Neodymium

[UROK]

Interesting. Any links to that info, Greg?

[LelandCrooks]

Auto mfg's are taking steps to insulate themselves.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/ ... ors?page=2

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Auto mfg's are taking steps to insulate themselves.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/ ... ors?page=2

The induction motor is analogous to the field coil driver, which also might make a return appearance. It could be interesting paired with Class D amps.

[jcmbowman]

Much of the spike in prices is due to the chinese decision to restrict exports and begin tooling up to produce parts using neodymium rather than just being an exporter of raw materials. As usually happens i cases like this, the market had an initial panic period, and now we are seeing the prices stabilize as processes downstream re-adjust to compensate for the increased price. The same way that more of us have switched to the Lab drivers over the neo drivers, many manufacturers that were reliant on inexpensive neodymium have found workarounds. Basic economics and the law of supply and demand.

I doubt we'll ever see prices for neo-based drivers go back to where they were, but I'd expect to see them stabilize somewhere between 120-160% of their previous prices.

In the long-term, there are already mining companies in other parts of the world that are in the process of completing studies on the feasibility and logistics of opening (or in some cases re-opening) mines outside of China.

[Gregory East]

Interesting. Any links to that info, Greg?

I looked at a 3015LF magnet. The percentage of neo in it is about 30%, came out to less than 20 dollars worth of neo metal in it at the old price according to your link.

Triple the price for the neo, without anything else going haywire in the great papershuffle, and the price of a 3015LF goes up by 40 dollars. Ever feel like you're being had?

[el_ingeniero]

Interesting. Any links to that info, Greg?

I looked at a 3015LF magnet. The percentage of neo in it is about 30%, came out to less than 20 dollars worth of neo metal in it at the old price according to your link.

Triple the price for the neo, without anything else going haywire in the great papershuffle, and the price of a 3015LF goes up by 40 dollars. Ever feel like you're being had?

Cost of good sold goes up by $40. Gross margin has to go up along with COGS to keep overall profit margins the same.

This is why we don't like monopolists. For those of you that wear eyeglasses, did you know that you are paying probably 10 times as much for them as you would if there was a competitive market for them?

[bzb]

Not me. I use zennioptical. My last 6 pairs of glasses have averaged $30, and are poly lenses, all the coatings, nice frames.

[Rick Lee]

When I was a music minister in CA a member of our church that was an optometrist did the church staff's eye exams for free and sold us glasses and contacts at cost. My wife's soft lenses cost $3 a box and my hard lenses which normally were over $100 were I think $20 dollars.

Not me. I use zennioptical. My last 6 pairs of glasses have averaged $30, and are poly lenses, all the coatings, nice frames.

That looks like some nice prices- however, I have to have hi index so even there it's over $100.

[Bruce Weldy]

Not me. I use zennioptical. My last 6 pairs of glasses have averaged $30, and are poly lenses, all the coatings, nice frames.

Thanks for that website....I just ordered some glasses - had a prescription for a year that I've been sitting on.....now hopefully, the TV will look better!

[UROK]

Thanks for that website....I just ordered some glasses - had a prescription for a year that I've been sitting on.....now hopefully, the TV will look better!

Bruce, sorry mate but that's the microwave you've been watching!

[Bruce Weldy]

Thanks for that website....I just ordered some glasses - had a prescription for a year that I've been sitting on.....now hopefully, the TV will look better!

Bruce, sorry mate but that's the microwave you've been watching!

hmmmm......wondered why the screen was so small......and why it was in the kitchen.

[UROK]

Thanks for that website....I just ordered some glasses - had a prescription for a year that I've been sitting on.....now hopefully, the TV will look better!

Bruce, sorry mate but that's the microwave you've been watching!

hmmmm......wondered why the screen was so small......and why it was in the kitchen.

Just don't try heating up Heinz baked beans in the TV! Terrible mess!

[Rick Lee]

Well, I think they ought to make glasses out of neodymium- then everyone would be attracted to you...

[jswingchun]

Well, I think they ought to make glasses out of neodymium- then everyone would be attracted to you...

At least old ladies with artificial hips would be...

[bzb]

Not me. I use zennioptical. My last 6 pairs of glasses have averaged $30, and are poly lenses, all the coatings, nice frames.

Thanks for that website....I just ordered some glasses - had a prescription for a year that I've been sitting on.....now hopefully, the TV will look better!

Glad you could use em. We have a local radio guy here, Clark Howard (who's got a show on Headline News), who has raved about them for years. I finally tried them a few years ago and love it.

Keep in mind they do take a good 3 weeks to a month to get back to you. You'll just need to get a 70" TV in the meantime.