High force tubular linear actuator with integrated eddy current brake for spring-loaded systems

In order to meet safety standards in manufacturing industry many production machines are equipped with safety stop functions based on spring-loaded systems. This paper deals with an integrated eddy current brake of a high force tubular permanent magnet linear actuator for hydraulic applications with small actuating pathes. An analytical description of different design criteria for the integrated eddy current brake are shown. The special not rotational symmetrical design of the tubular linear actuator is transferred to a 2D transient FEM simulation model to predict the braking behavior caused by the spring load in case of an emergency stop. Measurements on a test bench are in good agreement with the simulation results and are used to validate the model.