Shaft motor takes a new approach to actuation

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 27, 2004

Shaft motors are a new generation of actuators based on a very simple construction.

Shaft motors are a new generation of actuators based on a very simple construction that has drives which use magnetic circuits consisting only of permanent magnets and coils, and subsequently produces a wide range of characteristics.

These characteristics include precision positioning and high, low and constant speed driving, making them suitable for a highly diverse range of applications.

Specialist motor manufacturer Nippon Pulse Motor has integrated its unique control and communication technology, combined linear encoders, encoder guides and mechanical systems to provide the ideal actuators for demanding applications.

This development has resulted in the following shaft-motor and linear motor construction.

Shaft motors are direct-drive linear servomotors that consist of a shaft with laminated magnets and cylindrically wound coils controlled by the flow of current.

In addition to the obvious difference between the cylindrical and flat configurations already available, the other difference are that the magnetic circuits of most motors (including linear motors) are made of magnetic iron, whereas shaft motors are not.

For this reason, there is no absorption force between the shaft and the slider (coil), thereby totally eliminating cogging).

This advanced technology from Nippon Pulse has produced these outstanding features: high thrust up to 6kN; quiet friction-free operation; the coreless construction reduces overall weight; simplified unit construction allows a stroke of up to 3m; high resolution (0.14nm) ideal for precision positioning; high-speed drive (6.5m/s) or low-speed drive (8mm/s); virtually no speed fluctuation (+0.006% at 100m/s); durable construction, capable of operating even underwater or in a vacuum; and compact and lightweight compared with other linear motors.

The Shaft Motor family is highly suitable for many applications such as medical, laboratory, semiconductor or photonics where high speed, low speed, heavy loads, constant speed or where high resolution is essential.