TheSCSIBug's Comments
I remember when these videos first hit YouTube weeks ago. Within hours, pretty much everyone -- both on YouTube and off -- went around the barn on this, including me. Many of the same reactions expressed by commentators on this unassuming blog were reflected on other sites...
...only about 100x more often and with 1000x more vitriol. That general civility alone is worth celebrating, you members of the Neatorama community. Always endeavor to preserve that.
Having looked over some of this guy's other work, I don't think this device's fabricator trying to pull a fast one. I believe his intentions are innocent, if not honorable. That doesn't mean he's built anything particularly compelling, mind you. Hell, the fabber probably doesn't entirely comprehend what exactly his device is doing or how. He's just a "magneto-gearhead," if you will, who made a neat toy and thought others would dig it.
It does seem to be the community of scientific hobbyists whom have been addressing his flywheel construction as a perpetuum mobile, not the fabber himself. It's another demographic of those same hobbyists -- along with some semi-professional and entirely professional scientists and engineers -- whom are dismissing this as a hoax. I suspect the truth lies in between.
As a professional engineer trained well outside the realm of thermal dynamics, I would guess that this device utilizes a mechanical analog to an EM-driven monorail or railgun. The acceleration is produced by a series of precisely controlled magnetic fields, flip-flopping their polarity as the permanent magnets that are driving the payload pass. But instead of using digitally-controlled EM coils, this device uses very powerful permanent magnets. This designer clearly reduced friction on the various axles as much as possible, allowing both the flywheel and the peripheral magnets to spin relatively freely. From there, he just used trigonometry and basic magnetic field theory to produce a matrix of circulating polarities through which the flywheel is driven. An impressive trial-by-error application of angular maglev technology, but I suspect that's all it is.
There will always be a human desire to evolve through experimentation. Someone will always want to build the "better mousetrap," the "better light bulb," or the "next big thing." These days, we all seem to share an interest in letting human engineering break our total dependence on consumable energy sources. But we cannot let our hopes cloud our vision or erode our understanding. Regrettably, I fear much of the passion expressed towards this device does precisely that.
I'm willing to call this an educational little toy and give its designer the benefit of doubt. Keep in mind, however, I'd wholeheartedly stop trusting this guy should he ever ask around for investors.
...only about 100x more often and with 1000x more vitriol. That general civility alone is worth celebrating, you members of the Neatorama community. Always endeavor to preserve that.
Having looked over some of this guy's other work, I don't think this device's fabricator trying to pull a fast one. I believe his intentions are innocent, if not honorable. That doesn't mean he's built anything particularly compelling, mind you. Hell, the fabber probably doesn't entirely comprehend what exactly his device is doing or how. He's just a "magneto-gearhead," if you will, who made a neat toy and thought others would dig it.
It does seem to be the community of scientific hobbyists whom have been addressing his flywheel construction as a perpetuum mobile, not the fabber himself. It's another demographic of those same hobbyists -- along with some semi-professional and entirely professional scientists and engineers -- whom are dismissing this as a hoax. I suspect the truth lies in between.
As a professional engineer trained well outside the realm of thermal dynamics, I would guess that this device utilizes a mechanical analog to an EM-driven monorail or railgun. The acceleration is produced by a series of precisely controlled magnetic fields, flip-flopping their polarity as the permanent magnets that are driving the payload pass. But instead of using digitally-controlled EM coils, this device uses very powerful permanent magnets. This designer clearly reduced friction on the various axles as much as possible, allowing both the flywheel and the peripheral magnets to spin relatively freely. From there, he just used trigonometry and basic magnetic field theory to produce a matrix of circulating polarities through which the flywheel is driven. An impressive trial-by-error application of angular maglev technology, but I suspect that's all it is.
There will always be a human desire to evolve through experimentation. Someone will always want to build the "better mousetrap," the "better light bulb," or the "next big thing." These days, we all seem to share an interest in letting human engineering break our total dependence on consumable energy sources. But we cannot let our hopes cloud our vision or erode our understanding. Regrettably, I fear much of the passion expressed towards this device does precisely that.
I'm willing to call this an educational little toy and give its designer the benefit of doubt. Keep in mind, however, I'd wholeheartedly stop trusting this guy should he ever ask around for investors.
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He's formed a company, meaning he's already thought about how to merchandise the "device." That doesn't inspire me with confidence...