MetMo Eddy Turns a Magnet’s Slow Fall Into a Desk Toy
MetMo Eddy is a palm-sized copper cylinder that demonstrates eddy currents by slowing a magnetic sphere as it drops through the tube. The effect comes from currents induced in the conductive copper, which create a magnetic field opposing the fall. The toy is CNC-machined from high-purity lead-free copper and requires no batteries.
MetMo Eddy is a compact copper desk object designed by Sean Sykes and James Whitfield. A magnetic sphere descends through its tube far more slowly than usual because changing magnetic conditions induce circular currents in the surrounding metal. Those currents generate an opposing magnetic field, a phenomenon linked to Léon Foucault’s 1855 observations and later used in braking and sensing technologies.
The tube is CNC-machined from lead-free, high-purity copper, hand-finished in the UK, and needs no power source. It stands just under three inches tall, weighs about three ounces, and includes knurled end caps, a viewing window, and an optional coupling for linking two tubes. A passivated surface helps delay natural oxidation. Price: $109.
MetMo Eddy may appeal mainly to desk-toy collectors, design enthusiasts, and science educators. By making eddy currents visible, it could turn an abstract physics concept into a tactile conversation piece, perhaps sparking curiosity in classrooms or offices. Its $109 price and niche function suggest limited mass impact, though it may reinforce demand for premium, battery-free mechanical objects and small-batch UK manufacturing.