Development of a new type surface actuator

In recent times, actuators using linear pulse motors have increased in industrial applications because they can obtain linear motion without gears and belts. Moreover, actuators that move in two directions on the x-y plane, have been reported and studied. Conventional actuators can only move in horizontal and vertical directions on the x-y plane. The authors describe a new actuator which consists of electromagnets as a stator and one or two pairs of permanent magnets as a mover. Consequently, the mover is free from wire connection, and the mover can rotate in addition to motion in the horizontal and vertical directions by the excitation of the stator coils. This paper presents the principles of operation and the characteristics of this actuator when the air gap is varied. Moreover, in cases where repelling force is used, the consumed power is reduced by about half