Changing permanent magnet technology

New types of motor designs incorporating permanent magnet materials have created a strong interest in the motor industry to develop applications for these designs. During the last twenty years, stepping, brushless DC, and AC synchronous motors have entered a rapid growth curve because of recent startling developments in permanent magnet technology. In the Fall of 1983, a new low cost Re-Fe-B permanent magnet material was announced - projected selling price was $35.00/pound with energy products in the area of thirty megagauss-oersteds. In late 1984, another Re-Fe-B permanent magnet material was announced - projected selling price of less than $10.00/pound with an energy product in excess of forty megagauss-oersteds.