New: Paid expert consultation
Expert advice on choosing magnets: when is it worthwhile and how does it work?
Finding your way through the range of magnets and industrial magnetic equipment is not always easy. The final performance depends not only on the magnet's dimensions or stated force, but also on the material of the counterpart, temperature, humidity, load direction, flow rate and the properties of the material being purified.
- Find out when ordinary advice is enough and when an expert consultation is worthwhile.
- Learn who paid expert advice is intended for.
- See which applications a specialist can help you with.
- Find out what information to prepare before the consultation.
- Learn how online and in-person consultations work.
- Understand why a suitable magnet cannot be selected solely by breakaway force.
- See examples of both simple and industrial magnetic solutions.
For basic guidance, you can use the information on the MAGSY website, product descriptions in the online shop or the frequently asked questions section.
However, if you are dealing with an unusual design, industrial production, magnetic separation or an application where failure could cause damage, it is often advisable to use paid expert advice.
When is ordinary advice enough and when is paid expert advice worthwhile?
If you need an ordinary refrigerator magnet, a simple furniture catch or a small magnet for a home project, the information provided with the product is usually sufficient.
An expert consultation makes more sense when the result is affected by several operating conditions or when you need to compare multiple possible solutions.
Consider paid expert advice especially when:
- you do not know how strong or large the magnet needs to be,
- the magnet will be subjected to side loading or vibration,
- it must operate at elevated temperatures or in a humid environment,
- you need to capture metal contaminants from a bulk or liquid mixture,
- you are selecting a magnetic separator for a production line,
- you need to protect a machine, nozzle, mill or other equipment,
- you need a magnet for food-processing, chemical or automotive operations,
- you are designing an electric motor, sensor, holder or another technical assembly,
- you need to verify the suitability of a specific product for your application,
- potential failure could cause downtime, damage or a safety risk.
Who is expert advice intended for?
An expert consultation is suitable for individuals, tradespeople, designers, maintenance technicians and manufacturing companies. It provides the greatest value in technical and industrial applications where the correct product cannot be determined solely from a photograph or a single dimension.
Manufacturing and processing companies
Expert advice can help with selecting a magnetic separator, production equipment protection, a magnetic grid, rod, plate or another solution for capturing ferromagnetic contaminants.
Food-processing operations
For food-processing applications, it is necessary to consider the construction material, hygiene requirements, the type of material being purified, particle size, temperature, cleaning method and the required level of separation.
Plastics industry
Magnets for injection-moulding machine hoppers help capture metal contaminants from plastic granulate or regranulate before they reach the nozzle or another part of the production equipment.
Metalworking and mechanical engineering
A consultation can help with selecting magnets for fixtures, holders, positioning, handling, swarf collection, material separation or protection of production equipment.
Automotive and electrical engineering
For motors, sensors and other electrical assemblies, it is necessary to consider temperature, magnetic grade, magnetisation direction, dimensions, vibration and the effect of an opposing magnetic field.
Developers and designers
A specialist can help compare several options and point out factors that are easy to overlook in an initial design, such as an air gap, an excessively thin counterpart or an unsuitable load direction.
What can a specialist help you with?
The purpose of the consultation is not merely to recommend a specific catalogue product. The first step is to understand the entire application and identify which parameters have the greatest influence on the result.
- selection of a suitable magnetic material,
- design of the required magnet dimensions and shape,
- comparison of neodymium, ferrite and samarium magnets,
- selection of the correct temperature resistance,
- assessment of the installation or mounting method,
- selection of a magnetic holder or hook,
- assessment of the actual holding force in a specific position,
- selection of a magnetic separator, grid or rod,
- design of solutions for bulk materials, granulate or other mixtures,
- selection of a product for protecting machinery and production technology,
- assessment of whether a catalogue or custom-made solution is more suitable.
How does expert advice work?
- Order expert advice. The consultation is booked in 15-minute time blocks.
- Choose the required format. In the order note, specify whether you prefer an online or in-person consultation.
- Describe your application. Provide as much technical information as possible and, if relevant, attach photographs, a drawing or a diagram.
