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Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

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Re: Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

#2
"rare earth metals" aren't "rare" to the USA

They are "rare" per ton of earth in general

So it's just that mining them is so labor intensive and so toxic (uranium and other radioactivity) that it is expensive outside of places like China.

Automate that with bots or whatnot and maybe we don't have to invade Canada and Greenland and start WW3

Re: Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

#5
post #2

"rare earth metals" aren't "rare" to the USA They are "rare" per ton of earth in general So it's just that mining them is so labor intensive and so toxic (uranium and other radioactivity) that it is expensive outside of places like China. Automate that with bots or whatnot and maybe we don't have to invade Canada and Greenland and start WW3

I think we could just regulate the industry properly and then find out what the actual cost is. It may have to be subsidized. With that said, I wouldn't want any new mining operations started in my state.

Re: Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

#6
post #2

"rare earth metals" aren't "rare" to the USA They are "rare" per ton of earth in general So it's just that mining them is so labor intensive and so toxic (uranium and other radioactivity) that it is expensive outside of places like China. Automate that with bots or whatnot and maybe we don't have to invade Canada and Greenland and start WW3

I know you're being facetious but it's also worth spelling out somewhat explicitly as well: the US has never had a supply problem like that because through effective diplomacy and alliances it has commanded an excellent position to negotiate as a preferred trade partner through its world leading expertise in many areas and the export of its military spending as a security partner which up till very recently ensured alliances like NATO would prioritise these sorts of issues in its favour.

The very recent turn of "we must literally own this territory" has been the surest possible way to create a crisis where none existed.

Re: Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

#7
It seems amazing it has taken this long. Electric motors are so critical to national security, as well as the US economy.

I keep wondering if these folks have a realistic alternative: https://www.nironmagnetics.com/ (They claim high performance rare earth free magnets.)

Re: Advanced Magnet Manufacturing Begins in the United States

#10
Any motor experts here? Why are they chasing rare earth metals in the first place? In the end, the mines are going to be in China anyway, right? Why don't we design around rare earth magnets in the first place?

Synchronous reluctance motors where torque density isn't a strict requirement, and brushless separately excited synchronous motors (synchro motor with electromagnets on the rotor) for high torque/energy density applications?

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