A Magnetic Lead Screw with Variable Stiffness Mechanism

A magnetic lead screw (MLS) is a kind of feed screw that allows non-contact power transmission by a magnetic force. It can be driven efficiently due to no frictional contact, and flexibly respond to an external force by its magnetic spring characteristic. In this paper, we propose a variable stiffness MLS (VSMLS) that provides various response against the external force. The basic structure, the variable stiffness mechanism, and how it works are described. Its variable stiffness characteristics are clarified through calculation employing FEM.