Services

Correlated Magnetics Research is the inventor and sole manufacturer of Polymagnet technology. We’ve been awarded more than 100 patents since 2008. They cover the fundamental physics, the MagPrinter manufacturing system, and dozens of specific product applications. We built this company around one idea: a magnet should be definable in software. Our services exist to bring that idea into production.

The typical first conversation goes like this. A product engineer has a magnetic mechanism in their design and wants to know if a Polymagnet can outperform a conventional magnet. Sometimes they’ve already tried conventional magnets and hit a performance wall. Our job is to evaluate the application, recommend the right function, and deliver a tested Polymagnet that meets their spec.

Application engineering

Every engagement begins with application engineering. We review the customer’s mechanical requirements, the physical constraints, and the performance targets. This includes force requirements (tensile, shear, torque), environmental conditions, target material, and assembly constraints.

Our engineers recommend a Polymagnet function from our catalog or, if no existing function meets the requirement, propose a custom design. We provide predicted force curves, engagement distances, and field profiles as part of the recommendation. The customer can evaluate predicted performance against their spec before we print a prototype.

We don’t charge for initial consultations. A 30-minute conversation with one of our engineers is often enough to determine feasibility. If a Polymagnet isn’t the right answer for a given application, we’ll say so. We’d rather save a customer’s time than sell a prototype that won’t perform.

Polymagnet catalog selection

Our Polymagnet Catalog contains hundreds of pre-engineered magnetic functions. These are proven designs with published force curves, field maps, and engineering data. Catalog products cover the most common application categories:

  • MaxField (attachment). Surface-concentrated flux for tensile holding force up to 250+ lbs per pair
  • Align. Self-centering magnets with repeatable position accuracy down to sub-micron tolerance
  • Spring. Repel-based magnets that provide compression resistance with zero mechanical fatigue
  • Latch. Two-stage magnets that repel and then attract past a defined transition point
  • Spring-Latch. Combination magnets that switch function with a 180-degree rotation
  • HoverField. Contactless attachment magnets that float at a prescribed separation
  • Max-Attach (shear). Attachment magnets optimized for 2x-8x lateral holding on vertical surfaces
  • Torque. Coupling magnets for contactless rotational force transfer

Each catalog product is available in multiple sizes, material grades, and force ratings. We stock popular configurations for immediate shipment. Less common configurations are printed to order, within a few business days.

Custom Polymagnet design

If no catalog product matches the application, we design from scratch. Custom projects are common for applications that need a specific force curve or a non-standard geometry.

  • Requirements review. Our engineers document the force specification, physical constraints, environmental conditions, and target interface
  • FEA modeling. We model the magnetic field and predict the force curve using finite element analysis
  • Prototype printing. The first prototype is printed on our MagPrinter, measured, and compared against the model
  • Iteration. If measured performance deviates from the spec, we modify the code and reprint. Most designs converge in two or three cycles.
  • Validation. The final prototype is tested across the full range of operating conditions
  • Documentation. We deliver force curve data, field map, material certification, and any additional test data the customer requires

Custom prototypes are delivered within five business days of the initial design review. Complex projects take longer, and we provide a delivery estimate before we begin.

MagPrinter systems

Customers who need in-house Polymagnet production can purchase or lease a MagPrinter system. The MagPrinter is our production magnetization platform. It prints maxel codes onto magnetic blanks using a precision induction coil under software control.

We offer two versions:

  • Production MagPrinter. Full-scale system with a movable stage, batch printing, and support for maxel sizes from 500 micrometers to 4 mm. Designed for volume manufacturing.
  • Mini MagPrinter. Desktop system designed for prototyping and low-volume production. Same software, same catalog, smaller footprint. Suitable for engineering teams that need fast iteration.

Both systems come with the Polymagnet Catalog and our Polyvision design software. Polyvision lets users create custom maxel codes, visualize the predicted magnetic field, and generate force curve predictions before printing. We include training and technical support with every MagPrinter purchase.

Polyvision design software

Polyvision is our proprietary tool for creating and modifying Polymagnet codes. It provides a visual interface where engineers can place individual maxels, set their polarity and saturation, and see the predicted magnetic field update live. The software calculates the expected force curve, engagement distance, and transition behavior.

Our engineering team uses Polyvision for every custom design. MagPrinter customers receive it bundled with their system. It is also available as a standalone license for engineering teams that want to evaluate Polymagnet designs before committing to hardware.

Field-of-use licensing

Correlated Magnetics Research licenses its Polymagnet technology on a field-of-use basis. Licensees receive rights to manufacture and sell Polymagnets within a defined application field. Current licensing fields include:

  • Automotive. Interior trim, sensor mounting, closures, connector systems
  • Aerospace. Panel attachment, payload securing, instrument mounting
  • Biomedical. Prosthetics, surgical instruments, implantable device closures
  • Defense. Weapon accessories, equipment mounting, field-deployable connectors
  • Electronics. Consumer device cases, accessory attachment, connector alignment
  • Energy. Wind turbine components, magnetic couplings, generator assemblies
  • Robotics. End-effector attachment, precision fixturing, tool-change mechanisms

Each licensing agreement includes access to our patent portfolio, technical support, and MagPrinter systems if needed. We support licensees throughout development and provide production assistance as they scale volume.

Production manufacturing

Our Huntsville, Alabama facility manufactures Polymagnets in volumes from single prototypes to batches of thousands. Every unit goes through our standard quality control process: pre-print blank inspection, post-print field mapping, and sample force testing. Production Polymagnets are identical in performance to the validated prototypes because the MagPrinter controls every maxel from the same software definition. No tooling change separates prototyping from production. The same code that printed the approved prototype prints the thousandth unit.

We buy magnetic blanks from a qualified supply chain. Neodymium (NdFeB) is the default for high-performance applications. Samarium cobalt (SmCo) goes into high-temperature environments. Ferrite serves cost-sensitive consumer products, and flexible magnetic stock is used for conformal assemblies. Material certifications accompany every order. Coatings (nickel, epoxy, Parylene) are applied when corrosion protection is needed.

Catalog products ship in 3-5 business days. Custom production is quoted per project. Quantity, complexity, and material availability determine the schedule. We can expedite urgent orders, and we’ve done so for defense and medical device customers who needed faster turnaround.

Working with us

Initial consultations are free. One of our engineers will review the application, tell you whether a Polymagnet is viable, and quote prototyping and production costs. Most projects move from first conversation to prototype delivery within two weeks. That speed is one advantage of software-defined manufacturing.

Industrial Magnetics Incorporated (IMI) serves as our applications consultancy and manufacturing supplier for industrial and consumer goods markets. Customers can also purchase standard Polymagnet products through our retail partners, including Amazing Magnets. Both channels provide access to our full catalog and custom design services.