u/Diligent-Mouse-3749

I'm going to machine a metal block and embed miltiple cylindrical N52 magnets into it to allow the block to stick to metal surfaces.

The block will have cylindrical pockets to insert and glue in the magnets so that they are flush with the bottom surface of the block which will get attached to various metal surfaces.

As far as I understand, I should alternate pole directions to increase attraction force of the whole assembly. But based on what I read, to further increase it, I may use mild steel backing plate or potting. I can do it in a few different ways:

1. I can machine the block out of aluminum and insert a mild steel strip that will interconnect the internal (embedded into the block) poles of all magnets. Please confirm that I understand it correctly: it should be a single plate connecting all magnets (vs. small separate plates for each magnet)
2. I can make the whole part out of mild steel instead of aluminum, so that the magnets will be surrounded by steel and only one pole surface of each magnet will remain exposed for attaching the block to metal surfaces. Again, if I understand correctly, the embedded magnets should be surrounded by a thin non-magnetic layer, correct? But should they be completely surrounded or the back poles need to be directly attached to the mild steel body of the block so that it serves like a backing plate?

Which option will be more effective in terms of maximizing attraction, and will the difference be really noticable?

If I choose the first option, how thick should the backing strip be? What should be the distance between the embedded magnets for either of the options? The magnets are N52 cylinders, 1/2" (12mm) dia. x 1/2" (or 3/4", or 1") length. What would be the approximate "ideal" distance between magnets if I choose the first or second option?

Does it really make sense at all to get involved with backing strip or potting if the distance between the magnets will be, let's say, 1/2"-1" or more?

Thank you.

I'm going to machine a metal block and embed miltiple cylindrical N52 magnets into it to allow the block to stick to metal surfaces.

The block will have cylindrical pockets to insert and glue in the magnets so that they are flush with the bottom surface of the block which will get attached to various metal surfaces.

As far as I understand, I should alternate pole directions to increase attraction force of the whole assembly. But based on what I read, to further increase it, I may use mild steel backing plate or potting. I can do it in a few different ways:

1. I can machine the block out of aluminum and insert a mild steel strip that will interconnect the internal (embedded into the block) poles of all magnets. Please confirm that I understand it correctly: it should be a single plate connecting all magnets (vs. small separate plates for each magnet)
2. I can make the whole part out of mild steel instead of aluminum, so that the magnets will be surrounded by steel and only one pole surface of each magnet will remain exposed for attaching the block to metal surfaces. Again, if I understand correctly, the embedded magnets should be surrounded by a thin non-magnetic layer, correct? But should they be completely surrounded or the back poles need to be directly attached to the mild steel body of the block so that it serves like a backing plate?

Which option will be more effective in terms of maximizing attraction, and will the difference be really noticable?

If I choose the first option, how thick should the backing strip be? What should be the distance between the embedded magnets for either of the options? The magnets are N52 cylinders, 1/2" (12mm) dia. x 1/2" (or 3/4", or 1") length. What would be the approximate "ideal" distance between magnets if I choose the first or second option?

Does it really make sense at all to get involved with backing strip or potting if the distance between the magnets will be, let's say, 1/2"-1" or more?

Thank you.