What is easier to lift? A 10 Kg mass of steel or 10 Kg mass of cotton wool?
You are correct if you said that this was a trick question—both weigh equally. However, some people take it one step further and realize that lifting is only possible once you are able to properly grab a load of weight. Grabbing an object is not always easy, and especially when you want the job done by automated machines. That used to be a problem in some industries where metal sheets and blocks had to be lifted, and automatically, under computer control. Various techniques have been tried including vacuum cups and electromagnets to grab materials with variable success.
The Concerns?
The action has various sensitive aspects:
Magnetic Gripping
Electromagnets
When talking of magnetic grip and release, one would straightaway think of electromagnets. Electromagnets have indeed given very good service over the years and the decades, but they have certain disadvantages. They have to be carrying huge currents when magnetized. Switching huge currents on and off was power intensive and demanded large structures.
Permanent magnets
Permanent magnets are relatively much lighter, and do not require continuous electric supply for a continued grip. One would expect that a permanent magnet will grip when it comes sufficiently close to a ferrous object. That is true. But how would we ensure it releases when we want it to? How do we ‘demagnetize’ it? In other words how do we switch the grip of a permanent magnet.
Switching a Permanent magnet
Magswitch has made a very ingenious use of a principle employed in old-time computer core memory to solve this problem and obtained a patent for it. Recall that 1+1+2, and 1-1=0. That is the principle used by Magswitch. Two identical permanent magnet poles are used. When in alignment, they reinforce each other to grip the material. When, one is rotated to opposite alignment, the two cancel and the net result is to release the grip. There is no requirement for a holding current as in the electromagnet. Just the current required to rotate one pole, and only till alignment is complete!
Heavy Lift Frames Series by Magswitch
One of the product lines by Magswitch is the Heavy Lift Frames Series. These lift frames by Magswitch are suitable for lifting up to 8000 pounds of pipes, beams, or sheets. Sheets as thin as ¾ inch (19 mm) can be lifted singly through their patented shallow field technology. Like all other magnetic products by Magswitch, the Heavy Lift Frames Series offer very special advantages over other types of holding arrangements.
Bottom Line
So, what do you get from using Magswitch Heavy Lift Frame Series?
Interested in learning more? Speak to an ACD expert!
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