Dan wrote:
I just had to post this. While ago the original hard drive went out in
my pc. I replaced it & all went well, and since I'd never looked inside
one of these, I took it apart. The beautiful, nearly "industrial art
sculpture" of the mirror platter assembly/aluminum motor, casting, all
held with cool fasteners was impressive enough, but then I started
playing with the magnets from the pickup assembly. My god, they're
strong! Neodymium, I think. So strong that I actually gave myself a
small blood blister when the 2 snapped together as I played with them.
About this same time, the door catch broke on my faithful 20 year old
clothes dryer. Not a chance of getting a replacement catch, so for the
past 2 weeks I've been propping the unused base from my drill press
against the door to hold it shut. Then it dawned on me: "I bet those
magnets from the HDD are more than strong enough to hold this thing shut
against the seal & force of the door switch". Works like a charm, in
fact I only need ONE of them! Judging from the pull now required to
open the door, it's actually tighter than it was with the original
catch! Further justification for my "never throw ANYTHING out" policy ;-)

Dan

A couple of years ago I built a diamagnetic levitation demonstrator
using of those high strength magnets and some bismuth I bought on eBay.

I just HAD to try it to see it work. Seeing is believing!

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejwisnia18/jeff/diamag.html

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"