HiRA Wiki

Primary Safety Notes: Work with at least one other person at all times. Choose a wood or plastic table or bench and clear all work areas of magnetic and metal objects. Use only non-magnetic allen wrenches. You may also want to remove items that are sensitive to magnets (credit cards, watches, ID badges, etc). There should be a supply of bubble wrap and tape nearby.

Keep plastic cups over magnets when not manipulating them and be careful not to drop the magnets, as they will chip. When magnets are stored, they should be clearly labeled with Strong Magnet cautionary signs. Never place your fingers between the MCP magnets and metal pieces.

First, line the semi-circular sides of the Magnet Loading Cradle and the Magnet Loading Clamp with tape. Center the tape along the flat side, then make cuts along short intervals to wrap the tape smoothly over the circular edge. The tape will help the grip the magnet and protect it from chipping. Screw the two guide rods to the MCP mount.

Carefully remove the bubble wrap and plastic cups from a magnet. Locate the top side, labeled with a T and with sharper edges. The bottom side has rounded edges to fit into the circular groove cut into the MCP mount. Remember which pole is on the top side, it will be labeled with an N for North or an S for South. While one person holds the magnet above the table, attach the Magnet Loading Cradle and Magnet Loading Clamp securely around the magnet and parallel to its top face, so that the swivel pads are on the bottom side of the magnet. The Cradle and Clamp should be screwed together firmly and evenly.

Screw one of the swivel pad feet all the way to the Magnet Loading Clamp: the bottom side of the magnet should extend past the swivel foot. If the foot is longer, the magnet will snap down onto the MCP mount at the end of the procedure, and may chip or be offcenter.

Unscrew the bars connecting to the feet, so that they extend their full length. This will create as much initial distance between the magnet and the MCP mount as possible. Bring the Magnet Loading Cradle down over the MCP mount side and with the guide rods set into the corresponding holes on the cradle. Lower the cradle, clamp, and magnet until the swivel feet lie flat on the MCP mount. Shorten the lengths of the three rods by small increments: first lower the two bars closest to the guide rods, then the one furthest until all three swivel pads touch the MCP mount. Return to the two closest bars and repeat the procedure. Smaller increments should be made as the distance between the magnet and the mount is shortened. Check that the magnet will line up with the circle cut into the mount.

When the magnet rests flat on the MCP mount, unfasten the two guide rods and remove the Magnet Loading Cradle and Clamp. Replace the plastic cup over the magnet and tape it to the mount. Cover the entire piece in bubble wrap, wrap several times around with tape, and return to a box lined with foam and more bubble wrap. Remember to replace the Strong Magnet caution sign onto the box.

The next magnet should have the opposite pole facing up, and be attached to the opposite MCP mount face: if a North-up magnet was centered on a “cut” side, a South-up magnet should be placed onto an “uncut” side. The next pair should have the opposite arrangement: a North-up magnet on an “uncut” side and a South-up magnet on the last “cut” mount. Remove the old tape from the cradle and clamp and retape the circular edge before attaching the next magnet.

Safety notes: The yolk should be assembled in the wood shop after all employees have left for the day. Find a wooden bench and remove as many magnetic/metal tools and materials from the area as possible. Magnets not in use should be placed on the floor. Find a vise from the student benches and open the vise arms as far as possible before unwrapping a magnet.

Screw the top bar mount to the underside of the long yoke connector piece. Attach the side of the top bar mount to the unmoving vise arm.

Remove the bubble wrap from one magnet, but keep the plastic cup on. Attach the side yoke mount to the back of the MCP mount so that the magnet faces out. Screw the other end of the side yoke mount onto the movable arm of the vise. All screws should be completely tight.

Bring the magnet towards the yoke connector piece. When it is close, pull back on the top of the magnet to allow the bottom of the MCP mount to clear the top of the connecting piece. Continue to bring the vise forward until the MCP mount can be screwed to the connector piece. You may need to loosen screws on the vise to shift the angles of the yoke pieces, as the edges may not be perfectly square on the first attempt.

