A tubular motor, also known as a tube motor or tubular linear motor, consists of a magnetic rotor and an electric coil in a housing. You can see this quite well in the picture on the right. The piston rod is the magnetic rotor (magnets placed at fixed distances in a tube). The box is the electric coil. The magnetic rotor slides through a plastic slide bushing, which is housed in the coil box. When the coil is energized, the magnetic rotor thus moves. An integrated distance measuring system enables position detection

In the tubular motor category, we offer two distinct product families:

Green Drive: For large forces and for 230Vac or 400Vac
NL Series: For smaller forces and for 24Vdc or 48Vdc

In the following, you can find more detailed information about both families.

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Green drive tubular motors for high forces

Most important features:

  • DC-link voltages up to 560Vdc
  • Peak force up to 1,160N
  • Strokes up to 600mm
  • Optional anti-rotation device
  • Feedback: Quad A/B, Analog Sin/Cos 1Vpp, BiSS

The Green Drive tubular linear motor is a direct drive actuator. The linear motion is generated without ballscrews, belts and or gears. The Green Drive is composed of two parts: the stainless steel slider with holes for payload fixing and the IP65 motor body that contains the coils and the feedback electronics. The slider is guided by high performance sliding bearings. The electronics contains position sensors, temperature sensors, interpolation electronics and motor parameters as an electronic data sheet (EDS). The Green Drive standard version is available in different sizes up to reach 1,160 N of peak force. All models are available with different strokes and feedback options. Additionally, special models for hygienic applications are available on request.

Feedback options: Analog SIN/COS 1Vpp, Quad A/B, BiSS-C.

DC-link voltage: 320Vdc or 560Vdc (same winding).

This video shows the high-precision positioning capabilities of Green Drive actuators

NL series: miniature tubular motors

The most important features of this family are:

  • Motor with optional integrated drive electronics
  • Flange dimensions beginning from 15x34mm till 35x63mm
  • Force range starts from 0,6 N up to 20 N of continuous force
  • Voltage 24 VDC to 48 VDC
  • Encoder SIN/COS 1 Vpp

Our miniature linear motors are a complete solution for the pharmaceutical and medical industry and for all kind of automatic machines in general. One of the advantages of the standard NL series is its compactness with flange dimensions beginning from 15x34mm till 35x63mm. The linear motor is composed of a high performance three phase winding, an integrated encoder SIN/COS 1Vpp and a rod in AISI 304 stainless steel. The NL series, composed of 6 different types, has an excellent performance and dimension ratio. The force range starts from 0,6 N up to 20 N of continuous force with peak forces 6 times these values. The standard power supply of the drive is 24/48 VDC.

Video: Demo of a 3-axis miniature tubular linera motor

Linear motors with integrated drive electronics

The miniature linear motors NLI have the same outside dimensions of the standard NL series, including a high-performance servo drive with positioning features and CANopen fieldbus control. The power supply of these motors has a wide range from 24 Vdc up to 48 Vdc. The miniature linear motors NLI with integrated drive electronics are particularly suitable for the replacement of pneumatic actuators, using the same control logic.

Main features:

  • Compact direct drive linear actuator CE certified
  • Integrated FOC drive and PLC functions: 10 different programmable position tasks with 4 different motion profile options (trapezoidal, triangular, polynomial and sinusoidal)
  • Motion control using Digital input 0-24VDC (same as pneumatic cylinder electrovalve control) – plug&play to replace pneumatics
  • Motion control using Analog input 0-5VVDC (voltage to frequency control using sinusoidal motion profile)
  • 2 Digital Inputs, 3 Digital Outputs to map faults or conditions like in position window
  • MODBUS RTU for diagnostic and commissioning
  • 24VDC to 48VDC power
  • Diagnostic functions: on time, travelled distance in km, number of performed cycles, load on the motor and temperature (512 minutes log inside the motor)
  • Interpolated motion using digital input trigger
  • Status leds
  • Accessories for antirotation mechanics (pneumatic brake option for vertical axis)
  • competitive price (minimum delta from encoder only motor solution)

Do you have technical questions or need a quote?

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Overview of important parameters

 

Motor CodeRated Force [N]Peak Force [N]Actuator length [mm]LF [mm]LH [mm]max. effective StrokeDatasheet

 

 

Standard

NL040Q0,63,9551534 

 

 

NL040X1,087,02911534 
NL080Q4,831,21182040 
NL080X8,6456,161782040 
NL120Q21,12137,281853563 
NL120X38,016247,1043053563 

 

Integrated
Electronic


NLi080Q

4,8

31,2

118

15
LH1LH2800

 

 

4049
NLi080X8,6456,16178154049800
NLi120Q21,12137,281852063901500
NLi120X38,016247,1043052063901500

Food-grade i.e. hygienic tubular linear motors

The tubular motors (linear motors) are also available as a food-safe i.e. hygienic version. See picture on the right.

Most important features of the food-grade i.e. hygienic version:

  • IP69K i.e. suitable for high-pressure cleaning and washdown
  • With IP69K food-grade cable glands (clearly visible in the picture) either nickel-plated or made of stainless steel
  • Housing of the coil unit made of stainless steel or alternatively aluminium with GHA coating (antibacterial due to silver ions, less expensive than stainless steel). An additional advantage of aluminium: better transfer of dissipated heat from the electric coil unit.
  • Polymer bushing from IGUS®, certified for the food industry (FDA)
  • Magnetic forcer (= push rod or piston rod) made of stainless steel
  • Bus voltage 320Vdc or 560Vdc
  • Built-in linear measuring system consisting of analogue Hall sensors
  • Repeatable positioning accuracy approx. ±150µm

Do you have technical questions or need a quote?

Contact us today to talk to an experienced MACCON engineer!

Application range of linear motors / tubular motors

Food Processing Industry

  • Horizontal or vertical packaging
  • Handling of food and / or its packaging
  • Machines for the production of dairy products
  • Dosage of food

Beverage Industry

  • Machines for the production and printing of capsules and lids / closures
  • PET Bottle Caps
  • Stretch blow molding of PET bottles
  • Handling and sorting of PET blanks
  • Filling machines

Pharmaceutical Industry

  • Handling and / or filling of bottles
  • Counting, weighing and sorting of tablets
  • Blister Packaging

Wood processing industry

  • Cutting and handling of wooden boards
  • Edge processing of wooden boards

Paper- / Textile Industry

  • Handling and folding of paper (toilet and food paper)
  • Replacement of pneumatic drives for the following functions: stacking, separating and pushing
  • furniture packaging
  • Diaper Machines

Machine Tools

  • Electric Discharge Machines
  • Machining centers
  • Handling of mechanical parts and tools

Advantages of a linear motor over a pneumatic drive

The linear motor has an excellent precision and operates much more quietly than a pneumatic drive. Compared to conventional products, the tubular linear motor scores points above all with its excellent performance in the following areas energy saving, speed and acceleration.