Eindhoven: Mechatronics advance allows linear motors to move two ways

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Researchers at Philips Applied Technologies, Einhoven, have developed a technique that allows standard linear motors to simultaneously provide movement along two axes rather than along a single axis.

In equipment such as the “pick-and-place” machines used to assemble electronic printed circuit boards, the NForcer technology will allow designers to reduce the number of motors and electronic drive modules required, and simplify overall design, resulting in significantly lower equipment costs. By reducing the mass of moving parts, it will also allow designers to produce designs that achieve higher accelerations and operating speeds.

The technology enables horizontally mounted linear motors to generate lift as well as lateral motion, providing both axes of motion required in pick-and-place machines from just one motor. NForcer Technology also enables the production of precision magnetically levitated platforms with six axes of controlled motion (3-dimensional shifts and tilts) by using ordinary linear motors.

Because the NForcer technology can be used to implement magnetic levitation, it will allow the production of fully floating, bearing-less platforms, which unlike air-bearing solutions can be used in vacuum.

Philips is demonstrating  NForcer this week at the American Society for Precision Engineering Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.