Experimental development of a 1-D.O.F controlled magnetic linear bearing

Magnetic linear bearing (MLB) offers advantages over other types of bearings, because they can operate even in vacuum environments. Moreover, MLB with active control in only one direction offers the advantage of the simplicity in terms of mechanical and electrical construction and in terms of control system. This work presents the architecture of a new type of MLB with active control only in one direction, namely, the transversal direction of a moving table. The motion of the table in remaining directions, excepting the transverse direction, is restricted only by the action of two pairs of permanent magnets.