Is this something Delta-Bot builders can use??
Originally shared by null
Physics of it is simple… 1/r^2 and all that… still cool to watch it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyvfDzRLsiU
Probably not usable in a delta, but might be fun to make!
I doubt it can be used in any machine for movement. While the magnets is trying to keep the distance, there is nothing to prevent the distance to vary while they try to keep it the same.
Magnetic bearings are sometimes used in industry for very high sputtered motion where friction is a huge issue. High speed motors benefit the most. Aside from no friction, you also benefit from no mechanical runout. But I don’t believe it’s very rigid per unit weight, that is, in order to get rigid, it has to weigh a lot. For 3d printing, the movement is really slow, so the friction is pretty minimal. This is why people can use printed PLA linear bearings in a pinch
@Matt_Kraemer1 really, who’s using it? I didn’t think it would be practical. In curious to see, as it would look really cool and be really quiet
Yeah I wasn’t sure if the toy store had a patent or not.
I didn’t consider weight, but was thinking friction and quietness.
Pretty sure it’s okay to make/recreate a patented item for personal use. I might try this… if I ever get my extruder working right.
Cool @Carlton_Dodd love to see the results.
@David_Cushing I’ve gotta order the larger magnets first… and the extruder thing… 
@Matt_Kraemer1 which description is this?
Ah I see, I had to expand the description in YouTube. With utility patents, they’d had to have explicitly mentioned a specific use our application of such a generic design. And as Carlton said, patents only prevent you from making money off of the idea. Personal use is completely legal
That’s not true in the U.S. You can’t legally violate patents even just in the privacy of your own home (although how can anyone really enforce that)…
@Jeff_Keegan is right
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115590
Apparently you can build a patented design if it is for the purpose of research but you cannot make practical use of it. But in all practicality, unless you are making a business out of your 3d prints, I’d be confident any builds you do could be considered research.
Like in white papers, if you blog about the use of the design, just be sure to cite the patented design
http://www.google.com/patents/US20130225035
It is specifically about a toy - if you have a non-toy usage, go for it.
It’s unstable, too. If the magnets aren’t constrained to a plane (as they are in that tabletop demo), then the floater will flip over and be attracted to the central magnet. Even if it doesn’t rotate, relative motion along the vertical axis will make them stick together.
In not sure what this would be used for ina delta bot. @Shachar_Weis has a design for magnetic ball joints but totally different type of magnetic device… Maybe for extruder? I’m not picturing what @David_Cushing was referring to in a delta bot. Can you or @Carlton_Dodd explain how you were going to use this?
I was just putting 2 and 2 together. Knew some Delta bot builders used magnets.
Thought might be helpful.
Just found the setting to uncheck to uninstall.