A magnetic spring is a pair of magnets that resists being pushed together and resists being pulled apart, so the two parts come to rest at a set distance with no contact.
Two conventional magnets cannot do this: facing one way they attract all the way to contact, facing the other way they repel. Correlated Magnetics Research makes Spring Polymagnets by patterning the faces so that attraction dominates at longer range and repulsion dominates at short range. The pair settles where the two balance. CMR's design note says the pair rests at an equilibrium distance, repels when pushed and pulls back when separated.
Two conditions apply. Spring pairs do not align themselves, so they must be constrained and centered, typically with a guide rod or slide; CMR's catalog includes a brass constraining rod. And physics rules out free levitation: Earnshaw's theorem means static magnets cannot hold a stable hover on their own, which CMR's FAQ also points out.
Uses include contactless suspension and soft-close travel. CMR notes spring pairs also damp vibration between the two parts and can be tuned as a vibration isolator. Its home page mentions linear magnetic springs for tablet designs, where the goal is a feel that is neither too weak nor too sticky. The catalog spring part is a 1 inch ring pair rated short-range repel.
WholeMagnetics, 2026-10-04. Polymagnet facts are taken from Correlated Magnetics Research’s public pages, listed below; vendor performance figures are CMR’s own.