Tri-Force Magnets - Finally shown to be OU?

[Yadaraf]

Cheers for the info Yada.

I guess I will have to get myself to the local toy shop.

Yipee 

I haven't been in a toy shop for ages. I can't wait !!

The magnet sets are very inexpensive, but be cautioned that you will become addicted

Let us know when you replicate the "magnetic contraption".

Cheers

Yada..
.

When I first saw this I suspected the reason for the lengthy spin was that there was very little friction between the two bearings that support the spinner. When I built it though, I found that there are certain configurations that give quite lengthy spin times, and there is clearly a "gate" effect involved.

My control arrangement is where the upper bearing of the double tetrahedron is connected with four bar magnets each with the same pole facing upwards. The second bearing that is used to suspend the double tetrahedron is then easily attracted to this upper bearing. There were no other magnets on top of the suspension bearing. Holding the suspension bearing in my fingers, I then started the device with a slight push.

Even a small push will rotate the "spinner" for quite some time - easily as long as is shown in the video. Changing the arrangement of magnets and trying to copy the shape of the upper part of the device does yield varying results, but the length of spin time is still dependent on the initial push that I give it, and this is an arbitrary force that I apply with my hand - not very scientific.

I have noticed that small oscillations from the initial push start seem to facilitate the rotation in certain arrangements,  but it is difficult to know whether or not the device runs longer than the control arrangement because the starting force is always unknown.

I'll try and rig something up to start it with a reasonably uniform force, and then record spin times.

Easy to build - just keep playing with configurations. I don't think we'll find OU though.

klicuk

klicuk,

I calculated that there are over 131,000 different ways to construct the pyramid-octaheron device shown on YouTube.  While this has discouraged me slightly, your info is encouraging, so I'll have to get back to it this weekend.  I think CLaNZeR has something, but I can't onto his site at this time.

Cheers

Yada..
.

[Rusty_Springs]

Hi Yada
I would have it in a loop with an airgap but you could also do it like and electromagnetic motor where you have two sections and it attracts in and repels out of each section you could also have it in quarters again where it attracts in and out of each quarter it would depend on what works best.
With the V's connected you still have one steelball on each connection to hold the connections together better.
I will make a video of about 6 Trigates showing the V's together and showing the roller crossing the airgap, what I like about this is its like a electromagnetic motor in that it attracts in and repels out across an airgap, I like to set it up with Trigates above and below so I use both poles of the rotor magnet, with a single setup the pole thats not being used trys to interfear.
Take Care Yada
Graham

[Rusty_Springs]

Hi Yada
I just uploaded the video I talked about I can't put videos on here and I don't have utube so its here http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/minatowheel/files/
you have to be a member to look at the file section.
This shows VTrigates together and how it crosses the airgap picture it joined in a loop with the small airgap and thats what my motor would be like.
Take Care Yada
Graham

[Yadaraf]

Hi Yada
I would have it in a loop with an airgap but you could also do it like and electromagnetic motor where you have two sections and it attracts in and repels out of each section you could also have it in quarters again where it attracts in and out of each quarter it would depend on what works best.
With the V's connected you still have one steelball on each connection to hold the connections together better.
I will make a video of about 6 Trigates showing the V's together and showing the roller crossing the airgap, what I like about this is its like a electromagnetic motor in that it attracts in and repels out across an airgap, I like to set it up with Trigates above and below so I use both poles of the rotor magnet, with a single setup the pole thats not being used trys to interfear.
Take Care Yada
Graham

Hey Graham,

Looking forward to your video.  I don't belong to Yahoo Groups and thus, can't access the vids you post there.  I suspect that's true for other readers here.

If you keep the vid short, you can attach it to your posts here.  Or, you could provide a link to FDP.

... e.g.  FDP:  http://www.fdp.nu/shared/manager.asp?d=files\Tri-Forces\

Cheers

Yada..
.

[Rusty_Springs]

Hi All
One last thing I forgot to show it starting from across the airgap but it does so you have a start and finish point for the motor so unlike a closed loop the rotation will keep going and not just sit there.
Take Care All
Graham