There are many types of linear motors including stepper, DC brushed and brushless servo, inductance and AC Synchronous. Only a few have been economically viable. Brushless DC (also known as AC Synchronous) linear motors have found the widest acceptance in industrial applications because of their superior performance in precision positioning applications.

If you have a typical precision positioning application, then the DC brushless servo motor is a logical choice. Brushed motors should not be used due to the problems associated with brush wear and heat generated at the interface. Stepper motors cannot be tuned to the load or position feedback easily applied. This limits them to very light loads, usually less than 20 lbs. The requirements that usually point to a linear motor are long life or number of cycles, high speed, very precise positioning, no wear, low noise, clean room or vacuum compatibility, and low maintenance. Induction motors do not use magnets but are not as efficient of brushless motors. The Induction motors

Trilogy Ironless motors have no laminations. Ironless motors have useful advantages from no magnetic attraction, higher responsiveness due to lower inductances, lighter weight motors and stages and no detrimental effect from misalignment. Ironcore motors have laminations and employ a different magnetic flux circuit than Ironless motors. Ironcore motors provide much higher forces and over longer travels cost less due to half the number of magnets used. Their disadvantage is a large attraction force between the coil and track. This force puts a large load on the linear bearings. Slotless motors have some laminations to help focus the magnetic flux. They have a much smaller attractive force than Ironcore motors but are also less efficient. Their main feature is a lower cost.

All of the Trilogy ironless motors have no interaction or attractive force between the coil and magnet track. Ironless motors only produce force in the direction of travel. Therefore, the coil must be rigidly attached to an external bearing support to hold it in place. It is not floating or otherwise magnetically levitated. Ironcore and Slotless motors have both an attractive force and a linear force.

Several specific areas should be investigated. These include dimensional accuracy, repeatability from motor to motor, quality of workmanship, rugged industrial design, expertise in the overall systems design and a quality program to ensure that proper testing is performed before the product is shipped. Trilogy has been building linear motors since 1987. It's all we do so we do it well.

Skewing the magnets in ironcore linear motor designs is a tradeoff between lowering motor efficiency to attain less ripple force.  Rotary brushless DC motors have long used this technique for the same reason. Trilogy ironcore motors use the patent pending Anti-Cog technology and do not skew the magnets.

For Trilogy Motors, three phase brushless amplifiers are used. Either linear or PWM amplifiers can be used. Linear amplifiers are best for extreme smoothness requirements and no EMI noise. PWM amplifiers are used where high force or power is required. Our engineers can help select the best amplifier.

110, 210, and 310 motors have one 360⁰ electrical cycle equal to 2.40" of travel. For 410 motors, 360⁰ =3.36" of travel. The R5, R7 and R9 motors have a 40mm electrical cycle. The M50, R10, and R16 motors have a 60mm electrical cycle.

No. The magnets used are rare earth permanent magnets. They will only lose their strength if the temperature gets too high. This temperature is about 100⁰ C.

Maybe and Yes. Our motors have never been used in underwater applications. They are unaffected however by cutting fluids and oils.

Yes. Ideally, you will also want to use a counterbalance. Experience has shown the pneumatic counterbalance to provide the best performance.  Failsafe linear brakes are also available.

For ironless motor, it's not important at all. Trilogy Ironless motors are completely unaffected by misalignment provided the motor coil is not rubbing on the magnet track. We have provided a generous clearance between coil and track, so all you have to do is bolt it down and go. No tweaking is required. This also means that if a coil ever fails, then it can be quickly replaced without regard for any realignment procedures, shims etc. Ironcore motors require that the air gap be maintained at about 0.8-1.0mm. A slightly lesser or greater gap will change the force constant of the motor. The gap tolerance for Slotless motor is also 1mm but is more tolerant of variation than the Ironcore motors.

Yes and No. The coils are identical having exactly the same number of turns. The magnet tracks can see a variation in magnet strengths of 3-5% from one manufactured lot to the next. All magnets will meet the minimal magnet specification. Normally, their strength exceeds the minimum.