What is magnetizing?
Magnetizing is done after the magnet has been machined to correct tolerances. Because alnico magnets are hard and brittle they chip off and break easily. Regular machines cannot be used to process alnico magnets. Specialized machines are required to grind alnico magnets to their proper size. For the most efficient use of Alnico magnets they must be magnetized after the magnet has been assembled with its pole pieces into the final circuit. Shipping the non-magnetized product would also eliminate the need for specialized packaging as well as prevent contamination from stray clips etc. Magnetic saturation at the end-use location requires the application of a magnetizing force 4 to 5 times greater than the coercive force of the material. For Alnico 5, a magnetizing force of 3000 oersteds (240 KA/m) is recommended. For Alnico 8, the magnetizing force should be at least 7000 oersteds (560 KA/m). The magnetizing force need be applied only momentarily. Thus, impulse magnetizers employing a cap
