On Tue, 05 October 1999, "Charles R. Patton" wrote:

> 
> Great Meredith!
> I appreciate the feedback.  How long were the rod pcs you used?  

I way overdid it....I used 6" long pieces, with 8
laid side by side.  I'am pretty sure one doesn't
need much more than say....1/4", over the 
diameter of the neo being levitated.  Your two
diamagnetic pieces would easily float the dinky
Radio Shack neo, and probably up to 1/2" diameter
disk, is my guess.  For such a small deal you will
need spacers to separate the carbons, or, mount
them on wood/plastic whatever thats not magnetic.
I glued mine on fiberboard and use corner bolts/nuts
to adjust the distance.  I'am kind of trying all
sizes in that assembly, so, I'am not too 
restricted on magnets diameter (2" X 6").  The
big problems arise with thick stuff, and their
lower surface repulsion/area effects...their is
a limit on weight I'am afraid.  I've got up to
3/10s ounce fairly easily, but, my chunkiest neo,
with a weight of 1 & 3/4 ounce, just can't quite
float free....1/2" thick, but little surface
area.  Hmmmmm, maybe I should put steel disks on
the ends to increase the surface area, if I can
find something, sometime; guess its worth a try. 
 
If you get the RS pill neo, the distance doesn't
seem to be too critical; measure the neo, and
put a equal thickness on each side, it should
pop and float readily.  I've seen the RS neo
float with up to 4 thicknesses on each side, it
really depends on the overhead ferrite magnet and
of course your carbon.

I can't speculate on bismuth, I've not tried that
yet.  I've heard some say its better, and others
not as good.  Perhaps the point with bismuth is
that one can make any size, and have it work to
some degree right off the bat; whereas, carbon
is a real shot in the dark in comparison.  If
one just wants to float something, the success
would seem to be on the bismuth side overall.
Regardless of source, I've yet to hear anyone
tell of total failure with bismuth, whether it
be shotgun shell load or whatever.   The ultra
pure stuff seems to be out of reach price wise.
I'am not even sure that the ultra pure stuff is
that much better than shotgun shell load?

As the size of the floating neo increases in
thickness, less space is available (with my
carbon that is), and often I can only float
it with about .015" spacing each side of the
neo.  The carbon rods improved that here, it
looks like about .025" or so each side.  I
wonder what a super grade carbon would do?

When I get ready to shove my assemblys under
the ferrite, I cup my hand over the nearest to
the magnet side, otherwise the neo can rocket
up to the ferrite.     

The mystery continues....

Meredith Lamb





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