Mag Drive Results

Cryogenic Temperature Prototype operative

MAGDRIVE technology was demonstrated in a cryogenic environment. Superconducting magnetic bearings were used to eliminate any contact between the moving parts, improving reliability and lifetime of the magnetic harmonic drive.

  • Contactless levitating system
  • Through-wall capability
  • No lubrication required
  • Extended operation lifetime
  • Overload protection
  • Vacuum suitable
  • Cryogenic temperatures up to -240

Contactless Mechanical Feedthroughs

Distance through-wall transmission of forces and torques is possible using optimized magnetic couplings developed in MAGDRIVE project.

Contactless 6 DoF position sensor

As both MAGDRIVE axles are floating in the space, it is need a contactless system to measure the position and the rotation.

A contactless 6 DoF position sensor able to measure not only the 3 displacements in space(x,y,z) but also rotations(θx, θy, θz) was developed. Vacuum and cryogenic suitable models are available. Resolution of less than 1 microns can be achieved.

Superconducting Magnetic Bearings

High performance  superconducting magnetic bearings were used in the MAGDRIVE cryogenic temperature prototype to support MAGDRIVE and bear the dynamic forces and weight of the MAGDRIVE.

Superconducting magnetic bearings used allow both shafts in MAGDRIVE (input and output) to be floating and without contact with any other parts, making of MAGDRIVE an absolutely contact-free machine.

Anti-jamming function of MAGDRIVEs

The overload protection is one of the main advantages of the MAGDRIVE type of gears. Even if the output axle is completely locked, as there is not contact in the gearing magnetic teeth, the input continues to rotate sliding without any damage.

Room temperature Prototype operative

Two room temperature prototype (Ø=120 mm, l= 110 mm), were built and tested with a reduction ratio of 21 to demonstrate the technology.

Different combinations of magnetic materials were combined in these prototypes.

A test bench was designed and built to test MAGDRIVE the prototypes. Experimental results were in very good agreement between simulations and experiments. Maximum torques about 13-15 Nm were demonstrated, providing torque densities from 11-70 kNm/m3. Overload protection, damping and contactless reversible motion were demonstrated. The measured backlash was below the resolution of the measurement system. «Zero-backlash» was deduced from experiments.