- Arrange a date and time. Once the order has been processed, a member of staff will contact you to agree the exact time and consultation format.
- Discuss possible options. The specialist will review the operating conditions, risks and suitable products or next steps with you.
- Book additional time if necessary. More complex applications may require more than one 15-minute block.
What should you prepare before the consultation?
- a brief description of what the magnet or device needs to do,
- photographs of the installation location or current solution,
- a drawing with dimensions and available space,
- the material, thickness and shape of the magnetic counterpart,
- the weight and direction of the load,
- the maximum operating temperature,
- information about humidity, water or chemicals,
- details of vibration, impacts or movement of the assembly,
- for separation applications, the type, particle size and properties of the material being purified,
- the required capacity or flow rate,
- the size and type of metal contaminants you need to capture,
- requirements regarding material, hygiene and cleaning method.
Online or in-person consultation?
Online expert advice
An online consultation is suitable if you can explain your application clearly using photographs, video, a technical drawing or screen sharing. You do not need to travel, and the consultation can take place directly from your production facility or office.
In-person expert advice
An in-person consultation may be more suitable for complex applications or when you want to bring a material sample or a specific component. Depending on the options available, selected magnets that are in stock may also be tested in practice.
Why is expert advice a paid service?
Selecting the right magnet is not always a matter of a few basic parameters. A specialist needs to study the operating conditions, ask additional questions, compare different products and point out possible limitations.
A paid consultation reserves a specific amount of a specialist's time exclusively for your application. It can help prevent the purchase of an unsuitable magnet, repeated testing or costly modifications to an already completed design.
What are you paying for during the consultation?
- the specialist's time,
- individual assessment of your specific application,
- the use of experience from various industrial sectors,
- comparison of suitable products and design options,
- identification of possible risks and limitations,
- and, during an in-person consultation, potentially practical testing of available magnets.
A good consultation can save more than it costs
An incorrectly selected magnet may be too weak, unnecessarily strong, unsuitable in size or inappropriate for the required temperature and environment. In industrial applications, a poor choice can also result in equipment downtime, damage to production technology or insufficient separation of metal contaminants.
Can expert advice guarantee that the solution will work?
An expert recommendation is based on the operating conditions you describe during the consultation. If the actual conditions differ, the resulting force, effectiveness or service life of the magnetic solution may also change.
It is therefore important to provide complete and accurate information and to test the final solution under real operating conditions before full deployment.
What can significantly change the result?
- a different material or thickness of the steel counterpart,
- a larger air gap, paint or another surface layer,
- higher temperature or humidity,
- a different load direction,
- vibration and dynamic impacts,
- different particle size or flowability of the material,
- a higher flow rate,
- a different type or size of metal contaminant,
- insufficient cleaning and maintenance of the magnetic equipment.
Why is it not enough to choose a magnet solely by its force in kilograms?
The stated breakaway force is usually measured with the magnet in ideal contact with a clean, flat and sufficiently thick steel plate. Real-world conditions can be significantly different.
If a magnet is mounted on a vertical wall, it is loaded sideways and may slide under a much lower weight. Paint, plastic, adhesive, unevenness, rust or excessively thin sheet metal can also reduce the force.
With separators, it is also necessary to consider not only magnetic induction, but also the design, working distance, breakaway force, number of rods, properties of the mixture and how it passes through the magnetic field.
Examples of products where the correct choice can make a difference
The difference between a simple cylindrical magnet and an industrial separator is considerable. The following products show why, in more complex applications, it is worthwhile to determine the operating conditions accurately before making a selection.
Neodymium cylinder magnet dia. 15 × 1 N
Thin neodymium magnet suitable, for example, for small holders, catches, decorations, models and technical assemblies with limited space.
- Diameter 15 mm
- Height 1 mm
- Breakaway force approximately 0.82 kg
- Breakaway force approximately 8.2 N
- Temperature resistance up to 80 °C
- Magnetic grade VMM7-N42
- Nickel-plated surface finish
MDN 200 injection-moulding machine hopper magnet
Industrial magnetic separator designed to capture ferromagnetic contaminants before the material enters the injection-moulding machine or downstream production equipment.
