# --score > --score — part of the WholeTech network. Part of the WholeTech network. Built **Agents First** (https://agentsfirst.dev): designed to be read and used by AI agents, not just humans. ## Machine-readable (Agents First surfaces) - [AGENTS.md](https://wholemagnetics.com/AGENTS.md) · [openapi.json](https://wholemagnetics.com/openapi.json) · [MCP card](https://wholemagnetics.com/.well-known/mcp-server-card.json) · [ai-plugin.json](https://wholemagnetics.com/.well-known/ai-plugin.json) - [glossary.json](https://wholemagnetics.com/api/glossary.json) · [principles.json](https://wholemagnetics.com/api/principles.json) ## About --score is part of the WholeTech network (https://wholetech.com). Guiding principle: Agents First. ## Answers: coded and multipole magnets (added 2026-10-04) Plain, sourced answers for engineers and product designers. Polymagnet facts come from polymagnet.com public pages. - [All 25 answers](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/) - [What is a coded magnet?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/what-is-a-coded-magnet/): A coded magnet is a permanent magnet whose face carries a designed pattern of many small north and south regions, instead of one north face and one south face. - [How do correlated magnets differ from conventional magnets?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/correlated-vs-conventional-magnets/): A conventional magnet has one north pole and one south pole. - [Who manufactures programmable magnets?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/who-makes-programmable-magnets/): The company that created the category is Correlated Magnetics Research (CMR) in Huntsville, Alabama, which sells programmable magnets under the Polymagnet name. - [What is a Polymagnet?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/what-is-a-polymagnet/): Polymagnet is the trade name Correlated Magnetics Research (CMR) uses for its programmable magnets. - [What is a maxel?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/what-is-a-maxel/): A maxel is a magnetic pixel: one of the small magnetized regions printed across the face of a coded magnet. - [What is the difference between a multipole magnet, a Halbach array and a coded magnet?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/multipole-vs-halbach-vs-coded-magnet/): All three shape a magnetic field on purpose, but they do it differently and suit different jobs.. - [How does a multipole magnet's pull force compare with a conventional magnet of the same size?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/multipole-magnet-pull-force-vs-size/): At contact, and on the right target, a patterned magnet can hold much harder than a conventional magnet of the same size and grade. - [How do you get precise, repeatable alignment with magnets?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/precise-alignment-with-magnets/): Ordinary magnets are poor at alignment. - [Magnetic latch vs mechanical latch: which should I use?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnetic-latch-vs-mechanical-latch/): A mechanical latch holds by geometry: a hook, pawl or detent physically blocks movement. - [What is a magnetic spring and how does it work?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnetic-spring/): 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.. - [How do you make a rotational detent with magnets?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnetic-detent/): A detent is the click you feel as a knob, dial or hinge passes set positions. - [How do twist-to-release magnets work?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/twist-to-release-magnets/): A strong magnet is easy to attach and hard to pull straight off. - [Can strong magnets be used near a compass, credit card or sensitive electronics?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnets-near-electronics-compass-credit-card/): Strong conventional magnets are a problem inside thin devices. - [Why do magnets slide down vertical surfaces, and how do you increase shear holding force?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnetic-shear-force-vertical-surfaces/): A magnet on a wall is loaded in shear, not in pull. - [How are coded or programmable magnets made?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/how-are-coded-magnets-made/): Coded magnets start as ordinary magnets. - [What software is used to design magnet pole patterns?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/coded-magnet-design-software/): General magnetics simulation is usually done with finite element tools, which model fields and forces for any geometry. - [How much do coded magnets cost, and how fast can you prototype one?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/coded-magnet-prototype-cost-and-lead-time/): Catalog parts are inexpensive. - [What temperatures can coded magnets handle?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/coded-magnet-temperature-range/): A coded magnet has the temperature limits of the material it is printed on. - [What materials and coatings are coded magnets made from?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/coded-magnet-materials-and-coatings/): Correlated Magnetics Research prints its patterns on three material families, according to its FAQ: sintered neodymium (NdFeB), sintered samarium cobalt (SmCo), and flexible NdFeB, which CMR says is. - [How should coded magnets be mounted, and how big can the gap be?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/magnet-mounting-and-air-gap/): Mounting and gap matter more for patterned magnets than for conventional ones, because the field is concentrated close to the surface.. - [How can you see the pole pattern on a magnet?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/see-a-magnet-pole-pattern/): Use magnetic viewing film. - [Why do magnet pull force ratings overstate real-world holding force?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/why-magnet-pull-force-ratings-overstate/): Most published pull figures are measured in ideal conditions that a product rarely reproduces.. - [Can coded magnets levitate or make frictionless bearings?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/can-coded-magnets-levitate/): Not by themselves. - [Who invented coded magnets?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/who-invented-coded-magnets/): Coded, or correlated, magnets were developed by Correlated Magnetics Research (CMR), founded in 2008 and based in Huntsville, Alabama. - [Do coded magnets lose strength or wear out over time?](https://wholemagnetics.com/answers/do-coded-magnets-wear-out/): Not under normal conditions. ## Applications: where coded magnets fit (added 2026-10-04) - [Application library](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/) - [Consumer electronics and mobile accessories](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/consumer-electronics/): Phones, tablets, 2-in-1 keyboards, peripherals and cords that need small magnets with strong, aligned, electronics-safe holds. - [Wearables](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/wearables/): Bands, cases and clip-on devices that need quick connect, quick release and self-alignment in a small, light package. - [IoT devices, cameras and sensors](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/iot-device-mounting/): Web cams, sensors and detectors mounted on walls and ceilings that need to move, update or re-aim without tools. - [Magnetic sensing and controls](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/magnetic-sensing/): Hall-effect position sensing, rotary controls and dials where the magnet pattern is part of the sensor design. - [Aerospace and space](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/aerospace-and-space/): Release mechanisms and fluid couplers where reliability, fewer parts and extreme temperatures matter. - [Positioning devices and optics](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/positioning-and-optics/): Tripods, cameras, scopes, laser pointers and optics that need the same position every time without recalibration. - [Magnetic couplings and torque transfer](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/magnetic-couplings/): Transmitting torque across an air gap or sealed wall without contact. - [Vehicle attachment](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/vehicle-attachment/): Signs, ski and bike racks and tie-down points attached to the sheet metal of cars and trucks. - [Retail fixtures and displays](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/retail-fixtures/): Shelves, racks and displays that store teams can reconfigure without tools. - [Home and building products](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/home-and-building-products/): Cabinet and drawer latches, storm shutters and wall hanging systems for homes and buildings. - [Power tools and organization systems](https://wholemagnetics.com/applications/tools-and-organization/): Quick-swap tool attachments and wall systems that hold heavy items in garages, workshops and homes.