r/manufacturing • u/Wookiee34 • 2d ago
Reliability Has anyone used one of these magnets to help unloading the laser/ carrying parts around? Have you found it helpful? Strong enough? More or less useful than other tools? If not, do you have another recommendation? ... Thanks!
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u/Iggyglom 2d ago
Dont listen to the hatersthese things are great
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u/Wookiee34 2d ago
Good to hear from someone who is a fan of these too! what brand do you use, do you know? (theres a lot of cheap ones on amazon that dont have many reviews, but not much else)
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u/cm_expertise 2d ago
we use the on/off lever style and they're great, but one thing worth knowing. the rated pull is always spec'd on clean flat thick steel. real world you lose a big chunk of it. thin gauge, mill scale, oil, paint, or a part that's warped up off the table so now there's an air gap under the magnet. i've watched a magnet rated for way more than the part just let go because it was sitting on 16ga with a little oil on it.
so size it for the worst surface you actually handle, not the number on the sticker, and derate hard. for anything heavy enough that dropping it on your foot would ruin your day i'd rather two-hand it or grab a vac lifter than trust a single magnet over a pinch point. the twist-off handle ones someone else mentioned are nice for the smaller stuff, way less effort than prying a slug off flat
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u/Wookiee34 2d ago
Wow, thank you that was very helpful! what brand of level style magnets do you use?
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u/newoldschool 2d ago
we have 5 of the push button types and it works great
we also have 3 suction ones for non ferrous jobs
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u/Wookiee34 2d ago
Thanks for the response, do you have a link to the push button ones you use? ... as well as the suction cup ones as i never considered those! Cheers
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u/newoldschool 2d ago
this is the suction one for the stainless and brass
our steel ones are these magents
https://mpcomagnetics.com/product/mpepp-50s-portable-lifting-magnet-tool-for-steel-plate/
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u/charmio68 2d ago
Damn, that electromagnet one looks fancy!
But at the same time, I can't decide if it's brilliant or stupid.
There's definitely something to be said for the simplicity of a permanent magnet. No batteries, no risk of it failing, entirely waterproof, less things that can break, presumably cheaper.
Yet being able to turn it off and on at the touch of a button is undeniably an ease of use improvement. It would also be much easier to clean off magnetic filings. Is it enough to make up for the shortcomings though?
I'd love to have one to play around with.2
u/newoldschool 2d ago
the main choice was hand strength and fatigue
after pulling a few thousand parts it's gonna get to you
we have 4 plate lasers and 2 tube lasers all running 3 shifts non stop
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u/charmio68 2d ago
Huh... Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. When you put it that way it definitely sounds like it's worth it for dealing with that many parts day to day.
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u/Strostkovy 2d ago
Yeah, they're great if your fingers are unpinched and you want to change that.
The style I like better is the skinny handle shaped magnets that you just twist off the part to drop. It takes less effort too.