Your should be able to understand this little jewel

[broli]

The problem with fanning, is that the fanning is a result of a magnetic path which wants to find its equilibrium. When that is met, the magnetic flux is conducted at its best, given the conditions. So for the design you got, the greater space between the edge of those discs will be more attractive to the magnet than the closer space. This will provide a counter force which will balance the force of the fanning effect itself. So the discs will not start to rotate (If that is the purpose).

If the magnet wasn't more attracted to spaced pieces of metal, the fanning effect wouldn't occour at all. The opposite of fanning effect is the contraction effect which occour angular to the magnetic field which cause the fanning effect. So what happens if you combine those effects. Take one disc slightly higher than the other, so the outer edges cross eachother so one disc is partially over the other, but still inside the magnetic gap?

It's late, and I am just emtying my head so I can go to sleep

Vidar

Wouldn't the magnet only cause magnetization, ie align the magnet domains. Sure this will cause them to be attracted to the magnet but the net force would perpendicular to the plain of the wheel. I don't see why it would cancel the fanning effect, ie the magnetized iron repelling each other. The big advantage is that it never finds equilibrium as the wheel is pushed new domains are magnetized and demagnetized.

2 quarter pieces can repel each other fine as you can see in the attached video.

But I know it looks too stupid to be true :p.