The main elements of X Mag

X Mag is made up of two structurally very simple elements :

1) a steel sphere
2) a plastic rod
 

If the sphere is drawn near to an extremity of the rod, as shown in figure 1, it is attracted. The same operation can be repeated on the other extremity of the rod, thus generating the first 'compact module' to which to attach other rods and other spheres.

Starting from simple polygons, you will gradually be able to create larger, more complex, and more amusing ones (even with the help of friends, and also of mum and dad, if necessary) .
This is the first step constructing bidimensional shapes of various dimensions, simple models, and complex tridimensional

Up to 13 rods can be attached to a single sphere. To become real experts at X Mag, it is sufficient to follow some simple fundamental rules. One only needs to follow 2 basic conditions to take advantage of the secrets of X Mag .
Condltion1) obtaining the maximum magnetic force and static solidity
Condition2) obtaining the maximum dynamism .

To obtain the maximum magnetic force and static solidity, it is necessary to correctly direct the rods towards the spheres. The rods must be touching both a North and a South pole of the sphere (as shown in figure 2), in order to ensure that the polarities are in series. One of the best known laws of manetism is now respected: the one by which opposite poles (N-S) attract each other, wile equal poles (S-S or N-N) reject each other. Balanced spheres and polarities of the rods in series = maximum force and maximum magnetic attraction. This is the preliminary condition to
1 be able to construct complex static modes.
 

The secret of the force and the stability of X Mag
All the great secret forces of X Mag derive from its exceptional magnetic circuit which exploits the energy contained in the magnets of the rods and transfers it in a powerful way. How is this effected? Just follow the rules of Condition 1. Here is a practical example. Construct a simple triangle, then take a sphere and draw it near to every single sphere forming the triangle (see Fig. 3). One of the 3 spheres of the triangle may exert an attraction towards the sphere that we draw near. If this should happen, it means that the spheres of the triangle have been turned to mangnets by induction, and that the magnetic flow does not express its maximum power, but its partially dispersed in other directions. So we have magnetic flow. In order to make it balanced, try to detach one or more rods of the triangle and to attach them again with polarities inverted (see Fig. 4).

Now if you try to draw the sphere near to the triangle again, it should not be attracted by other spheres.
This means that the spheres are no longer magnetized, they are balanced, with the rods orientated with
the polarities (opposite signs) .in series. Now all the magnetic flow, generated by the magnets, is
concentrated witting the triangle without any dispersion. The force of attraction between spheres and
rods is now the maximum achievable, Here is the secret of the extra strength of X Mag that must be
utilised in the construction of very large and complex tridimensional figures .

Lets discover how , by exploiting the “secret of X Mag “ even more interesting and complex models can be constructed . not only does the difficulty increase, but the entertainment and the challenge too! Let's start with a pyramid with a triangular base: We construct starting from a triangular base with two rods on every side, as shown in figure 5, and we continue by closing the figure with backing triangles (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8) .

Let's continue with a sphere (Fig. 9) made out of 20 triangular faces: We construct starting from a pentagon backed on its center (Fig.10) and by adding triangular shapes on every side, until the .polygon gets closed by another pentagon on top (see Figs, 11 and12).
 

The opposite 1, in this case the rods must be oriented towards the spheres, so that the polarities are no longer in series and do not respect (as shown In Fig. 13) the sequence North pole-South pole anymore.

Fig. 13

This way, the magnetic flow is not closed anymore, and that makes it possible for the spheres to turn into magnets attracting other external elements. In this case the spheres are not balanced and the polarities of the rods are not in series: the magnetic force obtained is lower, but the dynamism is higher, and that allows a more versatile use of X Mag, Let's see how …
 

Fig. 14	Fig. 15

Let's begin with a simple example! Start by constructing figure 14 shown. Attach a sphere and bar to the top of the pyramid, holding them between your fingers. The attractive force will enable you to raise the model and make it rotate on its axis. Construct the hexahedron illustrated (Fig. 15) and make it rotate (Fig. 16) in the same way as you did with the pyramid. While it is rotating, try to set it on a flat surface: with a simple spin of the wrist you will remarkably increase its rotating movement, until you can detach it (with a sharp pull) from the sphere held by the rod in your fingers, leaving it to rotate alone, and then pick it up again before it falls and stopes. The gyroscopic effect is created by the equilibrium maintained by the spinning shape. Let's see some other demonsrations of the dynamic effects that can be created with X Mag.

"MAGIC ROCKER": THE "repulsion" between the spheres Make two triangles, following the arrangement of the polarities as represented by the colours in figure 17. You will be amazed to see the dynamic effect created by the striking "rocking" of the upper triangle! This movement is produced by the downwards thrust exerted by the upper triangle and the upwards thrust produced by the magnetic repulsion of the two (red 2) spheres of the same polarity.
"DANCING BALLERINA EFFECT": the principle of energy conservation Make two triangles, following the arrangement of the polarities as represented by the colours in figure 17. You will be amazed to see the dynamic effect created by the striking "rocking" of the upper triangle! This movement is produced by the downwards thrust exerted by the upper triangle and the upwards thrust produced by the magnetic repulsion of the two (red 2) spheres of the same polarity.
 

Starting from the position shown in figure 18, use your little finger to rotate the central section of the model.
As it is rotating, stretch the figure slowly, extending it as shown in figure 20. You will observe that as you
stretch the model the speed of rotation increases, while if you shorten it the rotation slows down. ..and so on. All this reminds one of the peculiar and quite elegant movements of dancing ballerinas, down. ..and so
on. All this reminds one of the peculiar and quite elegant movements of dancing ballerinas, down. ..and so on. All this reminds on of the peculiar and quite elegant movements of dancing ballerinas, down ...and so on. All this reminds one of the peculiar and quite elegant movements of dancing ballerinas, when they spin around
on their feet, opening or closing their arms. But that's not all ...another extraordinary ; example of the dynamism of X Mag is provided by models which illustrate the principal of centrifugal force and inertia between monopole spheres. Figure 21

appears to be identical to the hexahedron of figure 15, but it's notj, because in this .case the spheres (blue 3 and red 3 ) set ate the extremities of the model are both monopole (that is, they can attract other spheres) with the maximum attractive force.
If you now hole the upper bar between your fingers and rotate the model gently, you will observe that the two bars attached to the lower part of the model divege increasingly as the speed of rotation increases. This effect is caused by the centrifugal force. As the speed is decreased the bars descend again. But once more, this is not all: start again from the beginning and rotate the model. When the speed of rotation has increased, stop the movement of the hexahedron suddenly. You will Visit our website:
observe that, although the hexahedron is still, the two lower bars continue to rotate, moved by the force of inertia. Seeing is believing.