this post was submitted on 06 May 2026
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Idk it might use magnetic brake pads. I have used them in other fields & they are pretty nifty. The ones I used created eddy currents & had not mechanical wear. For my project the mechanical brake had a ~10 year lifespan while the magnetic brake could last ~50 years. Also the mag brake was only 30% more expensive but didn’t need maintenance & would be significantly cheaper if you took the lifespan of the project.
https://magnetictech.com/hysteresis-brakes/
Can eddy current brakes bring something to a full stop? I thought the fin brakes in roller coasters are eddy current brakes, but isn’t there a physics limitation that prevents them from fully stopping the coaster?
In the real world yes-ish. In the case of a a roller coaster or car the eddy currents bring the speed to near 0 & the rolling friction brings it to a complete stop. The issue is an eddy current braking system can’t keep something at rest. That’s why the roller coaster has a physical brake to keep the ride in place when people are getting on. There are other types of magnetic brakes/ contactless brakes, I just don’t know much about them. My company used the eddy current brakes to limit fall speeds to a safe level if a specific part fell during an emergency.
They're used for some trains now, though I think that a lot of them have since switched to rheostat or regenerative braking instead.