1. Material preparation:
The process of manufacturing NdFeB cylindrical magnets begins with material preparation. The main raw materials include neodymium, magnesium, iron and a small amount of boron. These materials are often used in powder form, ensuring they are mixed evenly during the manufacturing process. Precise material composition is critical to the performance of the final magnet.
For example: High-purity neodymium and iron powders come from rare earth ores, while boron is often added in the form of boric acid or borohydride compounds. The quality and purity of these raw materials are critical to manufacturing high-performance NdFeB cylindrical magnets.
2. Mix and grind:
After the material is prepared, the raw material powders are mixed together to ensure that the various ingredients are evenly distributed. This step helps ensure the uniformity of the final alloy. The mixture is then ground through a high-energy ball mill to make the powder particles finer and evenly distributed.
For example: The ball milling process involves subjecting powder to mechanical force in a ball mill, resulting in material exchange between particles, thereby achieving mixing and miniaturization of the powder. This helps improve the uniformity and stability of the alloy.
3. Suppression:
The ground mixture is often pressed into the desired shape, including cylindrical shapes. Either cold pressing or hot pressing can be used for this step, depending on the characteristics of the material and the desired properties.
Example: During cold pressing, the mixture is placed into a mold and high pressure is applied, causing it to form into a mass. These blocks often do not yet have final magnetic properties because they have not yet undergone the sintering process.
4. Sintering:
The pressed bulk alloy needs to be sintered in a high temperature environment. This step is a critical step in the manufacture of NdFeB cylindrical magnets, as it allows the raw material powders to combine into a strong crystal structure, forming the NdFeB alloy.
For example: The sintering process is typically carried out in an argon or nitrogen atmosphere to reduce oxidation while binding the powder particles into a strong lattice structure at high temperatures. This makes the alloy highly magnetic and stable.
5. Cutting and processing:
The sintered bulk alloy often requires cutting and precision machining to produce the desired cylindrical shape and size. This step requires highly precise machine and process controls to ensure that the size and shape of each cylindrical magnet meets specifications.
Example: At this stage, engineers can use CNC machines to cut and machine blocks of alloy to create cylindrical magnets of specific sizes. This ensures that each product meets the customer's precise requirements.
6. Magnetization:
The manufactured NdFeB cylindrical magnet needs to be magnetized to make it magnetic. This step is usually done using a strong magnetic field, ensuring that all magnets have the same poles.
Example: In manufacturing, cylindrical magnets are often magnetized using special field coils or electromagnets. This step helps determine the polarity of the magnet and ensures it has the required magnetic field strength.
7. Surface treatment:
Cylindrical magnets may receive surface treatments, such as coatings or plating, to provide additional protection or improve their performance. Surface treatment prevents oxidation and corrosion and improves the durability of cylindrical magnets.
Example: A common surface treatment is nickel plating, which not only provides a protective layer but also improves the appearance of the magnet.
8. Inspection and Quality Control:
During the manufacturing process, multiple inspections and quality controls are conducted to ensure that each cylindrical magnet meets specifications and standards. These inspections can include measuring magnetic field strength, checking size and shape, and performing chemical analyses.
Example: Quality control of magnets often involves using a magnetometer to measure the strength of the magnetic field to ensure it meets the required standards. In addition, measurements of size and shape are also very important as they affect the performance of magnets in various applications.
9. Packaging and delivery:
Finally, the finished NdFeB cylindrical magnets are packaged and ready to be shipped to customers or application areas. Packaging usually involves the use of antistatic materials to prevent damage and ensure that the magnets maintain their performance during shipping.
Example: Before leaving the factory, magnets typically undergo a final visual inspection and packaging to ensure they are not damaged during transportation and storage.
Neodymium Cylinder MagnetNeodymium cylinder magnets are also known as neodymium rod magnets. They have straight parallel sides and a circular cross section, and are measured according to the Diameter (D) x Height (H). Neodymium magnets are permanent magnets, and part of the rare-earth magnet family. Neodymium cylinder magnets have the highest magnetic properties and are the most powerful commercially available magnets today. Because of their magnetic strength, neodymium cylinder magnets are the preferred choice for many consumer, commercial and technical applications.