#059: iPad on a Fridge
Fridge magnets are still the most boring of all uses for magnets (even though it’s the most ubiquitous use), but with all the fuss over iPad 2 recently we figured this was one way to slightly improve the usefulness of your fridge.
As much as we love magnets, we have to remind ourselves that they have the potential to be extremely dangerous.
Case in point: 9-year-old Andre Bercerra recently swallowed two magnets which caused severe damage to his intestines:
“He did have internal injuries. There were two holes in his intestines from the magnets,” Bercerra said. “The surgeon said it was as if he had been shot with a BB gun through his intestine.”
If Andre had not been able to tell the surgeon he had swallowed magnets then this could have been a fatal incident.
Take the time and make sure your family is safe: don’t leave magnets lying in reach of children or pets, and especially don’t give magnets to young children as a play toy. As fun as they are, magnets are not a toy.
The gadget-gurus at iFixit tore apart the new iPad Smart Cover to see how it works. Result: there are twenty-one magnets inside the cover and a further 10 inside the iPad to make the magic happen.
Take a look at the link to see how it works - there’s some clever trickery going on with the geometry of the magnets to ensure it aligns perfectly every time.
→ Visit this Link#057: iPad 2’s Magnetic Smart Cover
Apple has something of a love-affair with magnets, featuring them in their MagSafe Power Adapter, MacBook hinges, remote controls and now, in iPad 2’s Smart Cover.
The iPad Smart Cover attaches magnetically (there are magnets built into the side of iPad) and then folds flush over the display. Another magnet holds the cover in place over the display and switches it on and off when the cover is moved. It’s about the coolest use we’ve seen for a magnet, and definitely the coolest advertisement.
We’ve already ordered two iPad 2’s - what about you? What other magnetism does the iPad have?
Cisco’s WebEx.com design team came up with a creative method to brainstorm and share their designs - magnetic walls:
They painted the long wall with several coast of magnetic paint, covered it with a coat of color to match the other walls, let it dry, and then posted designs all over on the wall using small magnets.When a design is declared complete, they can quickly move it to the end of the wall without having to deal with tape or pins.
Magnetic paint used to be readily available, but sadly we haven’t been able to source it easily for some time now. That’s a real shame, as we think everybody should have at least one magnetic wall - they’re incredibly social and so much fun!
Lots of Aussie Magnets customers come to us with plans to build wind turbines, but very rarely do we get to see one that’s actually functional. When Maurice emailed us with pictures (and video) of his working wind-turbine, we were thrilled. He took an old ceiling fan, some coils, some glue, some magnets and lots of ingenuity and created a working turbine:
The turbine was producing up to 35 volts AC with only one coil assembly wired in. Further developments will include connecting both coil assemblies to bridge rectifiers to produce Direct Current (DC) that will be used to charge up about three deep cell batteries to use as a off grid backup and to run a couple of motors through a 240 volt AC inverter. Adding an extra run of magnets in the spaces between the current magnets will increase the output from the turbine and having the bridge rectifiers in series or parallel changes the volts to amps ratios. More experimenting will produce improved results and the aerodynamic design of the blades is important to reduce any noise.
Maurice, Aussie Magnets customer
Genius! And it’s not just experimental either - Maurice is producing usable power that could make a real difference to his electricity bills.
Check back tomorrow for a brief video of the turbine in action.
Thanks, Maurice! Your gift is on the way.
Researchers at the University of California have been using magnets to influence which hand volunteers choose in everyday situations:
According to the scientists, the magnet generates a magnetic field on a small part of the skull which creates weak electric currents in the brain. The currents interfere with nearby brain cells and prevent them from firing normally.
…
When the magnet was placed on the left side of the brain region, the volunteers used their left hand more frequently than when the magnet was switched off.
We’re getting ever-closer to magnetic mind control, and we can’t wait!
→ Visit this LinkGreg has found a whole series of uses for magnets in his workshop. As a busy engineer running, he’s always in need of an extra pair of hands, which is where Aussie Magnets comes in!
What I use them for is in my workshop for holding down plans, tools and equipment. Also, they make use as another set of hands while welding, making sure that the heat isn’t conducted into the magnets. Uses are too numerous too list, thank you!!
Greg, Aussie Magnets customer
Greg’s mostly using our 20mm x 10mm Rare Earth Discs, but we can see a few Pot Magnets kicking around in the photos. He also mentions using magnets for “pulse counting and pulse generation” in programmable ignitions, something we’d love to hear more about.
Thanks, Greg! Your free magnetic gift is in the post.
#042: Magnetic Rubik’s Cube
papacharlieromeo stumbles across the old-school Rubik’s cube with a modern twist - magnets.
Take a look at Maurice’s wind-turbine in action. In reasonable wind it picks up speed rather quickly and is generating up to 35 volts AC in no time at all. Very impressive.
#041: Magnetic Key Dish
etsyfindsandwishes found this cool Magnetic Key Dish. We suspect there’s a strong Rare Earth magnet embedded in the dish holding the keys tight. Just make sure your keyring isn’t aluminium, otherwise it won’t hold.
You can attach your own keys to any magnetic-receptive surface using our special Keychain Magnets.
From Melbourne’s mX newspaper:
Girl magnet so attractive
A Serbian schoolgirl has amazed medics with her astonishing magnetic hands.
For the past five years, Jelena Momcilov, 10, has been picking up cutlery, metal furniture and coins just by touching them.
Experts at Nis University have urged scientists to investigate this “unknown form of biomagnetism”.
13th September, 2009
Perhaps Jelena has a magnetic sixth sense?
crimsonedgeevents finds these super-cool magnetic salt & pepper shakers:
Designer Mike Flache has created a high-class magnetic salt cellar and pepper pot made of stainless chromium steel.
Inspired by hundreds of breakfasts around the world he transformed the natural shape of a simple egg into a stylish accessory.
Magnets on each part of the ‘Spice Egg’ stick it together and makes the handling comfortable.
Now we can dine with magnets!
