Engineers In Action

Engineers In Action

Smarter Magnetic Mapping: A Custom Tool That Delivers Repeatability and Flexibility

At Allstar Magnetics, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions—especially when it comes to magnetic field mapping. A recent project required us to measure the magnetic fields inside long tubes with magnets—a task complicated by the distance normally needed between the probe and the part. Traditional mapping tools would have required a large setup, extra space, and significant cost.   Instead, one of our engineers developed a unique, custom mapping method. By designing a specialized fixture that allowed us to place the probe exactly where needed, we eliminated the distance barrier that usually makes this kind of measurement difficult. The result was a tool that is:
  • Repeatable – Delivers reliable measurements, time after time.
  • Flexible – Can be adapted quickly for different part configurations.
  • Efficient – Saves space and cost compared to traditional mapping systems.
Because this custom solution is both precise and replicable, it streamlines the measuring process not just for this project, but for future projects as well. This innovation is a clear example of how Allstar engineers listen, innovate, and deliver smarter tools that help our customers move faster, with more reliability, and often at a lower cost. When standard tools fall short, the right solution often starts with a technical conversation. If you’re facing a measurement or mapping challenge that doesn’t fit off-the-shelf methods, let’s talk through it together.

Speak With An Engineer

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)
We look forward to answering your question(s). Allstar Magnetics - Comprehensive magnetic solutions, all in one place.
Q

When off-the-shelf isn’t an option, precision makes the difference

April 2026: Issue 8

When off-the-shelf isn’t an option, precision makes the difference

Neodymium Gluing - Completed

A leading equipment manufacturer came to Allstar Magnetics with a problem most suppliers couldn’t solve: they needed a ferrite UCore larger than anything available off the shelf — without sacrificing dimensional precision, structural integrity, or cost-effectiveness.

The answer wasn’t a bigger part. It was a smarter process. Through precision gluing of ferrite sections, expert adhesive selection, and custom fixturing, Allstar engineered a bonded UCore assembly that met every requirement — and opened the door to a growing engineering partnership.

“What began as a single design challenge has since expanded — the customer is now exploring additional ferrite core variations and future applications built on the same bonded core approach.”

Sometimes the best tool is the one you build yourself.

Mapping magnetic fields inside long tubes sounds straight forward until you factor in probe placement, spatial constraints, and the cost of traditional setups that simply weren’t designed for the job.

Rather than work around the limitations, an Allstar engineer designed a custom fixture from scratch—one that places the probe exactly where it needs to be, delivers repeatable results, and adapts quickly across different part configurations. It’s the kind of solution that makes the current project easier and every future project faster.

Tighter tolerances, bigger runs—we just leveled up.

CNC Surface Grinder

Allstar just added a Chevalier H818ii CNC Surface Grinder to our production floor, and we’re not going to pretend we’re not excited about it. This machine holds positioning and repeatability accuracy to 0.0001″. That’s not a typo. That’s four decimal places of precision—running overnight, running weekends, running without operator intervention.

For our customers, that means high-volume magnet grinding with the kind of consistency that used to require a lot more time, cost, and crossed fingers. Tight tolerances. Significant stock removal. No variability from manual input. Just the program, the part, and the result you need.

Got a high-volume order that demands tight tolerances? Parts with serious stock removal? This machine was built for exactly that—and we’re ready to put it to work for you.

A CASE STUDY: PRECISION GLUING UNLOCKS LARGER, COST-EFFICIENT ASSEMBLIES

A CASE STUDY: PRECISION GLUING UNLOCKS LARGER, COST-EFFICIENT ASSEMBLIES

Gluing - Case Study

Client:

Leading Equipment Manufacturer
 

The Challenge:

A leading equipment manufacturer required a large ferrite U-Core to support a critical piece of equipment. Standard off the shelf ferrite core options couldn’t meet the project’s requirements for size, geometry and dimensional precision. Custom performance was essential, but the solution also needed to be precise, manufacturable, scalable and cost effective.

The challenge centered on producing a ferrite U Core beyond conventional size limits while maintaining tight tolerances, structural integrity, and repeatable quality.

Neodymium Gluing - Completed

Prototyping and Validation

To reduce risk and validate the approach, Allstar recommended a focused prototype run. This allowed the customer to evaluate mechanical fit, dimensional accuracy and real world performance of the large ferrite U Core within their system.

The prototype met all technical and quality requirements, confirming that the bonded ferrite approach successfully addressed the limitations of off the shelf components.
 

Results

With prototype validation complete, the project transitioned smoothly into production. The custom ferrite U Core solution delivered the required size and precision while remaining cost effective and scalable.

What began as a single design challenge has since expanded. With confidence in the manufacturing process, the customer is now exploring additional ferrite core variations and future applications built on the same bonded core approach—strengthening an ongoing engineering partnership.

Comprehensive magnetic solutions, all in one place.

Allstar Magnetics - Certifications

Why Custom Ferrite Gluing—and Why Allstar

When standard ferrite components reach their practical limits, precision gluing of ferrite cores enables new design possibilities. Bonding ferrite sections into a unified U-Core assembly allows for larger geometries without sacrificing performance or manufacturability.

However, gluing ferrite is not a simple extension of standard processes. Ferrite’s porous structure, brittleness and sensitivity to alignment demand specialized knowledge in adhesive selection, surface preparation, fixturing, and process control.