When the MCP mount and yoke connector are attached firmly, remove the top bar mount and side yoke mount from the yoke and from the vise. Attach the top bar mount to the opposite side of the long yoke connector, and screw both onto the unmoving arm of the vise. Remove the bubble wrap from the opposite magnet—the magnet with opposite pole facing up and on the opposite yoke side, to make a cut-uncut pair with a North magnet side facing a South side.

Screw the side yoke mount to the back of the second MCP mount, so that the second magnet will face the first magnet. Attach the other end of the side yoke mount to the moving arm of the vise, beginning at the fully-open position. As the second yoke side is brought closer, you should pull back on the top of the second yoke side while pushing up on the bottom of the first yoke side. This will allow the bottom edge of the yoke to slide over the yoke connector. Continue to bring the vise arm closer until the MCP mount can be screwed on to the yoke connector.

Slide the gold rod through the top center hole of the side yolk and screw it into the opposite yolk side to keep the yolk sides from bending inwards. Remove the yoke from the top bar mount and the side yolk mount, wrap in bubble wrap, and tape the bubble wrap firmly. Return the yoke to its box, lined with foam and more bubble wrap, and replace the Strong Magnet cautionary sign.

Repeat the process with the two remaining yoke sides, which should be a cut-uncut pair of opposite poles, and long yoke connector piece.

Safety note: The yolk should be dissembled in the wood shop after all employees have left for the day. Find a wooden bench and remove as many magnetic/metal tools and materials from the area as possible. Magnets/yokes not in use should be placed on the floor. Find a vise from the student benches and open the vise arms as far as possible before proceeding.

Attach the top bar mount to the underside of the long yoke connector piece, and screw this mount to the unmoving arm of the vise. Fix the back of the side yoke mount to the movable vise arm, and bring the two arms together until the side yoke mount lies up with the yoke side; screw the top of the side yoke mount to the back of the yoke side. Remove the gold rod and the screws that attach the side yoke to the yoke connector piece.

Pull the moving vise arm back, thus separating the side yoke from the yoke connector piece. Replace the plastic cap over the magnet. Unscrew the side yoke mount from the vise, then from the MCP mount. Wrap the magnet in bubble wrap and place in a box lined with foam and more bubble wrap. Set the box aside, preferably on the shop floor, with a Strong Magnet caution sign. Unscrew the top bar mount from the vise and from the long connector piece, then rotate the connector piece and attach the top bar mount to the other end of the yoke connector. Screw the top bar mount onto the unmoving arm of the vise and the side yoke mount to the moveable arm. Bring the movable arm close to the yoke, and attach the side yolk mount to the back of the second yoke side. Remove the screws fastening the side yoke to the yoke connector, and repeat the above procedure.

Finally, remove the connector piece and two yoke mounts from the vise. Repeat with the second yoke. At the end of the dissembly, there should be four boxes with one magnet/MCP mount each; the top bar mount, side bar mount, and two yoke connector pieces should be stored in a fifth box.

Line the semi-circular sides of the Magnet Loading Cradle and the Magnet Loading Clamp with tape. Center the tape along the flat side, then make cuts along short intervals to wrap the tape smoothly over the circular edge. The tape will help the grip the magnet and protect it from chipping. Screw the swivel pad feet all the way in to the cradle and clamp.

Remove the magnet/MCP mount from its box and remove the bubble wrap and plastic cup. Screw the two guide rods on to the MCP mount, then set through the guide holes on the Magnet Loading Cradle and lower the cradle until the swivel pads touch the MCP mount. Slide the Magnet Loading Clamp onto the opposite side of the magnet, with the swivel pad flat against the MCP mount. Screw the clamp and cradle together, such that the top is parallel to the MCP mount and to the magnet face. Extend the length of the rods of the cradle and clamp. First extend two by a small amount, then extend the third to make all swivel pads line flat against the MCP mount. As the magnet is pulled further away from the MCP mount, the increments can become larger. When the rods are fully extended, pull the cradle, clamp, and magnet off of the guide rods.

While one person holds the magnet, the other should remove the clamp and cradle. Encapsulate the magnet in two plastic cups and tape them together. Wrap the cups in bubble wrap secured with tape, place into a box lined with foam and extra bubble wrap, and replace the Strong Magnet caution sign.

Remove the guide rods from the yolk side. Replace the tape on the cradle and clamp before proceeding to remove the next magnet.