The most surprising element of this automated magnet insertion system is the ability to insert magnets directly into a print while the printer is running. The maker has created a hardware and software add-on called MagnetPlace for the Bambu Lab A1 3D printer to automate this placement.
The assembly relies on 3D-printed parts including a Top Frame and a rigid vertical Support Tower mounted to the printer frame. Components include a detachable Magnet Dispenser and a Toolhead Mod clipped onto the print head. This system features a dual Magnet Magazine holding stacks of neodymium disc magnets. The magazine accommodates diameters ranging from 3 mm to 8 mm and heights up to 5 mm.
Operation involves the printer pausing at a layer height. The toolhead then picks up the dispenser and pulls a magnet with a specified polarity from the magazine. The magnet is dropped into a pocket inside the printed model. The dispenser docks back onto the top frame, and the printing continues. A potential issue noted is that printing mating sides simultaneously will cause the polarities to repel. The maker recommends using a stainless steel nozzle since it is not magnetic. It remains an open question whether a hardened nozzle would affect the retention of the magnets.
Project by MagnetPlace. Watch it on their YouTube channel: