Linear Servos provide increased precision, stiffness, and speed when compared to other linear motion technologies. Decreased cycle time, flexible carriage arrangement, and fewer wear components are the a few of the design advantages gained by utilizing linear servos. Speeds of 5 meters/second and accelerations up to five times gravity are possible depending on model selection, loading and thrust requirements.

The concept of a linear servo can be explained by considering a rotary motor. A rotary motor contains a rotor and a stator. Circular motion is obtained as the magnetic fields interact due to magnetic attraction and repulsion as current is switched into the field windings of the stator.

A linear motor creates linear motion with a similar concept. To understand the concept, envision a rotary motor, only sawn into two pieces and unrolled to lay flat. The stator is a row of permanent magnets. The rotor is now the carriage. As current is switched into the carriage windings, linear motion is achieved due to magnetic attraction and repulsion.



Technical Note:
Motors use "Flemming's Left Hand Rule" which states that a conductor placed in a magnetic flux will move perpendicular to the flux when it receives an electrical current.