Method and apparatus for magnetizing a permanent magnet

A method of making a permanent magnet body, comprising:

• providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks;
• magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body;
• and
• heating the first precursor body above room temperature during the step of magnetizing, wherein the step of heating comprises heating the first precursor body to a temperature of about 40 to about 200° C.

A method of making a permanent magnet body, comprising:

• providing a first precursor body having a shape suitable for use in an imaging system;
• applying a pulsed magnetic field having a first magnitude and a first direction to the first precursor body to convert the first precursor body to the first permanent magnet body having a shape suitable for use in an imaging system;
• and
• providing at least one recoil pulse having a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude in a second direction opposite from the first direction to the first permanent magnet body.

A method of making a permanent magnet body, comprising:

• providing a first precursor body;
• placing a pulsed magnet adjacent to the first precursor body;
• and
• magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body by energizing the pulsed magnet from a power supply comprising at least one battery.

A method of making a permanent magnet body, comprising:

• assembling a plurality of blocks of unmagnetized precursor material to form a first precursor body;
• attaching the first precursor body to a support of an imaging device;
• heating the precursor body above room temperature;
• energizing a pulsed magnet from a power supply comprising at least one battery and applying a pulsed magnetic field to the first precursor body during the step of heating and after the step of attaching to convert the first precursor body to a first permanent magnet body;
• and
• applying at least one recoil pulse to the first permanent magnet body after the step of applying the pulsed magnetic field.