- MVM-UP-STEFF-STD design
- Diameter DN 200
- Magnetic induction 4,530 Gs
- Stated breakaway force 35.5 N
- Designed for industrial use
- Suitable for protecting injection nozzles and production equipment
Hopper magnet dia. 100 mm
Stainless-steel magnetic grid for purifying dry, free-flowing mixtures and protecting downstream production equipment.
- Diameter DN 100
- Two magnetic rods
- Rod diameter 22 mm
- Magnetic induction 5,100 Gs
- Breakaway force 50 N per tube
- Temperature resistance up to 80 °C
- AISI 304 stainless steel
- Weight approximately 0.6 kg
Frequently asked questions about expert advice
When is paid expert advice worthwhile for me?
It is particularly worthwhile for more complex, unusual or industrial applications where several technical parameters affect the result and an unsuitable choice could cause damage or delays.
How long does one consultation take?
The basic unit is 15 minutes. If the application is more complex and the booked time is not sufficient, an additional time block may need to be ordered.
Is the consultation online or in person?
Both online and in-person consultations are possible. Specify your preferred format in the order note and the exact date and time will then be arranged.
Can magnets be tested during an in-person consultation?
Depending on the nature of the application and product availability, it may be possible to test selected magnets from stock in practice. The suitability of such testing should be agreed in advance.
What information should I send before the consultation?
Photographs, drawings, dimensions, material descriptions, temperature, humidity, weight, load direction and an explanation of what you want to achieve with the magnet are the most helpful.
Can a specialist select a magnet based only on a photograph?
A photograph can help with a simple application, but it is usually not sufficient. A photograph does not reliably reveal the material, thickness of the counterpart, load, temperature or other important conditions.
Is it enough to provide the required load capacity in kilograms?
No. It is also necessary to know the load direction, contact area, material and thickness of the steel, any gap, vibration and the required safety margin.
Can expert advice also help with magnetic separation?
Yes. For separation applications, it is advisable to prepare information about the material being purified, its particle size, flowability, temperature, humidity, flow rate and the metal contaminants that need to be captured.
Can you advise on a magnet for food-processing operations?
Yes, but you need to provide the hygiene requirements, construction material, cleaning method, product properties and any relevant standards or internal operating requirements.
Can a consultation guarantee 100% functionality?
The recommendation is based on the conditions you describe during the consultation. The result therefore needs to be verified under real operating conditions, especially if the actual conditions may vary.
What if I find during the consultation that I need a custom solution?
The specialist can help define the basic requirements and determine whether a catalogue product, a modified version or a custom-made solution is the most suitable option.
Is expert advice also suitable for a home project?
Yes, if the design is more complex or you are unsure which material, strength, shape or mounting method to choose. For ordinary applications, however, the information provided directly with the products may be sufficient.
Can I consult about a magnet I have already purchased that does not work as expected?
Yes. Prepare the product designation, photographs of the installation, dimensions, the material of the counterpart and an exact description of how the problem occurs.
Why is operating temperature important?
If the permitted temperature is exceeded, the magnet may temporarily or permanently lose part of its strength. Some applications therefore require a special temperature-resistant magnetic material.
Why is the size of the air gap important?
Magnetic force decreases rapidly with distance. Even a thin layer of paint, plastic, rubber or adhesive can significantly affect the resulting holding force.
Is the strongest magnet always the best choice?
No. An excessively strong magnet can be difficult to handle, damage the surface, cause pinching injuries or simply be unnecessarily expensive. The correct magnet should match the specific application.
Summary
Expert advice is particularly worthwhile when you are dealing with an industrial application, magnetic separation, elevated temperatures, an unusual design or a situation in which an incorrect choice could cause damage.
Before the consultation, prepare the most accurate possible description of the application, dimensions, photographs, materials, operating temperature, load and other conditions. The better the information the specialist receives, the more accurately the appropriate solution can be assessed.
The recommendation always applies to the specific conditions described. The final functionality therefore needs to be verified by practical testing under real operating conditions.
Need help choosing the right magnet?
Book an expert consultation and discuss your application with a specialist who can help you identify the key parameters and the most suitable next steps.