Modeling of a Two Degrees-of-Freedom Moving Magnet Linear Motor for Magnetically Levitated Positioners

This paper presents a novel analytical model that accurately predicts the current-force characteristic of a 2 degrees-of-freedom moving magnet linear motor (MMLM), where its translator is formed by a Halbach permanent magnet (PM) array. Unlike existing theoretical models, the uniqueness of this proposed model is based on a derived magnetic field model that accounts for the magnetic flux leakage at the edges of the Halbach PM array. Hence, it can be used to model an MMLM that employs a low-order Halbach PM array effectively. To implement the proposed model in high sampling rate control system, a model-based approximation approach is proposed to simplify the model. The simplified model minimizes the computation complexity while guarantees the accuracy of the current-force prediction. MMLM prototype with two separate translators, i.e., one with a single magnetic pole Halbach PM array and the other with six magnetic poles Halbach PM array, were developed to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed models.