Alignment magnets are used to provide uniform fields across a substrate.  These fields are used to coerce magnetically permeable materials into a preferred orientation.  Alignment may occur either in process, or as a post process operation as is the case with annealing magnets.

XFMAG has designed and built alignment magnets as small as 10 lbs and as large as 10,000 lbs.  During the design, magnetic circuits of a specified topology are configured to precisely control the magnetic field shape, magnitude, and uniformity of the device.   These output characteristics are all critical to the final performance of the product being processed.

Materials of Alignment Magnets

Electromagnets
Copper Wire (insulation application dependent)

Permanent Magnets
Nd-Fe-B – Highest Strength/volume, moderate cost., moderate temperature extremes (150°C),
Sm-Co – High Strength/volume, highest cost, high temperature extremes (300°C)
Ceramic – Low Strength/volume, lowest cost, high temperature extremes (300°C)
Alnico – Moderate to High Strength/volume, high cost, highest temperature extremes (450°)

Frame Materials
Carbon Steels (1010, 1045) – high saturation flux, low cost, poor corrosion resistance
Martensitic Stainliess Steels (416, 430) – moderate-high saturation flux, moderate cost, good corrosion resistance
Nickel Super Alloys (Hiperco®) – highest saturation flux, highest cost, excellent corrosion resistance