a Pulse Motor: Parts, Coil Placement & First Spin — Offers beginner parts and coil advice that aligns with the four-coil (two and two) plan

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