Electronic Levitron...How the heck does this thing work?

[Nink]

I could only find one hall sensor so I had to improvise so a small magnet retracts the other magnet when the power is cut and then power restored electric magnet is stronger than small magnet so pushes out again. Needs tweaking.     https://vine.co/v/Ovz6zaVI7Yu

I guess back to the original problem how do you levitate,  There are a bunch of circuits on line to levitate from above using hall or photo sensors http://www.electroschematics.com/6306/magnetic-levitation-circuit/  but not from below.  I think maybe 3 or 4 hall switches coils and permanent magnets.... anyone given this any thought ?

[Pirate88179]

Nink:

They way we think the electronic levitron might work is using a circuit like TK has made...then use 2 photo sensors and 2 light sources aimed at the bottom of the levitating disk.  Also, there seems to be an array of perma mags situated around the base to keep the disk from sliding off to one side or the other.

I believe TK has broken this "secret" wide open by postulating that an electromagnet was being controlled by sensors and was switching polarity such that, it keeps the floating magnet disk...floating.  Then he built that circuit in his videos demonstrating how it could be done.  I think his "Jumping disk magnet" video shows clearly how this could work.

We know that there are permanent magnets involved in the base as evidenced by when the device is placed on its edge in the video and the disk continues to hover in place.

I think it would be cool if we started seeing homebrewed hovering devices popping up on the web.

Bill

[TechStuf]

"anyone given this any thought?"

I'd bet these guys have....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4

And considering the efficiency gains and economy of the Fe16N2 magnets being constructed, which have proven appreciably stronger than the former theoretical limit, dramatic changes across the board are afoot....

http://phys.org/news188458077.html



Good Journies

[Pirate88179]

I'd bet these guys have....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4

And considering the efficiency gains and economy of the Fe16N2 magnets being constructed, which have proven appreciably stronger than the former theoretical limit, dramatic changes across the board are afoot....

http://phys.org/news188458077.html



Good Journies

Wow!  Excellent find! (ref. the first video link)  This is exactly the type of device being discussed here except, this one looks better and able to hover much, much heavier weights.  Totally cool...it is getting better and better.

Thanks for posting this.

Bill

PS  Here is the site of the folks that make this cool device: http://www.crealev.com/
They seem to make a lot of other related stuff too.  I did not see a price for this...I get the feeling that they do custom stuff for branding, trade shows, etc.  I wonder if this violates the Levitron Patent?  Or, are they licensed under it maybe?  Or, since it is so much better, maybe have their own patent?

[Pirate88179]

CLM 1.5 Levitation Module (floating height max 70 mm) The CLM 1.5 is the long awaited module between the heavy lifting CLM 2 and the workhorse that is the CLM 1+. It's featuring levitation height of approximately 70 mm and is capable of carrying loads up to 4 kg, and is brand new for 2014!  The CLM 1.5 is  providing a cost effective alternative to the CLM 2 for the heavier projects. Although some characteristics are new, it still boasts all the quality one can expect from our modules. Equipped with overheating protection and based on our field-proven durable levitation technology, the CLM 1.5 is a robust and easy to use system. It has an unsurpassed levitation height for its class.
The CLM 1.5 levitation module is operated by connecting the base to a supply (mains adaptor). Next putting the carrier, with its rubber side down, in the middle above the base until "lock" occurs. The carrier can then be released. Both carrier and base contain powerful magnets, therefore Crealev advises to keep magnetic sensitive devices such as credit cards at a minimum distance of 25 mm (<300 Gauss) from the CLM 1.5.
(http://www.crealev.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pdf.png)download product sheet

@ All: http://www.crealev.com/product/clm-1-5-levitation-module/
I like how it says it is protected from over heating!  This seems to be a bit of a problem with the levitrons it seems.  OK, now I really want to take one of these apart, ha ha.


Bill