Linear motor[edit]

Main article: Linear motor

A linear motor is essentially any electric motor that has been "unrolled" so that, instead of
producing a torque (rotation), it produces a straight-line force along its length.
Linear motors are most commonly induction motors or stepper motors. Linear motors are
commonly found in many roller-coasters where the rapid motion of the motorless railcar is
controlled by the rail. They are also used in maglev trains, where the train "flies" over the ground.
On a smaller scale, the 1978 era HP 7225A pen plotter used two linear stepper motors to move
the pen along the X and Y axes.[72]

Comparison by major categories[edit]

Comparison of motor types

Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Typical
application

Typical drive, output

Self-commutated motors

Steel mills
Maintenance
Brushed DC

Simple speed

(brushes)

control

Medium lifespan

Low initial cost

Costly commutator
and brushes

Paper
making
machines
Treadmill
exercisers

Rectifier, linear
transistor(s) or DC
chopper controller.[73]

Automotive
accessories

Brushless

Long lifespan

Higher initial cost

Rigid

DC motor

Low

Requires EC

("hard") disk phase or three-phase

(BLDC)

maintenance

controller with

drives

with PM rotor and

or

High efficiency

closed-loop control

CD/DVD

trapezoidal stator

players

winding; VFD

Electric

typically VS PWMinver

vehicles

ter type.[69][73][74]

(BLDM)

RC Vehicles

Synchronous; single-

UAVs

Long lifespan
Low
Switched
reluctance
motor
(SRM)

maintenance
High efficiency
No permanent
magnets
Low cost
Simple
construction

High starting
Universal

torque,

motor

compact, high
speed.

Mechanical resonan
ce
possible

Appliances

PWM and various

High iron losses

Electric

other drive types,

Not possible:

Vehicles

which tend to be used

* Open or vector

Textile mills

in very

control

Aircraft

specialized / OEM appl

* Parallel operation

applications

ications.[71][75]

Requires EC
controller[71]

Maintenance

Handheld

(brushes)

power tools,

Shorter lifespan

blenders,

Usually acoustically

vacuum

noisy

cleaners,

Only small ratings

insulation

are economical

blowers

Variable single phase

AC, half-wave or fullwave phase-angle
control with triac(s);
closed-loop control
optional.[73]

AC asynchronous motors

AC polyphase

Self-starting

High starting current

Fixed-

Fixed-speed, low

squirrel-cage

Low cost

Lower efficiency

speed,

performance

or

Robust

due to need

traditionally,

applications of all

wound-rotor

Reliable

for magnetization.

SCIM the

types.

induction motor

Ratings to 1+

world's

Variable-speed,

(SCIM)

MW

workhorse

traditionally, WRIM

or

Standardized

especially in drives or fixed-speed

(WRIM)

types.

low

V/Hz-controlled VSDs.

performanc

Variable-speed,

increasingly, vector-

applications

controlled VSDs

of all types

displacing DC, WRIM

Variable-

and single-phase AC

speed,

traditionally,
lowperformanc
e variabletorque
pumps,
fans,
blowers and
compressor
s.
Variable-

induction motor drives.

speed,
increasingly
, other highperformanc
e constanttorque and
constantpower or
dynamic
loads.

AC SCIM

High power

split-phase

high starting

capacitor-start

torque

Speed slightly
below synchronous
Starting switch or
relay required

Appliances
Stationary
Power Tools

Fixed or variable
single-phase AC,
variable speed being
derived, typically, by
full-wave phase-angle
control with triac(s);

AC SCIM
split-phase
capacitor-run

Moderate

closed-loop control

power

optional.[73]

High starting
torque
No starting
switch

Speed slightly
below synchronous
Slightly more costly

Industrial
blowers
Industrial
machinery

Comparatively
long life

AC SCIM

Moderate

Speed slightly

Appliances

split-phase,

power

below synchronous

Stationary

auxiliary

Low starting

Starting switch or

start winding

torque

relay required

Speed slightly

AC
inductionshade

Low cost

d-pole

Long life

motor

below synchronous
Low starting torque
Small ratings
low efficiency

power tools

Fans,
appliances,
record
players

AC synchronous motors

Synchronous

Fixed or variable

speed
Wound-rotor

Inherently

synchronous

more efficient

motor

induction

(WRSM)

motor,

speed, three-phase;
More costly

Industrial
motors

VFD typically sixstepCS loadcommutated inverter

type or VS PWM

low power

inverter type.[73][74]

factor

Clocks,
timers,

Accurate

sound

speed control
Hysteresis

Low noise

motor

No vibration

Very low efficiency

High starting

producing

Single-phase AC, two-

or recording

phase capacitor-start,

equipment,

capacitor run motor[76][77]

hard drive,

torque

capstan
drive

Synchronous

Equivalent to

Requires a

Appliances

VFD can be

reluctance

SCIM

controller

Electric

standard DTC type

motor

except more

Not widely available

vehicles

or VS inverter PWM

(SyRM)

robust, more

High cost

Textile mills

type.[78]

efficient, runs
cooler, smaller

Aircraft

footprint
Competes with
PM
synchronous

applications

motor without
demagnetizati
on issues

Speciality motors

Office Equip
Pancake

Compact

Fans/Pump

or axial

design

Medium cost

s, fast

rotor

Simple speed

Medium lifespan

industrial

motors[69]

control

and military

Drives can typically be

brushed or brushless
DC type.[69]

servos

Positioning
in printers

Precision
Stepper

positioning

Some can be costly

motor

High holding

Require a controller

torque

and floppy

Not a VFD. Stepper

disc drives;

position is determined

industrial

by pulse counting.[79][80]

machine
tools

Electromagnetism[edit]
This section requires expansion.
(March 2013)