A kind of flexible permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) with multiple primaries and secondaries is adopted in this paper. Considering the flexible adjustment of the assembly spacing distance between primaries, the magnetic coupling effect between the two adjacent primaries and the end effect are analyzed. Also, how magnetic coupling effect influences the characteristics of the detent force is compared and analyzed in detail. The model of the detent force which has taken both end effect and magnetic coupling effect at different spacing distances into consideration is derived to reveal the fluctuation rule. To minimize the detent force, the rectangular and ladder end teeth are employed with the orthogonal optimization method, which effectively suppress the detent force when the mover runs across the sectional primary cores. Finally, a prototype of segmented multi-mover permanent magnet synchronous linear motor (SMM-PMSLM) with continuous arrangement as well as its test platform are developed to test the detent force.

Linear motor， flexible assembly， detent force， end effect， magnetic coupling effect.