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Whoever thinks this is magnetic propulsion is probably suffering from Necrotizing fasciitis of the brain...(not a true medical condition). This is a kinetic sculpture, not a scientific demonstration. If you cant see due to eye problems, there are strings attached to the ALUMINUM balls and there are motors in the ceiling lifting and lowering these ball bearings  in a coordinated manner in order to create the ornate figures. If there were such a thing as a magnetic field that can stay in a perfect vertical cylinder without affecting the space around it then we would already be flying to work and every thing involving magnetic fields would be so much more advanced. A magnetic field tries to connect to other magnetic fields around it creating one large magnetic field, therefore if this sculpture was created with magnetic platforms and iron/steel/cobalt/nickel/ some other magnetic alloy, they would me moving in one large glob. 

Are those ball-bearings made of a nonconductor that is still hard-magnetic? I also don't think that magnetic flux lines could be lined up so perfectly and -not- interfere with one another. The calculations terrify me. PLUS, if you were using the right-hand rule at all, then you`d know that setting up a field parallel to the plane of force does nothing - it has to be perpendicular. Plus, the separation of charges in the ball would cause potential voltage, which would create current, which would create a magnetic ball bearings field of it`s own, and according to Lenz` Law, the ball would just kind of hover there and not move. That is, if everything else was right in the first place.

There have been a few comments about using magnetic ball bearings to protect saddles.I did a bit of Googling and found this place that sells super strong, rare earth magnets. They are in the states, but if we do a bulk buy, it wouldn't be too pricey at all.I think that either 3/16" or 1/4" would be good, but need to check which.

Ideally some sort of magnetic ball bearing that is also a ray gun to zap the little bastards.Wouldn't a magnetic ina-bearing just fall out? Unless it's so jammed in that it's nigh on impossible to get out. I tried the sticking candle-wax into the allen-head trick; it had fallen out within a week.which i hasten to add, will want to stick to said bearings little hidey hole, causing that to become magnetic and everything will all become one.

Well, actually, at high speed, the large majority of the resistance to a car's motion is wind resistance, not rolling friction or bearing friction, so it wouldn't make all that much difference. Anyway, I'm not sure I could see how a magnetic bearing would work - since there are variable forces involved, I don't see how it could actually hold a shaft in place.

Anyway, I'm not sure I could see how a magnetic bearing would work - since there are variable forces involved, I don't see how it could actually hold a shaft in place.Magnetic fag bearings do exist, but they use electromagnets and a control system, so they wouldn't be a "drop in" replacement for a car wheel bearing. They are not too good at handling large "random varying" loads like you would get in a car suspension either.As well as no friction, another advantage in some applications is no lubrication requirements.