Lineax® direct drive linear motors for stage positioning exhibit advantages over conventional screw driven stages. LDirect drive systems offer excellent trajectory control. The nature of these stiff, no elastic structures enable faster settling times, higher repeatability with the fastest servo response. Free of rotating inertia, much faster acceleration and higher velocities are achievable. Wear of rotating components is eliminated increasing reliability, uptime, and extending servicing intervals each of these contributes to reducing cost of ownership. The direct drive linear motor with the high-resolution encoder allows precise velocity regulation. The linear motor and other components in Lineax can be prepared for vacuum compatibility.

Lineax-8 structural materials are high-strength aluminum alloys, all surfaces are precision machined, hard coat-anodize finished in light gray. Two precision square type guide rails with re-circulating linear bearings are guided by 2 integrally pre-loaded ball tracks on each rail. The guide system requires only standard lubrication service.

Lineax-8 guide system allows for larger payloads with ultimate stability. The high resolution encoder makes the Lineax a high accurate positioning stage with a repeatability of less than a micron. 

Lineax-8 stages have a compact envelope with no motor overhang. Linear motor, encoder and cables are internal with cables terminating in connectors mounted to the stage's base. A re-circulating bearing system with precision guide rails optimized for pre-load, accuracy, speed, and acceleration ratings support the stages’ high speed, precise motion. The design of the high strength, precision machined, aluminum structure maximizes the stiffness and stability. Standard finish for aluminum components is hard-coat anodized. Special finishes like Teflon impregnated hard-coat, non-anodized, and electroless Nickel can be furnished to accommodate specific application environments. Stainless steel components are made from polished material.

A linear motor driven stage lacks the mechanical gearing advantage of a screw driven stage and therefore is more application specific. The payload directly affects the acceleration rate according to the F=m•a relationship and the ability of the stage to reach a specific speed, which may affect the cycle time or throughput.

The linear motor generates a substantial peak force when supplied the necessary current by the servo drive. The higher the current, the more heating experiences the copper coil, rising motor temperature. When the application is for precision positioning, the temperature rise has an undesirable effect of influencing accuracy because of thermal induced distortion, either short term or for the duration of operation.