Nd 1−x Sm x ) 5 Fe 17 and (Nd 1−x Sm x ) 5 (Fe 1−y Ti y ) 17 samples were prepared by arc melting and then annealed in vacuum. For the Nd-rich samples, Nd 5 Fe 17 type structure was obtained by a long annealing (600 • C, 48 d); for the Sm-rich samples, it was obtained by a short annealing (750-900 • C, 1 d). With increasing Sm content, the easy magnetization direction converts from the basal plane to the c-axis. An easy-c-axis anisotropy is observed at room temperature for x 0.3. A small amount of Ti favours the formation of Nd 5 Fe 17 type structure only in the Sm-rich samples. It destroys this structure in the Nd-rich samples.