US Patent 7314530 Press and magnet manufacturing method

A press machine 10 includes a die 12 with a through hole 12a that defines a cavity, a first press surface 14a and a second press surface 16a for pressing a magnetic powder 18 loaded in the cavity, and magnetic field generating means for applying an aligning magnetic field to the magnetic powder 18 in the cavity. At least one of the first and second press surfaces 14a and 16a has a region made of a material having a Vickers hardness that is higher than 200 but equal to or lower than 450. In pressing the powder under the aligning magnetic field, the press machine 10 minimizes the disturbance in the orientation of the powder.