Design and analysis of a Permanent-magnet electrodynamic vibrator

The paper presents the design, FEM and experimental analysis of a Permanent magnet electrodynamic vibrator used in a Vibration Test System. This kind of Vibration Test System is to be used for electronic equipment vibration testing. A first prototype of a Permanent magnet electrodynamic vibrator has been designed and manufactured. After experimental testing it has been found that magnetic flux density in the air gap is only 0.8T, comparative with design data value of 1T. The designing of a rare earth permanent magnet electrodynamic vibrator is not a simple problem, because of the nonlinear characteristic of rare earth magnets. A magnetostatic FEM analysis has been performed to find what has to be changed in the second prototype design in order to increase the air gap magnetic flux density. The design methodology and experimental and numerical analysis results are presented. Finally, the methods for increasing the magnetic flux density in the air-gap are presented.