How to DIY a magnetic levitation display for our models

ElMäx

Active Member
Nov 10, 2024
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I searched the threads but did not find anything. Please direct me to it, in case I overlooked.

A friend showed me this clip/advertising of a levitating pen, design like a flying broom from Harry Potter:

Apparently it works just with simple magnets, no electromagnets.

Do you think it is possible to DIY this for our paper model works?
Imagine all these little paper starships floating on shelfs
 
Great question!

A quick answer is yes it can be done using pairs of rare earth magnets. Neodymium or stronger, in pairs to generate the opposing force, and other pairs to locate.
the exact layout will change for each subject.
 
This is something that I was looking into a few years ago. However, I was never able to really work on it. I would be very interested in seeing exactly how it is done as well. There are several projects that I have in mind that would benefit from this.
 
Earlier this day I found a web page there was a simple solution. Two normal magnets, one in the display stand, the other in the object, the object secured and hold in stable levitation with thin thread or something so it cannot flip. I'll try to find the page again.
 
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The tip of the pen is pushed against that raised front part of the display, touching it. The h.p.broom probably utilizes another repulsing pair of magnets in that part and the tip of the broom to actually leave it without contact?