Cast Alnico can be processed to be intricate and complex shapes to meet customers demand.Some types of Alnico are isotropic, meaning they can be efficiently magnetized in any direction. Other types, such as Alnico 5 and Alnico 8 are anisotropic, meaning they have a preferred direction of magnetization, orientation. Anisotropic magnets generally have a greater magnetic capacity in their preferred orientation than isotropic. Anisotropic Alnico magnets are oriented by heating them above a critical temperature, and cooling them in the presence of a magnetic field.