Hello guys.
I have a linear motor that has no sensors on it. It's a motor with coils on the outside and magnet rod on the inside. What I want to do is to use it as an on/off actuator. I will mechanically position it so it will always be in the middle and i'd like it to go in either direction when requested (like an on/off solenoid). I would build mechanical stop, so it doesn't need to stop in the software.I need the actuator to be as powerful and as fast as possible. I have 48V available and the motor is rated 2kW. One problem for sure is that since it's not a rotating motor, it needs to have high torque and speed in the start and travel is only 25mm in one direction and 25mm in other direction.
Do you think VESC would be good for this kind of application?
I think VESC could do the job provided you use a linear position sensor (to use as an encoder input, and possibly replace your end stops). Otherwise, you could try the HFI mode (sensorless), but it is hard to tell if it performs well in your conditions (that's heavily dependent on how the winding inductance changes when your rod moves).