Most magnet materials leave the factory unmagnetized. The power is added later by magnetizing equipment — and the moment of magnetization is one of the most important steps in the whole chain.
How a magnetizer works
A typical magnetizer has two parts: a capacitor bank that stores electrical energy, and a coil or fixture that turns it into a brief, huge magnetic pulse. The capacitor discharges in a fraction of a second, the pulse field saturates the magnet, and the magnet comes out fully magnetized. Despite the energy involved, the process is fast — many magnetizers cycle in a few seconds.
Why a pulse?
To magnetize a magnet you need a field stronger than its coercivity — a field a steady power supply cannot easily produce. A capacitor-discharge pulse delivers that strength briefly without overheating the coil. That is why magnetization is done at the end of production, not the beginning.
Fixtures set the pattern
The coil and fixture design decide the magnetization direction and pole pattern. A simple rod gets one direction; a motor ring may need many poles around its circumference. Multi-pole rings, common in sensors and small motors, need special fixtures with precisely placed coils — a good reason to buy them pre-magnetized from the factory. The same magnet can be magnetized in different patterns, so always specify the direction on your drawing.
Handle with care
Once magnetized, a magnet is dangerous to handle. Magnetized parts snap together with force, pinch fingers and attract steel debris. Workers wear gloves and eye protection, and use non-magnetic tools where possible. Magnetize last, right at the assembly step, and follow the handling rules for strong magnets.
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