⚡ Key Takeaways
- Sideways edge-mounted magnets on the disc rim — oriented like saw blade teeth or windmill blades
- 9x8 and 8x9 arrangements both yielding 72 total magnets at exactly 5° spacing
- Donut magnets placed in circles on the floor below the spinning disc for floor-field interaction
- 9 inch discs incoming — larger surface enables the 3-6-9 grouping layout
- Vacuum chamber experiments planned — eliminating air drag to isolate magnetic contribution
- Graphite lubricant tip — dry, clean, non-contaminating bearing lubrication for high-spin experiments
Papa Bale's experiments keep evolving in unexpected directions. This video introduces a fundamentally different approach to disc magnet placement: instead of flat face-mounted magnets, the magnets are turned sideways and mounted on the disc's edge — like the teeth of a saw blade, or the blades of a windmill. The result is a radial field pattern that opens up new interaction possibilities with floor-mounted magnets and adjacent discs.
The Saw-Blade / Windmill Magnet Style
Traditional disc magnet arrangements mount the magnets flat on the disc face, with the pole faces pointing up or down (axially). The saw-blade windmill approach mounts them on the edge of the disc, rotated 90° so the pole faces point radially outward (or inward). This is the same geometry as saw blade teeth, or windmill blades catching the wind.
The practical effect: the magnetic field now radiates primarily outward from the disc edge rather than from the top or bottom face. This changes everything about how the disc interacts with its surroundings. Coils placed around the disc periphery (rather than above or below) are now in the strongest part of the field. Floor-mounted magnets interact with the disc edge rather than the disc face.
9x8 and 8x9: Why 72 Magnets?
Papa Bale works through two specific arrangements — 9 rows of 8 magnets (9x8) and 8 rows of 9 magnets (8x9). Both yield 72 magnets total. At 72 magnets around a disc circumference, each magnet sits exactly 5 degrees apart from its neighbors (360° ÷ 72 = 5°). This is the densest practical spacing Papa Bale has worked with, and it produces exceptionally smooth magnetic force distribution with minimal cogging.
The distinction between 9x8 and 8x9 relates to the physical geometry of the edge-mounting arrangement — how many layers of magnets are stacked at each angular position vs how many angular positions exist. Different configurations produce different field profiles at the disc edge.
Donut Magnets on the Floor
A new element in this experiment: donut magnets (ring magnets with a central hole) placed in circles on the floor below the spinning disc. With the disc magnets now pointing radially, the floor magnets interact with the disc edge as it sweeps overhead. This creates a field interaction that doesn't require anything directly above or below the disc — potentially allowing a levitation and spin configuration with clearance on both faces.
Papa Bale positions the donut magnets in circular patterns that match the radius of the disc edge magnets, exploring which arrangements produce the smoothest or most sustained interaction.
What's Coming: 9 Inch Discs, Vacuum Chamber, Graphite
9 inch discs: Larger discs unlock the 3-6-9 grouping layout — groupings of 3, 6, and 9 magnets in specific repeating sequences. The extra circumference on a 9" disc makes these larger groups physically practical for the first time.
Vacuum chamber: Eliminating air drag is the next logical test. In vacuum, the disc should spin much longer from the same initial impulse, revealing how much of the spin sustaining comes from magnetic interactions versus just low air resistance. Papa Bale is planning to acquire or build a chamber capable of testing his disc assemblies.
Graphite lubricant: A practical tip for builders — dry graphite powder applied to the pole bearing surfaces dramatically reduces friction without the contamination risks of oil lubricants. Oil can attract magnetic particles and gum up over time; graphite stays clean and effective even at high RPM.