Programmed behavior in Polymagnet systems

A conventional magnet has two behaviors: attract and repel. North faces south, and you get a pull. Reverse the orientation and you get a push. That binary limitation has constrained product design for over a century. Polymagnets remove it.

We program specific mechanical behaviors into each magnet by arranging maxels, tiny individual magnetic regions, in a software-defined code on the magnet surface. The arrangement determines the behavior. Different codes yield different force responses. Our catalog of possible behaviors now includes spring, latch, align, attach, snap, twist, and several others that have no equivalent in conventional magnetics.

How behavior is defined

Each maxel has a polarity (north or south), a size (1 mm-4 mm), a position, and a saturation level. Those four variables, spread across dozens or hundreds of maxels on a single surface, create a unique magnetic circuit. That circuit dictates how the Polymagnet will interact with a mating Polymagnet or with a ferrous target.

Two Polymagnets coded with complementary arrangements will attract with a specific force curve. Misaligned or mismatched codes cancel each other out. The magnet pair behaves with precision at every separation distance and every angular orientation. Conventional pairs offer no such precision because the interaction depends only on the field size and the pole distance.

Spring

Our spring Polymagnets repel each other under compression and return to a resting separation when released. The feel is comparable to a mechanical spring, but the Polymagnet version has no coil, no metal fatigue, and no wear over time.

Repel force increases as the magnets approach each other. Engineers can specify the spring rate, the equilibrium distance, and the maximum compression force. A stiff configuration might isolate vibration for sensitive equipment. Softer versions provide the “cushion” feel for a closing lid or a docking accessory. Mid-range configurations have been used for laptop screen hinges, where the feel of the close is a product design decision.

One advantage over mechanical springs: the force curve is defined by the magnetic code, and it won’t degrade over millions of cycles. Coil springs lose elasticity with use. Magnetic springs maintain the same force profile for the life of the magnet.

Latch

Latch Polymagnets exhibit a specific two-stage behavior. A pair will repel until the magnets pass through a defined transition point, and the force then reverses to strong attraction. The practical effect is a “click-in” engagement. Push past the resistance, and the magnets lock together.

Separation requires a deliberate pull force that exceeds the latch strength, or a rotation that breaks the magnetic code alignment. Designers gain a built-in detent mechanism without any mechanical hardware. We’ve installed latch Polymagnets in cabinet doors, access panels, and portable device enclosures. They replace ball-catch and roller-latch assemblies with no moving parts and no wear.

We can adjust the transition point. We’ve built latches with a fraction of a pound of resistance before engagement and latches that require several pounds of force to click in. Engagement distance and release force are independent variables, both controlled through the maxel code.

Spring-latch combination

Some applications need a magnet that behaves as a spring in one orientation and a latch in another. Our spring-latch Polymagnets deliver both functions from a single pair. The magnets repel in the default alignment. A 180-degree rotation switches the force to attraction and engages the latch.

This is useful for hinged assemblies, tool mounting, and any mechanism where the user needs two distinct states from one magnetic connection. A cabinet door could spring open when released and latch closed when rotated into position. Removable sensor modules could float on a magnetic spring during calibration, then lock down when turned.

Align

Align Polymagnets use their maxel arrangement to guide two components into a precise position. The magnetic field provides a self-centering force during assembly. Final position is repeatable down to low-micron tolerance. Some configurations achieve nanometer-level precision.

Alignment can be constrained to one position only, or it can allow multiple prescribed positions at specific rotation angles or lateral translations. A connector that clicks into any of four 90-degree positions uses a different code than one locked to a single orientation. Both are achievable from the same magnet blank.

Conventional magnets provide no alignment guidance. Two disk magnets will attract and snap together at any rotation. A Polymagnet pair will only engage when the codes match and will guide itself into position with measurable repeatability.

HoverField contactless attachment

HoverField Polymagnets bind to each other without surface contact. Attraction at a distance and repulsion in close proximity create an equilibrium. Both magnets float at a prescribed separation.

Hover distance, binding stiffness, and breakaway force are all adjustable through the code. A HoverField pair can be tuned to float at 1 mm or 3 mm, with loose or tight lateral compliance. No mechanical hardware maintains the spacing. The magnets hold themselves apart.

Applications include vibration isolation, contactless fixtures, and sensitive instrument mounting where surface contact would introduce contamination or friction. We’ve also explored HoverField as a linear detent. A magnet moves without restriction along a rail and locks into discrete positions at intervals defined by the code. The effect is similar to the click stops on a screened-window vent, but with no physical contact between the parts.

Coded identity and selective interaction

Polymagnets can be programmed to interact only with complementary coded partners. A Polymagnet with a given code will ignore a conventional magnet. It will also produce no measurable force against a non-matching Polymagnet. Only complementary pairs engage.

Coded identity is useful for keyed assemblies. A filter cartridge can be encoded so that only the correct replacement will engage with the manifold. An incorrect cartridge, even if the physical dimensions are identical, will produce no magnetic engagement. Child-safety closures, authentication devices, and tamper-evident packaging all benefit from this selective response.

Unique code count is vast. Small changes in maxel position or saturation create distinct identities. We’ve demonstrated systems where four identical-looking magnet pairs each engage only with their coded partner and ignore the other three. Higher code counts depend on maxel density and material grade, both of which continue to improve.

Software-defined and catalog-ready

Every programmed behavior lives in software and is manufactured on our MagPrinter. The Polymagnet Catalog contains hundreds of pre-engineered magnetic functions, organized by behavior type, size, material, and force specification. Product designers can select from the catalog or commission a custom code.

Turnaround is fast. A new behavior can be coded, printed, and tested within hours. Changes require only a software edit. No retooling. That speed is why Polymagnets have moved from a research curiosity into production across consumer electronics, defense, medical devices, and industrial automation.