With the integration of permanent magnets into a wide variety of machines for new and innovative industrial applications, it's natural for manufacturers to want to know how long these magnet-powered devices will last. Manufacturers could employ simulation software to help study the lifecycle and performance of technology that incorporates permanent magnets, according to Product Design and Development. Simulation software is used to determine the time it will take between designing products and actually building them on the shop floor. However, this software does not accurately depict the magnetic performance of these machines for the long term.

As a solution to this problem, Cobham Technical Services offers Opera software to project the changes machine's will likely experience during their lifetimes in regard to magnetic performance.

Through simulating how magnetic performance is expected to change over time, manufacturers can improve the design of these devices that run on powerful magnets to keep their performance up. This software could also be beneficial for motors that aim to increase efficiency.

Industrial geared motor manufacturer Bauer recently highlighted the Bauer Gear Motors that feature permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM), which are considered to be super premium efficiency devices.

"The PMSM series employs a highly efficient design of rotor that integrates embedded permanent magnets made from rare earth material rather than the squirrel-cage rotor found in more conventional induction motors," according to the Bauer website.

The design of the motors gives it the advantage of cutting heat losses from the rotor by 100 percent and boosting efficiency by 10 percent more than average motors. Not only do these design features save on energy and operating costs but also reduces carbon emissions emitted by the motor.

Rare metal shortage concerning researchers
Green technologies like this are needed as global natural resources are dwindling, forcing humans to reconsider their energy and raw material consumption, according to Yale Environment 360 on Yale University's website. Projecting how long magnetic technologies will last may increase in significance as manufacturers must deal with a shortage in rare metals. These metals, which are used to create rare earth magnets, are high in demand to create renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and electric car batteries.

To save these precious resources, researchers are hoping they will find improved ways of recycling rare earth elements.

"It's really urgent," said Alex King, director of the new Critical Materials Institute. "We're facing real challenges today – we need solutions tomorrow, not the day after."