A double-sided linear induction motor drives a bare conductive fin from both sides at once. It is the configuration to reach for when you want high thrust from a light, passive track, without the strong one-sided pull that a single-sided motor produces.
Why double-sided
A double-sided motor places one primary either side of a thin aluminium or copper fin, so both faces drive the same fin together. Working the fin from both sides can approach roughly twice the active-face thrust of a single-sided motor for the same track width, under comparable current, gap and thermal limits. That makes it a natural choice where you need a lot of thrust from a narrow, light track.
Balanced magnetic pull
A single-sided motor pulls hard toward the steel behind its reaction plate, and that sideways pull is often bigger than the useful thrust. In a double-sided motor the two halves sit on opposite sides of the fin, so their pulls act against each other and largely cancel in a symmetric, correctly aligned arrangement. The mounting and bearings then carry mostly the useful thrust, which keeps the support and guidance simpler.
High thrust in a small space
With two sides sharing one fin, a double-sided motor packs more thrust into a given length and width of track than a single-sided one. We size the motor and its drive to hold that thrust across the speeds and duty you need, then confirm it in simulation before anything is built.
Alignment and fit
The fin runs in the gap between the two halves of the motor, so keeping it centred matters. A smaller gap lifts performance but asks more of the guidance, so we set the gap to suit how accurately the fin can be held over the whole route, and check it fits the space and stays within safe temperatures before building.
A simple, light track
Because the motor drives from both sides, the track can be a plain aluminium or copper fin with no steel behind it. That makes the passive track light, low-cost and easy to install over long distances. For each project we weigh this against a single-sided design and recommend whichever suits the job.
Double-sided fin
Bare aluminium or copper, no steel behind it, driven from both sides, with the opposing magnetic pulls largely cancelling in the frame.
Single-sided plate
Conductive plate on a steel backing, driven from one side, with a strong one-sided pull the structure has to carry.
Where it is used
The double-sided motor suits jobs that want high thrust from a light, continuous track, and where the drive must not rely on grip, so rain, ice and gradients do not create the same drive-slip limit as a friction drive. We prove each design with circuit models and detailed simulation, run the full route and duty, and confirm it stays within safe temperatures before any metal is cut.
- People-movers and transit where a light track and high thrust both matter.
- Launch systems, such as roller-coasters and test sleds, needing repeatable high thrust.
- Maglev propulsion, using the same principle.
- Industrial and material handling over long distances.
Related
Need high thrust from a light, passive track?
Tell us the route, the duty and the speeds, and we will show what a double-sided motor can do within your envelope.
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