Magnetic levitation is a beautiful thing worth paying attention to. Watching the seemingly small objects hanging in the air sway and never grow old. If you want to be properly distracted at your own desk, Consider building this levitation turbine [JGJMatt].
The construction uses a combination of 3D printed parts and metal rods to form the basic frame. The turbine is also 3D printed, which can easily create complex geometries for curved fins. Then insert the rare earth magnet into the part to create a levitation effect. Two magnets are mounted on each frame member, and one magnet is inserted into each end of the turbine. When properly aligned, the turbine will hover over the frame and can rotate freely with little friction.
A functional concession is to insert the sewing needle of the turbine. This presses on a part of the frame to prevent the turbine from being completely pushed out of the magnetic field. If you pay great attention to the details of the alignment, the pins may be eliminated, but it will make the system more robust and reliable.
Floating in a magnetic field, a simple stream of air is enough to spin a turbine for a period of time. It is a fascinating desktop decoration, and it can be patched by changing the turbine blades to obtain different properties. This may be boring, but on a larger scale, magnetic levitation is used for more important purposes, such as high-speed transportation. Video after the break.