LinMot Glossary

A linear motor operates on the electromagnetic principle of a servo motor, but generates the motion directly in a linear fashion. The current-carrying stator creates a traveling magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnets in the rotor. This results in a directly usable thrust force in the direction of movement. Position, speed, acceleration, and force can be precisely controlled and freely programmed via the servo drive.

A servo motor typically generates controlled rotary motion, while a linear motor generates controlled linear motion. The key difference, therefore, lies in the type of motion: rotary in the case of a classic servo motor, linear in the case of a linear motor. In many machines, a linear motor replaces a combination of servo motor, gearbox, spindle, belt, or pneumatic cylinder, thereby reducing mechanical complexity.

The force of a linear motor is determined by the motor type, current, magnetic field, winding, cooling, and operating mode. In simplified terms, the electromagnetic force can be described by F = B · I · L. However, for practical design, stroke, moving mass, friction, acceleration, duty cycle, and safety margins are also crucial. For reliable dimensioning, the LinMot design tool "LinMot-Designer" or contact LinMot application specialists (support@linmot.com) should be used.

LinMot offers electric direct drives for linear, rotary, and combined motions in standard, stainless steel, and ATEX versions. These include tubular, highly dynamic linear axes (linear motors PS01 and PS10), guided linear modules such as DM01, DM03, FM01, and EM01.

LinMot offers SM01 and SM02, as well as PR01 and PR02 rotary actuators for combined linear and rotary motion. Furthermore, LinMot provides MagSpring® modules for weight force compensation, GM50 gripping modules and GM51 rotary grippers, and complete flat robots such as pick-and-place systems and gantry systems. The product range also includes servo drives for integration into machine controls, which can optionally be equipped with functional safety.

Electric linear motors offer greater flexibility, higher precision, and better process control compared to pneumatic drives. Position, speed, acceleration, and force can be freely programmed and precisely reproduced. This results in faster format changes, more flexible motion profiles, and improved process data analysis. At the same time, valves, throttles, hoses, and compressed air preparation are eliminated. This reduces maintenance, noise, energy consumption, and the carbon footprint. After a short time, the higher initial investment costs of linear motors are usually lower than the operating costs of pneumatic drives.

LinMot linear motors and modules combine high dynamics, precise controllability, compact integration, and low mechanical wear. Because the motion is generated directly, no spindles, belts, or cam discs are required for motion conversion. Many LinMot products can be modularly customized with options such as MagSpring®, force sensors, torque sensors, hollow shafts, stainless steel fronts, or stainless steel housings. Stainless steel versions are available for hygienic applications. In demanding processes, calibrated force and torque sensors enable documented quality control and traceability. Process monitoring allows for on-the-fly process evaluation, potentially eliminating the need for downstream testing equipment.

Linear motors are used in industries where movements must be fast, precise, flexible, and repeatable. Typical applications include packaging machinery, the food and beverage industry, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, laboratory automation, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, printing and labeling systems, textile machinery, woodworking, the automotive industry, and handling and assembly automation. LinMot stainless steel and hygienic versions are also suitable for washdown environments (CIP and SIP), cleanrooms, and demanding production areas.

LinMot products enable applications such as positioning, pick-and-place, sorting, dosing, pressing, joining, screwing, closing, labeling, stacking, centering, gripping, and testing. PR01 and PR02 linear-rotary motors are particularly suitable for applications that combine linear and rotary motion, for example, closing bottles, vials, or pouches, screwing, aligning components, or pick, rotate, and place processes. Linear modules of the DMxx, FMxx series and

EMxx modules are suitable for strokes from 0 to approximately 2 meters. For stainless steel or washdown applications, SMxx series linear modules are used. The MagSpring® magnetic spring supports vertical axes by passively compensating for weight forces and stabilizing axes when de-energized.

The appropriate linear motor is selected based on stroke, force, speed, acceleration, moving mass, installation space, environment, and protection rating. LinMot PSxx linear motors or guided linear modules are suitable for simple linear movements. Modules with MagSpring® load balancing are recommended for vertical axes. PR01 or PR02 rotary-stroke motors are suitable for combined linear and rotary movements. Stainless steel versions are recommended for hygienic applications. The LinMot design tool (LinMot Designer) and LinMot application specialists (support@linmot.com) provide support for specific design requirements.

A linear motor is superior to a pneumatic cylinder when movements need to be controlled flexibly, precisely, quickly, and reproducibly. While pneumatics often only allow for simple end-position movements, electric linear motors can freely control position, speed, acceleration, and force. This is particularly advantageous for frequent format changes, variable motion profiles, sensitive products, or processes with quality control. LinMot linear motors are therefore especially suitable for machines where pneumatics are to be replaced by an energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and data-capable electric drive solution.

Electric linear motors are more energy-efficient than pneumatic drives in many applications because electrical energy is converted directly into motion. Pneumatic systems incur energy losses due to compressed air generation, leaks, lines, valves, and restrictors. An electric direct drive requires energy primarily during the actual movement or force control. Therefore, LinMot linear motors and linear modules can help reduce a machine's energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon footprint, especially with frequent or long motion cycles.

Linear motors can precisely control position, speed, acceleration, and force, and use this information for process monitoring. Combined with suitable servo drives, sensors, and control functions, movements can not only be positioned but also force-controlled. This is crucial for applications such as pressing, joining, dispensing, gripping, closing, testing, and quality control. LinMot solutions thus enable reproducible processes, documentable process data, and improved traceability in automated production systems.

LinMot linear motors and linear modules are particularly well-suited for vertical axes in combination with MagSpring®. MagSpring® passively compensates for weight forces and can provide a

The vertical axis is stabilized even when de-energized. This reduces the load on drives, lowers energy consumption and heat generation, and supports safety concepts. For compact vertical movements, guided DM03 linear modules or tubular LinMot linear motors with MagSpring® can be used, depending on the stroke and load.

A linear rotary motor is a compact electric direct drive that combines a linear lifting motion and a rotary motion in a single unit. LinMot PR01 and PR02 linear rotary motors can control both movements independently and are suitable for applications where components need to be moved, aligned, screwed, or closed simultaneously. Typical applications include bottle or vial closure, screwing processes, pick, rotate & place, sorting, alignment, and handling processes in packaging, pharmaceutical, food, and assembly plants.

Depending on the system and application, LinMot drives can monitor motion and process data such as position, speed, acceleration, force, current, temperature, cycle times, and status information. This data supports process monitoring, quality control, traceability, fault diagnosis, and predictive maintenance. In applications such as pressing, joining, closing, gripping, or dispensing, monitored drive data helps to maintain process windows, reduce scrap, and detect or prevent machine downtime early on.

LinMot linear motors, linear modules, and rotary actuators differ primarily in their mechanical integration and motion type. Tubular LinMot linear motors generate direct linear motion and are suitable for flexible machine designs with customer-supplied guides. Linear modules integrate the motor, guide, and mechanical components into a ready-to-install axis, simplifying the design process. Rotary actuators of the PR01 and PR02 families combine linear and rotary motion in a compact unit. The appropriate solution depends on stroke, load, accuracy, installation space, environment, and the desired motion function.