Electromagnetic Bench Attachments !!NEED OPINIONS!!

[Doug_Hill1]

Hello,
So I've just come across this forum and was wondering whether any of you folks would be able to fill out a short questionnaire to do with my A-Level Product Design Idea.

Sorry Mods if this isn't allowed.

Link: https://goo.gl/forms/K0wSbc2tnuozw7Gt1
What I have to do:
I have to solve a problem with a product - any problem..

Problem I have chosen:
Small and/or cluttered workspaces.

How I intend on solving:
I am currently thinking of creating a mechanism in which you can mount an electromagnet (old microwave transformer) into your bench which will act as a removable tool station - for example, say you want to get a bench grinder but you have a problem in the fact that you haven't got enough room on your bench to mount it permanently - this will solve that by mounting your new bench grinder on a steel plate which will sit on your bench and be magnetised down, holding it tight. Once you are finished grinding, You can turn the magnet off, releasing the plate, allowing you to hang it on the wall or elsewhere, freeing up valuable space again.
Now, you might be thinking - "Oh won't that just slide around on the magnet?" - and yes I think you would be correct. I would probably combat this by incorporating some rubber feet on the plate or some form of mechanical lock.

I would intend this to be sold as a kit to install yourself into your bench if possible. It would come with a plate and you can buy more to add more tools to your arsenal.

I'd love to hear your opinions on this idea and whether you have any concerns etc.

If you could fill out the questionnaire it would really help :D
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/K0wSbc2tnuozw7Gt1

If you could reply done or any questions/concerns below to keep the topic active, I'd appreciate it :D
Thank You
Doug

[Rorschach]

Whats wrong with a vice? I use that method all the time.

[Dave54]

Whats wrong with a vice? I use that method all the time.

Agreed, and it doesn't let go if the power goes off, which is the snag with elecromagnets.

[Someone-Else]

Does this bit not defeat the object?

some form of mechanical lock

[Dave54]

Does this bit not defeat the object?

some form of mechanical lock

I hadn't read that bit, but yes it does defeat the object.
The OP could have a couple of location pegs, and then use the permanent magnet type of "magnetic vice" or "lifting magnet" which can apparently be electrically controlled on /off by means of the magnets moving to cancel each other out. If the power goes off, you still have a magnetic "lock"
But he's getting into complicated territory when you can just mount small machines on a board, and clamp them to the bench.

[Grendel]

On a more positive note I doubt you'd need rubber feet as simple magnetic attraction should be more than enough for most applications.
Several years ago I had to fit a steel plate into a beam and it was decided the only practical way was to go from underneath and it was suggested using a mag drill for the majority of the work. A simple U section plate was welded up and cramped to the beam by bolts threaded through the sides. The mag drill was in efffect a small pillar drill with an electro magnet in the base and was of course used upside down drilling vertically into the beam with something like a 25mm bit . Pushing the bit into the timber caused very little movement of the mag drill showing the magnet to be more than adequate. Indeed the only problem we had was when the electrians inadvertently turned of the power and the drill fell to the ground.
So not a totally unworkable idea but I can see at least one tiny problem . If you are envisaging a magnetic unit to do the holding and fixing various tools to that unit it would be just as easy to forgo the magnet and fix the tool directly to the bench even temporarily.

Edit , just looked again at the idea is to have the magnet mounted in the bench which makes more sense. Actually that might be a good idea for working on awkward shaped jobs. I recently had to strip down my strimmer and it was a bugger to hold still although of course if I dropped a screw I wouldn't lose it but probably wouldn't be able to pick it up without turning the power off

[Job and Knock]

Have you ever noticed how even the smallest magnet attracts unseen bits of steel and iron debris? Use an impact driver with, say, TEK screws for more than a half a dozen and it'll start looking like a spikey punk. Similarly my magnetic spirit level is a real magnet for all sorts of metal filings, etc on site (where it is used for metal lath, metal suspended ceiling, etc). The OP might want to consider some of the unforseen consequences

BTW my metalworking vice is mounted on a timber/plywood T-piece and is clamped into the woodworking vice on my bench when required. Cheap, simple and withstands power cuts

[dewaltdisney]

I use one of my workmates. I have my grinder bolted on to a board with a cleat underneath to be held in the workmate jaws when I want to use it. Similarly I have my morticer and my bench planer mounted in the same way.

DWD

[Grendel]

I did think of that having a couple of magnetised tools that have at some point grown an afro of filings but it should be ok with an electro magnet although I'm not sure iff things may become magnetised over time.
However , while I could see the idea working in principal it does seem an overly complicated way of doing what a bolt and wing nut would acccomplise with less cost and more resilient to power cuts.

[Grendel]

I use one of my workmates. I have my grinder bolted on to a board with a cleat underneath to be held in the workmate jaws when I want to use it. Similarly I have my morticer and my bench planer mounted in the same way.

DWD

Funnily enough I have a sliding mitre saw and a jointer screwed to boards that fit into an angle iron bench that also takes the portable thicknesser, just there own weight hold them in the "rebate" off the angle iron .

[ayjay]

Agreed, and it doesn't let go if the power goes off, which is the snag with elecromagnets.

You know what it's like sometimes when you're getting near the end of the job, there's all sorts of contractors/subbies popping in for a couple of days to do specialised odds and ends.

Was working on a place once in just such a situation and when it came time to clear up at the end of the day there was a *strange* lead plugged into my tranny: I gave a shout to ask if anyone was using this lead - when there was no response I pulled it out, which was immediately followed by an almighty crash from up above the false ceiling, closely followed by the emergence of a very white faced steel fixer.

[OchAye]

Was working on a place once in just such a situation and when it came time to clear up at the end of the day there was a *strange* lead plugged into my tranny: I gave a shout to ask if anyone was using this lead - when there was no response I pulled it out, which was immediately followed by an almighty crash from up above the false ceiling, closely followed by the emergence of a very white faced steel fixer.

Did he have electromagnets in his underpants?

As far as the rest o the commentary goes, give the lad some help instead of a kick up the arse...

[Hitch]

Have you ever noticed how even the smallest magnet attracts unseen bits of steel and iron debris? Use an impact driver with, say, TEK screws for more than a half a dozen and it'll start looking like a spikey punk. Similarly my magnetic spirit level is a real magnet for all sorts of metal filings, etc on site (where it is used for metal lath, metal suspended ceiling, etc). The OP might want to consider some of the unforseen consequences

BTW my metalworking vice is mounted on a timber/plywood T-piece and is clamped into the woodworking vice on my bench when required. Cheap, simple and withstands power cuts

Try working in a fabrication shop
Most tools ith magnets are a no go, unless it can be wiped off easy. I think the only magnetic tool I use at work is a Stabilia boat level.
Magnetic bit holders get filled up as soon as you put them down!

[ayjay]

Was working on a place once in just such a situation and when it came time to clear up at the end of the day there was a *strange* lead plugged into my tranny: I gave a shout to ask if anyone was using this lead - when there was no response I pulled it out, which was immediately followed by an almighty crash from up above the false ceiling, closely followed by the emergence of a very white faced steel fixer.

Did he have electromagnets in his underpants?

No, he a had a big old beast of a drill electro-magnetically clamped horizontally onto a steel, when it fell off cos I pulled the lead out, it missed him by not very much apparently.

[OchAye]