24 node magnet array pulse motor.
🔬 Experiment Overview
This video documents a major design shift: reducing all solenoid magnets down to just ONE while expanding the rotor disc to a 24-magnet array. The theory: instead of relying on multiple drive coils, use closer magnet spacing on the rotor to ensure reliable reed switch triggering from a single solenoid.
Tested from 12.3V up to 20V, the results show this is Papa Bale's most promising modular pulse motor configuration yet — lightweight on components, fast to reconfigure, and with serious speed potential. The next goal: dual-disc alignment with a 24+12 magnet setup.
🧰 What Was Used
Flywheel with 24 N25 neodymium magnets in evenly spaced array — the primary magnetic drive surface
One 12V solenoid magnet — all the push force needed when paired with the 24-magnet array
One reed switch for timing — triggers on each magnet pass to pulse the solenoid
12V to 20V DC — amp meter shows automatic current adjustment based on demand
📝 Transcript
hello this page and I've modified again the flywheel of the pulse motor and we've reduced the amount of solenoid magnets down to one being increased the magnet array on the disc itself to 24 and with one read switch let's see what happens since this is a 12 volt solenoid magnet we're going to jack it up to 12 volts 12.3
uh I believe we're going to go counterclockwise wow just touched it and it it's off
so apparently with one magnet and one read switch it works 24 magnets they are not too close together to trigger the switch I was afraid that they'd be so close together that they would constantly be open you know and it wouldn't work and that that'll pick up speed it's a little bit heavier with the the extra 24 magnets on there so it takes a little while with one solenoid to pick up speed but once it gets going takes a while for it to stop
I like this the best because I believe under the correct uh circumstances this will go the fastest and leave me with you know a bunch more resources to use elsewhere all right 15.5 volts 0.0 amps and the amp switch I have all the way open it kind of automatically adjusts ampage based on the based on need that is so cool that's one magnet and one Reed switch I mean I guess with the other Reed switch and the other magnet things got confusing with that many or I had them plug I had one plugged in one way and one plugged in another way I've decided that having both those wires be blue is a pain in the ass because you know all I had to do was switch the alligator clips from one to the other and it would have worked fine
and you know what I believe the RPMs are going to be the same no matter what I do because the solenoid magnets are 25 n across the board so it has the same rate of lift no matter what you do with it I mean I could probably get a little bit faster if I just put it like a half a millimeter away from the magnet array but it's gonna the magnets are gonna jump onto the it's that no that won't work because I didn't glue the magnets onto the array and I'm modular experimentation is key man you got to be able to reuse a lot of your stuff or you're going to be paying through the nose
I mean yeah that solenoid magnet is glued onto that little apparatus that I made out of a bolt a washer and two flanges and it's perfect height I mean why wouldn't you do it it's stable it's perfect it's a little messy because there's glue on it but it's hot glue so I can take that all apart if I want here we're going to jack it up see if we can't get some speed 20 volts I don't think it's speeding up yeah there it goes really Nifty I never thought the 24 and yellow I already have been saying the 24 magnet array is was bold move and some bold move but yep there it is
and it it gets going without even you all you have to do is touch it you don't even have to push it in any kind of Direction you just touch it and that's enough because the magnets on the array are so close together and it's great because that that read switch picks and picks up I mean it might not hit every single note but it's enough for it to get going
I like it I think I'm going to keep it the way it is for right now um now the idea that I have to get this disc hovering just above so the magnets will push it along or we can have it up higher not too much higher and use a solenoid magnet and hook it to the same Reed switch or have a new read switch but anyway the idea is to align because 24 and 12 to align these magnets with the magnets on the big disk and use the same read switch to Prime two solenoid magnets one to push this disc and one to push that disk so both discs will be spinning or or we do it the old-fashioned way and we put it down close enough so the bar magnets on the big wheel and the bar magnets on the small wheel
but you know the wood pulls the bearing doesn't fit very well in the wood doesn't fit very well on the aluminum fits perfect on the steel but you know we can't use the steel because that interferes with the mat the magnet permanent magnets the pole in the middle of Steel but that's because it the magnets aren't facing um well that's not true they're all facing the pole but they're far enough away that it's not affecting haha it's hard hard to explain that without sounding like an idiot um but the idea is to get two spirals going at the same time around this big disc down here and that'll be pretty Epic thank you have a nice night Please Subscribe and join me on my my journey having a lot of fun doing this especially when I have success so you know if you have any ideas and watching me do this stuff and you have any ideas man just let me know the guy who you know told me to use bearings I mean yeah it's good but you know it's has his pros and his cons so yes please join me have a good night
⚡ Key Findings
Reducing to a single solenoid magnet while running a 24-magnet array actually works — the close magnet spacing ensures the reed switch triggers reliably every time.
Not gluing magnets down means everything is reusable. Hot glue holds the solenoid in place perfectly while keeping it removable — key for rapid iteration.
Papa Bale believes this is his fastest config yet — consistent N25 magnet strength and even spacing mean precise timing and maximum acceleration per pulse.
Align a 24-magnet disc with a 12-magnet disc and drive both with one reed switch — creating a powerful dual-disc or counter-rotating setup.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 24-magnet array work with just one solenoid?
With 24 magnets spaced evenly on the rotor disc, one solenoid magnet and one reed switch are enough to keep the disc spinning. The close spacing of the magnets means the reed switch triggers reliably without needing multiple coils — each magnet passes the switch at exactly the right moment.
Why did Papa Bale reduce from many solenoids to just one?
Fewer solenoids means fewer resources used and more room on the breadboard for other experiments. It also simplifies the circuit, reduces electromagnetic interference between coils, and makes the motor more efficient per component used.
Does the 24-magnet array spin faster than other configurations?
Papa Bale believes that under the correct circumstances, this configuration will go the fastest. Since all 24 magnets are N25 strength and spaced consistently, the timing is precise and the rotor can accelerate well with each pulse — leaving more resources available for other parts of the build.
What voltage is the 24 magnet array pulse motor running at?
The motor was tested from 12.3 volts up to 20 volts. At higher voltages it picks up speed quickly — though it takes a while since the disc is heavier with 24 magnets on it. At 15.5V it runs at 0.0 amps with the amp switch fully open.
What is the next step for this motor design?
The goal is to align two discs — one with 24 magnets and one with 12 — and use the same reed switch to drive both solenoid magnets simultaneously, creating a counter-rotating or dual-disc spiral setup that can drive a larger magnetic sculpture.
Want to Build Along?
Subscribe to Papa Bale on YouTube for the full experiments — new builds every week.
📺 Subscribe Free on YouTube