Redirecting magnetic flux

[Mnwt]

Hello -

I am not sure it's possible to do what I need, but here goes:

I would like to use two permanent magnets near each other.

I would not like their fields to intermingle with each other.

From my less educated perspective, it seems like I could use seperate shielding for each magnet, allowing them to be closer without interfering with each other.

This is at room temperature with rare earth magnets, and I have the freedom of sending the magnetic force anywhere I want with the shielding, but i'm not too sure how the process works in depth.

Here's my question:

Where is a good place for me to find the answer to my problem?

I am asking for keywords to search with, and internet resources to browse, but book suggestions are also warmly welcomed.

I'd especially be interested in resources detailing why/how different shapes for magnetic shielding are more effective then others.

The materials part is pretty straightforward (mild steel is probably the right answer) but the shape/size issue both eludes and intrigues me.

I have been searching around the net for info, but it seems like most places skirt this problem and i'm getting an unclear answer as to how best to go about this.

While more direct answers are certainly not frowned on, resources to find my own answers are preffered.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Clyde38]

Try this site for shielding etc.

http://www.mushield.com/

[link

http://www.linkedin.com/in/clydehancock

]

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[IRstuff]

start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal

As for the rest, I don't think what you're trying to do is possible. PM fields are not steerable like water pipes.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[electricpete]

What is your desired outcome.... what are you really trying to do.

If you put each magnet in a steel box, they are not attracted to each other, but they are each certainly attracted to the box they sit in. Is that success? According to your problem statement yes. But maybe you need to define it better.

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[MagnetDave]

You're trying to solve a problem I would love to have an answer to - it would make my job a lot easier. However, there is likely a good compromise out there.

The best analogy to the problem is to think of water, and to think of your mild steel as a pipe. The trouble with rare earth magnets is that they "pump" a lot more water than the same sized piece of steel can really control. You really need excessive steel to knock the field down.

More important question: Why are you trying to do this? What effects are you trying to avoid?