Re: [EE] Small electromagnet cores?

Many decades ago, I made electromagnets using common nails or spikes for 
cores.

Joel Curneal

On 2025-06-02 14:32, smplx wrote:
> Hi Mike,
> 
> How about several strands of iron wire twisted together or maybe 
> embedded in epoxy?
> 
> https://www.wires.co.uk/acatalog/fe_black.html
> 
> Best Regards
> Sergio Masci
> 
> 
> On Mon, 2 Jun 2025, Mike Hord wrote:
> 
>> Hey all-
>> 
>> I'm trying to make a flip-dot display like this one:
>> https://hackaday.com/2021/05/29/3d-printed-flip-dots/
>> 
>> I'm having a hard time with the electromagnet component of the 
>> project. OP
>> used 3mm threaded rod, and it seemed to work okay per his videos, but 
>> it's
>> not working for me at all.
>> 
>> I'm relatively sure the problem is in the permeability of the core.
>> Stainless steel is not a great magnetic field conductor. I'm looking 
>> for
>> something better.
>> 
>> Lots of searching has led me nowhere. I'm thinking of trying a nail 
>> next;
>> I'm wondering if anyone has any better ideas for a core? NB- I've seen 
>> the
>> "soft iron core" that Amazon sells; it's a bit expensive for my taste 
>> ($16
>> for 200mm; I would need four of those rods to complete the project).
>> 
>> Mike
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