The application of linear motors

Abstract

It dates about 100 years back that the idea of a three-phase linear motor first was announced. In the 1960s, Eric Laithwaite published papers about theory and application of "flat three-phase linear motors". In parallel to him, at the Technical University of Chemnitz, similar activities took place to create the theory of these motors and to make first applications. Inspite of these first steps, it took even more than 20 years to find a growing interest in machine engineering to understand the advantages of linear drives. Last but not least, the power electronics helped to melt the ice. Now there are many firms offering linear drives for the application and looking for partners to realize direct drives with linear motors.