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Linear motors move in more directions
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15/10/2007
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Dutch electronics giant Philips has developed a way of moving linear motors along two axes.
The company says its NForcer technology will allow designers to cut the number of motors and electronic drive modules in systems such as ‘pick-and-place’ machines that assemble electronic printed circuit boards
In a conventional linear motor, current-carrying conductors are arranged in coils, with only the vertical sides of the coils in the magnetic field – so the motor only generates lateral motion. Philips researchers have shifted the position of the coils so that the lower horizontal section of the coils also sits in the magnetic field, generating force and allowing consequent motion in the vertical direction.
By reducing the mass of moving parts, it will also allow designers to produce designs that achieve higher accelerations and operating speeds.
The technology was showcased this week at the American Society for Precision Engineering’s annual meeting in Texas.
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Author
Lou Reade
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