Neodymium safety & applications.

Safety when handling Neodymium magnets

Neodymium magnets can attract ferrous metals and other magnets over large distances risking physical injury
Be particularly aware when placing two magnets together as the sudden attraction can easily trap fingers
Neodymium Magnets should never be given to children
Neodymium magnets are hard and brittle and may shatter if allowed to ‘jump’ together or onto a metal surface
It is recommended that eye and hand protection should be worn
Strong magnets can interfere with sensitive electronic or mechanical equipment and should be kept at least 300mm from such devices
Never travel on an aircraft without first declaring the magnets
Magnets can destroy information held on magnetic media such as credit cards and computer drives
Watches, computer monitors and televisions can be seriously damaged by placing magnets near them
Users of heart pacemakers should never handle strong magnets
Never use magnets in potentially explosive atmospheres as sparks may be caused

Applications for Neodymium magnets

Standard grade Neodymium has a maximum operating temperature of 80 degrees C and should not be used in saltwater or hydrogen environments
Mechanical uses include holding, clamping, deflecting, separating, retrieving, moving and aligning
Magnetic separators to remove ferrous contamination from food and textiles
Retrieving parts from plating tanks, oil tanks and acid tanks
Paint jigs in spraying and powder coating plants
Jigs and fixtures in welding, milling and drilling
Magnetic brakes, clutches, actuators and damping devices
Display and exhibition equipment, attaching signs to warehouse shelves or vehicles, fridge magnets!
Electrical uses include use of the magnetic field to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy such as reed switch and Hall effect sensor activating
Magnetos, motors, alternators, servo motors and generators
Reed switch activation in security systems and sensors
Communications equipment, receivers, microphones, telephones and musical instruments
Eddy current braking systems
Voice coil motors in computer hard disk drives