Allstar Magnetics brings deep expertise in ferrite material behavior and bonded core assemblies, supported by years of research and development and production experience. This capability allowed Allstar Magnetics to address the customer’s design constraints without compromising long term reliability or production efficiency.
 

The Collaborative Solution

Allstar partnered closely with the customer’s engineering team to co develop a custom ferrite U Core solution. The process began with a detailed review of drawings and functional requirements, followed by design refinements focused on manufacturability.

Adhesives were carefully selected to ensure compatibility with ferrite materials, promoting strong bonds while maintaining clean interfaces and dimensional stability. Custom fixturing and alignment methods were developed to ensure precise geometry across the bonded U Core assembly, enabling consistent results from prototype through production.

Throughout development, Allstar emphasized repeatability, yield and scalability—ensuring the solution would perform not only in validation testing, but also in full scale manufacturing.

Gluing Value-Added Assembly

The Allstar Advantage

Allstar Magnetics’ advantage lies not only in producing custom ferrite assemblies, but in how those solutions are engineered. Every project begins with a manufacturing first mindset, balancing performance requirements with precision, repeatability and cost control from day one.

By combining deep ferrite material expertise with disciplined process development, Allstar delivers bonded ferrite U Core assemblies that move reliably from concept to production—eliminating the compromises often associated with oversized or non standard core designs.
 

Looking Ahead

Allstar and this leading equipment manufacturer continue to build on this success, developing new ferrite core configurations that push beyond standard catalog limitations while maintaining production ready quality. Together, they are unlocking larger, more capable ferrite solutions designed for today’s demanding equipment applications.

Ready to power your next breakthrough?

Contact Allstar Magnetics to discover how our turnkey approach can simplify your supply chain and deliver the results your team needs to succeed.

Designing for Heat? Here’s What You Need to Know About High-Temperature Neodymium

March 2026: Issue 7

Designing for Heat? Here’s What You Need to Know About High-Temperature Neodymium

By Bill Evers, Sales – Permanent Magnets (East)Bill Evers - Sales Permanent Magnets (East)

As material restrictions tighten and sourcing realities shift, designing with high-temperature neodymium magnets has become more complicated than ever. From UH-grade performance requirements to HRE-free material availability, engineering teams are navigating a fast-changing landscape.

HRE-free materials
In this month’s newsletter, we break down what’s currently available, how temperature ratings impact performance, and how Allstar helps teams design around restrictions—without sacrificing reliability or manufacturability.

▶ Read The Full Article HERE

The Allstar Magnetics team is heading to APEC 2026 (Applied Power Electronics Conference), March 22–26 in San Antonio, Texas. APEC brings together engineers, designers, and manufacturers from across the power electronics industry to share ideas, explore new technologies, and talk about the challenges shaping tomorrow’s designs.

If you’ll be attending, stop by Booth #205 and say hello. Our team would love to connect, learn about what you’re working on, and talk about how Allstar supports customers from early design and prototyping through scalable manufacturing.

Want to make the most of your time at APEC? Reach out now to schedule a dedicated meeting with our team at the show. sales@allstarmagnetics.com

Discipline Over Noise: Lessons on Leadership, Luck, and Long-Term Success

February 2026: Issue 6

Discipline Over Noise: Lessons on Leadership, Luck, and Long-Term Success

By Tyee Harpster, President & CEO

Pretty much anyone who knows me understands that golf is a cornerstone sport in my life. As I get older, the chance to be humbled, work on improvement, and enjoy social and competitive time outside has become especially meaningful.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t the focus on golf that caught my attention when I was reading The New York Times this week. What stopped me was how quickly the article shifted into data, statistical bias, and the psychological role of ego. I’m not sure I even paid enough attention to the golfer himself—it was the contrarian thinking that had my interest from the start.

The article reinforced something I believe deeply: winning isn’t about chasing noise or shortcuts—it’s about staying disciplined, trusting your core values, and focusing on the fundamentals, especially when the pressure is on. The data suggests there is a large degree of randomness in results. We tend to attribute success to skill and failure to a lack of ability. In reality, accepting that outcomes are often influenced by chance—when you know the foundational disciplines are being met—is a far more accurate and healthier approach.

That same principle applies well beyond sports. I recently took time to sit with a segment of our Sales Team, read the article together, and discuss its implications. It was energizing to hear their takeaways as they related to working with customers, our people, and our suppliers. Time and again, success and failure were tied back to the quality and consistency of foundational work.

Understanding what those fundamentals look like across different customers and market segments was powerful. And perhaps most importantly, the discussion reinforced a simple truth: when you stay true to who you are, you attract the right partners. At Allstar, strong partnerships—built on shared values—are what ultimately drive sustainable success.

Read the New York Times article that sparked this conversation

Case Study Spotlight: Neodymium Magnet Solutions

Neodymium magnets are at the core of many high-performance electromagnetic systems—where strength, precision, and reliability matter most. In this case study, we highlight how Allstar Magnetics applies an engineering-led, manufacturable approach to neodymium magnet assemblies, helping customers move efficiently from concept to production.
 
By combining modular design options, in-stock components, and deep application expertise, Allstar delivers solutions that reduce lead times, control costs, and support scalable production across demanding applications. This case study offers a closer look at how thoughtful magnet design and manufacturing discipline come together to solve real-world challenges.

Read the Neodymium Magnet Case Study