When it comes to performing mechanical work there are two essential ingredients, the engine, and the gear box. The combined forces of electricity and magnetism are slowly taking over the way we power the engines of our machines, but gearboxes have stubbornly remained mechanical, resisting the electro-magnetic revolution of the last century.

Not to say that mechanical gear boxes don’t exist, they most certainly do, and they are incredibly fascinating to watch, and build. Like magic these magnetic gear boxes operate without physical contact. Operating based on the invisible laws of magnetic attraction, the most fundamental magnetic principle, opposites attract. At their simplest the gear being driven sets the pole of the stator bolts between the gears, which then causes the other gears magnets to be pushed away from one pole and attracted to the opposite pole.

Currently there are only a few limited applications for the magnetic gearbox, due to the amount of energy lost driving the gears. However the unique ability to operate without direct contact allows the mechanical motion to pass right through physical barriers. Making magnetic gear boxes practical for mixing chemicals in a vacuum or pumping cooling liquids around a nuclear reactor.

Presented for your viewing pleasure are some the strangely satisfying videos of magnetic gearboxes in action. Sit back relax and enjoy watching the magic made possible by the laws of magnetic attraction.

Reference: Wikipedia – Magnetic Gears

Reference: Magnetic Games

Reference: K&J Magnetics