Using etching techniques such as focused ion beam milling, micro- or nano-sized pillars can be formed in magnetic materials. However, repeated bending of crystal pillars can cause defect formation and fatigue damage. This damage comes from the nucleation of cracks on the pillars surface, even in the elastic regime, due to localized plasticity. Crack propagation during successive compression and tension cycles can lead to pillar fracture. This is similar to what can be seen in cantilever magnetometry when operating under strong fields. Because of this, it is desirable to link smaller magnetic particles together with tougher, elastic materials, such as a polymer, rather than use a continuous alloy filament.