Bar and crucible magnetic suspension for a crystal-growing apparatus

In an apparatus for growing a crystal member in the form of a bar along a crystal growth axis from molten material from a source member, the improvement which comprises in combination:

• an elongated magnetizable core connected to one of said members and extending generally along said axis;
• an axial stabilization magnet magnetically coupled to said core for effecting axial positioned of said core;
• and
• at least one radial stabilizer for said core, said stabilizer comprising:
• a plurality of electromagnets radially juxtaposed with said core, spaced therefrom and angularly spaced around said core,
• an electric control unit connected to said electromagnets for automatically adjusting the fields of the electromagnets to precisely position the core with concentricity with respect to said electromagnets, and
• position sensing means responsive to the radial spacing of said core from said electromagnets and connected to said electric control unit for inducing changes in said fields of said electromagnets to maintain said core radially in position during the crystal growing of said bar and independently of the operation of said axial stabilization magnet for effecting axial positioning of said core.