Sintered　NdFeB-based　permanent　magnets　were　fabricated　by　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　and　a　conventional　method　to　investigate　the　mechanical　and　magnetic　properties.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　sintered　NdFeB　magnet　prepared　by　the　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS　NdFeB)　possesses　a　better　mechanical　properties　compared　to　the　conventionally　sintered　one,　of　which　the　maximum　value　of　bending　strength　and　Vickers　hardness　was　402.3　MPa　and　778.1　MPa,　respectively.　The　effects　of　sintering　temperature　on　bending　strength　and　Vickers　hardness　were　investigated.　It　was　shown　that　the　bending　strength　firstly　increases　to　the　maximum　value　and　then　decreases　with　the　increase　of　sintering　temperature　in　a　certain　range.　The　investigations　of　microstructures　and　mechanical　properties　indicated　that　the　unique　sintering　mechanism　in　the　SPS　process　is　responsible　for　the　improvement　of　mechanical　properties　of　SPS　NdFeB.　Furthermore,　the　relations　between　the　mechanical　properties　and　relevant　microstructure　have　been　analyzed　based　on　the　experimental　fact.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.