Linear actuators are frequently used in numerous applications where precise linear movement is needed. Permanent magnet linear motors (PMLM) provide high force density and accurate positioning and high-operating drive cycle as to other types of linear motors. The quality of force output for the PMLM mainly depends on detent force component. In this paper, a new approach is presented to minimize the detent force for PMLM. Proposed approach consists of semi-FEA based optimization of the magnet track, which considers minimization of the detent force and maximization of the average force output. Proposed approach generates the magnet layout arbitrarily and tries to find the optimum solutions by 2-dimensioanal (2D) Pareto front. A reference coreless PMLM is used as a benchmark and the results show that proposed approach is an effective method as to conventional methods and it is possible to determine the optimum magnet track arrangement design by the proposed approach.

Permanent magnet linear motors, optimization, detent force minimization