Optimal design of short-armature slotted type multi-segment permanent magnet linear synchronous motor for numerically controlled machine tool

The severe drawback of slotted permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) is the detent force, partic- ularly when accurate positioning and constant low speed is required for numerically controlled machine tool. In this paper, a novel short-armature slotted type multi-segment permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (MSPMLSM) is proposed and constructed to reduce the detent force. It consists of a proper shift of the multiple segments of iron core relative to the PMs. The detent forces of MSPMLSMs with different number of segment are analyzed and simulated by finite element method (FEM). The proposed structure has been proved to be a very effective approach for the reduction of detent force. Then this paper presents the statistical and mathematical optimum design of a 3-segment PMLSM using response surface methodology (RSM) together with FEM to minimize the detent force. Full factorial design and steepest ascent method, one of the iterative search method, is proposed to establish optimal design area for applying RSM. Finally, the global optimal design is predicted and the optimally designed one is manufactured, and the numerical results and measured results are reported to validate the effectiveness of this proposed method.