Permanent magnets are not normally considered to be switchable. However, maker Andrew Klein has developed a clever method to circumvent this principle. Using 3D printing, he has constructed a magnetic switch that can effectively switch permanent magnets on and off.
The concept is based on a two-part 3D-printed holder. In one orientation, the design positions two magnet arrays in opposite directions. As a result, the magnetic fields cancel each other out and the component is practically non-magnetic. By rotating them into an alternative position, however, the magnetic poles align themselves in the same way. This leads to an amplification of the magnetic field so that the arrangement acts like a single, strong magnet.
The practical application of such devices lies in the development of magnetic clamps or holders that can be attached to and detached from ferromagnetic surfaces as required. The ‘switching off’ of the magnet makes handling much easier compared to manually detaching a strong permanent magnet from a metal surface.
For interested makers, Klein makes the 3D print files available online for 5 US dollars and explains his development in a video.
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