Novel Design, Characterization, and Control Method for Large Motion Range Magnetic Levitation

This letter describes a method to quickly calculate the coil current to force and torque transformations required for levitation of cylindrical magnets above a given array of cylindrical coils, and evaluate the feasibility, efficiency, dynamic performance, and stability of the resulting design. This method has been used to develop levitation systems for one or two magnets with translation ranges greater than the dimensions of the levitated body in all directions and potential for large rotation ranges. Results of the evaluation method are applied to three cases, and experimental results are given for single magnet levitation in horizontal and vertical orientations, and for a double magnet platform in the horizontal orientation.