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When you think about linear motors, probably the rst thing that

comes to mind is a coil unit moving a mass along a linear magnet

track, but recent developments in bus systems and logic controllers

open up whole new application areas. Controllers are getting more

and more intelligent and enable linear motors to perorm tasks that

we could only dream about just a couple o years ago. One type o

application is becoming increasingly attractive or a wide variety o

industries: the so-called Dynamic Moving Magnet (DMM) concept.

This is a concept where the coil units unction as the track and the

magnet plates themselves unction as the carriers.

The actual concept is quite elegant by nature. Instead o using a

moving coil unit on a static magnet track, the setup is inverted.

The coil units remain static and magnet plates are moved across

the surace o the coil unit. Using position sensors and a controller,

each magnet plate that runs along the coils can be controlled

individually and independently.

The ability to utilize linear motors in such a way means that

machine builders can create scalable, modular in-line production

machines that require less space and operators and no cleanrooms.Furthermore, using DMM virtually eliminates mechanical wear

because there are no moving cables. They can even be operated

inside a vacuum, where there is no convection to eectively

dissipate heat, because the coil units, electronics and cabling can

be kept outside the vacuum. This technology has already been

applied successully in the solar and harddisk industries, where the

ability to operate in a vacuum is a must.

By ar the most interesting aspect o using DMM is that it allows

engineers to create applications where multiple carriers can be

individually controlled on the same coil track in a fexible chain

process. One such application is the recently introduced Intelligent

Transport System, the result o a close collaboration between Bosch

Packaging Technology and Tecnotion.

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

At Interpack 2011 Bosch Packaging Technology introduced

its Intelligent Transport System (ITS), a product ineed unit

or horizontal fow wrappers. ITS balances out product fow

irregularities, creates dened spaces and synchronizes product and

lm speeds.

Conventional Linear Motor. The coil unit moves along a fxed magnet plate.

Dynamic Moving Magnet. The magnet plates act as carriers and move

independently rom eachother along a fxed coil track.

Linear Motors based on the DMM concept can operate in a vacuum.

Boschs Intelligent Transport System utilizes a curved coil track. The magnet

plates can all be independently controlled and even move in opposite

directions rom eachother.

TECNOTION INVERTS LINEAR MOTOR PRINCIPLE

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At its core the ITS eatures a linear motor system in which over

30 magnet plates are moved independently and wear-ree. To

meet the specic requirements o the application, Tecnotions

R&D department had to design a completely new custom iron

core motor type that exhibits low cogging and is even capable o

moving around curved tracks.

A programmable logic controller (PLC) monitors and permanently

regulates each magnet plate. In order to meet high demands with

regards to precision and dynamics, an ethernet-based, real-time

bus system is used. This enables the magnet plates to reach speeds

o over 3 m/s and an acceleration o 50 m/s2. By using linear motors

Bosch managed to keep the ITS an extremely compact design and still achieve an output o 1400 products per minute. Depending

on the position o the magnet plate, the coils o the motor are dynamically assigned to it, and each one can be controlled and moved

individually.

Though the ITS uses completely custom motors, similar applications can also be designed using only standard components and

sensors. Combined with the latest generation o controllers, DMM has become a viable, aordable and protable way o applying linear

technology. This is a unique and groundbreaking approach to motion control. More and more applications are being designed around

this concept, rom deposition processes to actory automation. Because it is such a versatile and fexible solution, the possibilities

are endless. New elds o application are being discovered every day; there is simply no industry that could not benet rom the

application o DMM. Tecnotion has the expertise and knowledge to help machine builders get the most out o these linear motors.

ABOUT TECNOTION

Tecnotion is the global authority on linear motor technology. We are the worlds only unbundled manuacturer o linear motors. A

ormer part o Philips, Tecnotion specializes solely in the development and production o linear motors. Because o this, our expertise,

customer service and product quality are unmatched.

We have a global presence, with production plants in The Netherlands and China and local representation around the world. This

ensures short delivery times and high quality support, wherever customers are located.

When you do business with Tecnotion, you will have a team o highly skilled sales and application engineers at your disposal. They will

help you rom your initial prototype all the way to the application o our products and beyond.

Whatever your needs are, you can count on Tecnotion as a solid, reliable partner.

For more inormation contact:

Tecnotion B.V.

P.O. Box 23

7600 AA Almelo

The Netherlands

www.tecnotion.com

Tel. +31 546 536300Fax +31 546 536380

sales@tecnotion.com