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| Alnico Magnet | Alnico Magnets |
What Are Alnico Magnets?
Alnico magnets are mostly composed of alloys of nickel, cobalt and aluminum. These magnets are manufactured by a process of casting or sintering. They are known for being able to withstand extremely high temperatures, and have high residual reduction and high energies. Because an Alnico magnet is made through casting, it is possible to make these magnets in different shapes, such as a horseshoe shape. The most common Alnico magnet is called the Cast 5. Some of the things this magnet is used for include:
Properties of Alico MagnetsAlnico magnets are very hard because they are used in machinery and for drilling. Any holes in these magnets have to be done at the factory using special machinery. When the magnets are made they are a little larger than the normal size, but machines are used to hone and shape them to what we see when we buy them. In order to make these magnets by casting, melted metal is poured into a mold. Then it goes through various heating cycles before it is fully made. The magnet is grey when it comes out of the mold and may be a little rough. These magnets have a magnetic surface. They are called permanent earth magnets because they have magnetic North and South Poles. They need to be stored so that they do not become demagnetized, but if this happens it is only easy to make them magnetic again. If you notice that your Alnico magnet seems to have a hairline crack, this is normal. The casting process commonly produces voids and hairline cracks and this becomes more exposed during the honing and polishing. However, it does not affect the magnetic feature of the magnet.
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