A linear motor could be thought of as rotary electric motor that has been cut along a radial plane and unrolled. The resultant linear servo motor is an electromagnetic direct drive linear motor that can produce linear motion electrically and without contacting parts, eliminating backlash, windup, wear, and maintenance issues. Linear motion is generated without the need of pneumatic, hydraulic cylinders, or translation of rotary to linear motion with the use of gearboxes, spindles, belts, rack and pinion, or screws.
Linear motors are currently used inside robots, actuators, precision tables/stages, fiberoptics and photonics alignment and positioning, assembly, pick and place systems, machine tools, semiconductor equipment, electronic manufacturing, inspection systems requiring responsive control at high bandwidths, vision systems, and in many other industrial motion control applications.
H2W Technologies manufactures a large selection of linear motors and linear motion components. H2W is a leader in linear motion technology, developing custom motors for a variety or industries and applications. There are a number of different types of linear motors that we manufacture, each with their own benefits
Brushless
DC brushless linear motors provide non-contact operation for maintenance-free operation. Available in both ironless (cog-free) and iron core versions. They are capable of high speed and high acceleration motion profiles. They can be driven using standard 3 phase brushless servo amplifiers. Brushless linear motors can achieve an acceleration of up to 12 g’s, and speeds in excess of 200+ inches per second [5+ m/s].
Brush
DC brush linear motors are ideal for long stroke, open or closed loop servo, linear motion applications. They can be used at speeds up to 100 in/sec [2.5 m/sec] and as low as 1 in/sec [25 mm/sec]. They are capable of very precise position, velocity, and acceleration control when coupled with a linear encoder.
Voice Coil
DC voice coil actuators are ideal for short stroke (typically less than 2 inches) closed loop servo applications. Their compact size allows them to fit into small spaces. They have very low electrical and mechanical time constants. The low moving mass allows for high accelerations of light payloads. They are available in both moving coil and moving magnet versions.
Linear Stepper
Linear stepper motors are used in both open loop and closed loop positioning applications. Since the positioning is built into the forcer and platen, no additional feedback devices are required which reduces the overall cost of a system. For open loop operation, no servo tuning is necessary. Multiple forcers can operate on a single platen. With linear steppers, acceleration of 1 g and speeds up to 100 in/sec [2.5 m/s] are typical. They are available in both single-axis and dual-axis versions.
Linear Induction
The flat AC linear induction motor (LIM) is typically run directly off of 3 phase line voltage, with an adjustable frequency, or vector drive if speed control is required. Accelerations of up to 1 g with speeds in excess of 1800 inches per second [45 m/s] are possible with LIMs. They are ideal for high speed, long travel applications moving heavy payloads.
Polynoid
The tubular AC linear induction motor (polynoid) is typically run directly off of single or 3 phase line voltage. Accelerations greater than 1 g are possible with polynoids. They are ideal for short stroke, low duty cycle applications. They can be used to replace air cylinders when compressed air is not available.
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Image |
Positioning Type |
Force @100% Duty |
Force @10% Duty |
Max Stroke |
Max Velocity* |
Max Accel.* |
Amplifier or
Drive Type |
Bearing Type |
Options |
Brushless
(Ironless) |
 |
Closed Loop |
1-200 lbs
[5-900 N] |
3-600 lbs
[15-2700 N] |
Unlimited |
240 ips
[6 m/s] |
12 g's |
3 Phase Brushless Servo, Trapezoidal or Sinusoidal |
Customer Supplied |
Air, Water Cooling |
Brushless
(Iron Core) |
 |
Closed Loop |
15-1200 lbs
[60-2500 N] |
45-3600 lbs
[180-7500 N] |
Unlimited |
240 ips
[6 m/s] |
12 g's |
3 Phase Brushless Servo, Trapezoidal or Sinusoidal |
Customer Supplied |
Air, Water Cooling |
| Brush |
|
|
Closed Loop |
4-60 lbs
[15-275 N] |
12-180 lbs
[45-825 N] |
96 in
[2450 mm] |
100 ips
[2.5 m/s] |
6 g's |
Brush Type PWM Servo |
Customer Supplied |
Stationary Cables, Water Cooling |
Voice Coil
(Moving Coil) |
|
Open & Closed Loop |
0.05-600 lbs
[0.2-4500 N] |
0.15-1800 lbs
[0.6-13500 N] |
4 in
[100 mm] |
50 ips
[1.27 m/s] |
20 g's |
Linear/PWM Servo |
Customer Supplied, Linear Bushing |
Mounting, Windings, Transducers |
Voice Coil
(Moving Magnet) |
|
Open & Closed Loop |
0.05-600 lbs
[0.2-4500 N] |
0.15-1800 lbs
[0.6-13500 N] |
4 in
[100 mm] |
50 ips
[1.27 m/s] |
20 g's |
Linear/PWM Servo |
Customer Supplied, Linear Bushing |
Mounting, Windings, Transducers |
| Single Axis Linear Stepper |
|
Open & Closed Loop |
2-50 lbs
[9-225 N] |
2-50 lbs
[9-225 N] |
144 in
[3.6 m] |
80 ips
[2 m/s] |
1 g |
Microstepping |
Air, Roller |
Mounting, Cables, 2 and 4 Phase |
| Dual Axis Linear Stepper |
|
Open & Closed Loop |
1.5-30 lbs
[6-140 N] |
1.5-30 lbs
[6-140 N] |
20 x 20 in
[0.5 x 0.5 m] |
80 ips
[2 m/s] |
1 g |
Microstepping |
Air |
Mounting, Cables, 2 and 4 Phase |
| Linear Induction |
|
|
Open Loop |
1-80 lbs
[4-360 N] |
5.5-440 lbs
[22-1980 N] |
Unlimited |
1800 ips
[45 m/s] |
2 g's |
AC Line Voltage, Variable Frequency, Vector Drive |
Customer Supplied |
Air Cooling |
| Polynoid |
|
|
Open Loop |
1-9 lbs
[4-40 N] |
5.5-49.5 lbs
[22-220 N] |
120 in
[3 m] |
270 ips
[6 m/s] |
2 g's |
AC Line Voltage, Variable Frequency, Vector Drive |
Customer Supplied |
Air Cooling |
* = Max values depend on motor size and bus voltage available. Please contact factory to discuss application requirements.
