Compact Double-Sided Modular Linear Motor
for Narrow Industrial Applications
Loránd Szabo, Dan-Cristian Popa, Vasile Iancu
Department of Electrical Machines, Technical University of Cluj, Romania
Abstract—Linear drive technologies are steadily expanded
in various applications, especially in industry, where high
precision electrical direct drive systems are required. In this
paper a double-sided variant of a novel direct driven
modular permanent magnet linear motor is presented. Its
characteristics are computed by means of 3D FEM magnetic
field analysis. An interesting industrial application in which
it can be used is also presented.
I.
INTRODUCTION
The field of linear electrical machines is widely
expanding. Numerous practical applications in diverse
areas having dynamic markets have already taken in
study. This tendency is expected to continuously increase
in the coming years [1]. Therefore any new results in this
field could be of real interest for the specialists round the
world.
The transverse flux motors (TFM) are relatively
newcomers in the class of the special electric machines.
They offer very high force/volume densities, but generally
have complicated construction with sophisticated 3D flux
paths. Therefore their iron core must be constructed of
expensive soft magnetic composites (SMC).
In this paper a new modular permanent magnet linear
motor is presented and analyzed by means of 3D finite
elements method (FEM) based numeric field computation.
The proposed linear motor structure in spite of its
transverse magnetic flux machine characteristics is
relatively simple and can be built up of low cost materials
(the mover of classical steel sheets and the platen of
massive iron), avoiding the use of expensive SMC [2].
Its double-sided structure eliminates the high attracting
forces between the stator and the moving armature of the
linear machine. As its coil's end-windings are placed in
the direction of the movement they are very compact and
thin, hence they can be used also