Application NotesTechnical Documentation & Guides

Overview

Nippon Pulse linear shaft motors provide direct linear motion without mechanical conversion elements like ball screws or belts. The forcer (moving element) travels along a stationary shaft using electromagnetic propulsion, delivering micron-level positioning with zero backlash, no mechanical wear, and virtually unlimited resolution. Proper sizing ensures the motor can meet your application's force, speed, and precision requirements.

Force Requirements

Calculate the total force the motor must produce, including:

• Payload weight (for vertical applications: F = m × g)
• Acceleration force (F = m × a for the desired acceleration)
• Friction force from bearings, seals, and cable carriers
• Process force (pressing, dispensing, probing, etc.)
• Add 30% safety margin for peak force requirement

Speed and Resolution

Linear shaft motors offer speeds from microns/second for precision scanning to over 1 m/s for high-throughput applications. Resolution is determined by the encoder feedback, not the motor—with appropriate encoders, sub-micron positioning is achievable. Select the motor based on the continuous force at your operating speed, using the force-speed curve in the datasheet.

Thermal Considerations

Linear shaft motors generate heat in the forcer coils during operation. The continuous force rating is limited by thermal dissipation. For applications requiring high continuous force, consider models with larger forcer assemblies or add external cooling. The shaft remains cool as it has no windings, making it suitable for temperature-sensitive applications.

Typical Applications

• Precision pick-and-place
• Optical inspection scanning
• Microelectronics assembly
• Laboratory sample handling

Related Products

S Series Linear Shaft Motor • L Series • PF Series

Overview

The Commander series controllers from Nippon Pulse provide complete motion control for stepper and servo motor systems. Available in single-axis (Commander 1) and multi-axis configurations, these controllers feature built-in motion profile generation, I/O handling, and communication interfaces. Programming is done through a simple command protocol accessible via serial, USB, or Ethernet.

Controller Setup

Initial setup involves configuring the motor type, encoder feedback, and drive interface parameters. The Commander supports step/direction output for stepper drives and analog/PWM output for servo drives:

• Set motor type: stepper (open loop) or servo (closed loop)
• Configure encoder resolution and direction
• Set acceleration/deceleration profiles (trapezoidal or S-curve)
• Define I/O assignments for home, limits, and general purpose
• Store configuration to non-volatile memory

Motion Profile Programming

The Commander generates motion profiles internally, sending step pulses or analog commands to the drive. Supported motion types include absolute positioning, relative moves, velocity mode, and electronic gearing. S-curve acceleration profiles reduce mechanical vibration and jerk compared to trapezoidal profiles.

Stored Program Execution

For standalone operation, motion sequences can be stored in the Commander's non-volatile memory and executed on power-up or via trigger input. This eliminates the need for a host PC in simple automation applications. Programs support conditional branching, loops, I/O monitoring, and timer functions.

Typical Applications

• Single-axis positioning systems
• Automated test equipment
• Medical device motion control
• Standalone motion sequences

Related Products

Commander 1 • Commander 2 • PCL Series

Overview

Nippon Pulse offers custom winding configurations for their linear shaft motors and tin-can stepper motors, allowing the motor's electrical characteristics to be optimized for the specific drive voltage, current capacity, and force requirements of your application. Custom windings can dramatically improve performance compared to using a standard winding with an improperly matched driver.

Winding Parameter Relationships

The key winding parameters—number of turns, wire gauge, and connection (series/parallel)—are interrelated. Changing one affects the others:

• More turns = higher voltage constant, lower current, higher inductance
• Fewer turns = lower voltage constant, higher current, lower inductance
• Larger wire gauge = lower resistance, higher current capacity, fewer turns
• Series connection = doubles voltage constant, same current
• Parallel connection = same voltage constant, doubles current capacity

Matching Winding to Driver

The optimal winding maximizes the motor's performance with the available drive voltage and current. For current-limited drives (most servo drives), choose a winding that reaches rated current at the drive's voltage limit at the desired operating speed. For voltage-limited drives (step/direction), choose lower inductance windings for better high-speed performance.

Requesting Custom Windings

Contact Bravo Automation or Nippon Pulse with your application requirements: supply voltage, maximum current, desired force, operating speed range, and duty cycle. Engineering will recommend an optimal winding configuration and can produce custom-wound motors typically within 4-6 weeks.

Typical Applications

• Battery-powered systems (low voltage optimization)
• High-speed applications (low inductance winding)
• High-force applications (maximum current winding)
• Non-standard voltage systems

Related Products

S Series Linear Shaft Motor • PF Series Tin-Can Steppers