What is the current classification of linear motors used for positioning and scanning applications?
Motors can probably be classified in different ways depending on the reason for classifying them. It appears that you may be attempting to classify motors starting with their fundamental mode of operation.
You seem to be using the term &quot;induction&quot; where it would be more appropriate to use &quot;electromagnetic.&quot; An electromagnetic motor converts electric current and magnetic fields to mechanical force.
A piezoelectric motor is a type of electrostatic motor. An electrostatic motor uses an electric field to create a force
Electromagnetic motors can use either alternating current of direct current. Alternating current motors use rotating magnetic fields. Direct current motors have stationary magnetic fields and use a commutator or another form of sliding contact to allow the rotor's magnetic field to remain aligned with the stator field.
Induction motors are a type of AC motor that has a rotating magnetic field induced in the rotor by the stator field. The stator and rotor field rotate together in synchronism with an angle between them but the rotor speed is not synchronous with the magnetic fields. Induction motors are also called asynchronous motors. Sub-categories of induction motors include squirrel-cage motors and wound-rotor motors.
Reluctance motors are a type of AC motor that has only the rotating magnetic field produced by the stator. The rotor does not have its own magnetic field. The rotor turns synchronously with the stator field under the force of the magnetic field to maintain the path of lowest reluctance.
Synchronous motors have magnetic fields that are produced in the rotor by permanent magnets, permanent-magnet synchronous motors or by DC current in the rotor wound-field synchronous motors. The attraction of that magnetic field to the rotating stator field keeps the rotor turning synchronously with the stator field.
Brushless DC motors are similar to synchronous motors. They have rotating magnetic fields that are produced by electronic control schemes either built into the motor or in an external control unit.
Stepper motors are motors that rotate in incremental steps rather than in a steady motion. They are not exactly part of the above classification system. Stepper action can be implemented in reluctance and synchronous types of motors. Induction motors are not good candidates for use as stepper motors.
Servo motors are also not part of the above classification system. They are used for precise position control. They generally use motion and position feedback in implementing a control scheme. Most of the above motor types can be used as servo motors.
Many of the above types of motors can be constructed as Linear Motors.
Selection of the motor type for use as servo motors, linear motors, position control, scanning etc. Depends on the order of magnitude of power involved. Motors have been constructed in power levels from microwatts to megawatts.
Bearings, motor enclosure types, mounting provisions, cooling provisions and other construction details are not covered by the above classification system. Those are design details that are applicable to most types of motors.