MICOS linear servo motors can be used in both very low and very high velocity applications, all with very high precision. They can precisely operate at velocities ranging from less than 1µm/sec to more 5 m/s.Ball screws and lead screws have critical speed limitations. Belt drives exhibit lower stiffness. Rack-and-pinion drives typically have backlash and poor low velocity performance.

MICOS linear motors have a high ratio peak force to motor inertia. Therefore, almost all the motor force can be used to accelerate the moving load and perform useful work.In typical screw-driven systems, a large portion of the motor torque is lost in overcoming the rotary inertia of the motor, coupling and screw.

Brushless linear servo motors can provide extremely smooth motion, since they have no contacting surfaces to cause jitter. Ultimate smooth motion is achieved with MICOS's sinusoidal-commutated non-ferrous motors. By contrast, ball screws are not as smooth due to the vibratingnature of the balls entering and exiting the ball nut raceways, which is easily observed in sub-micron systems. Belt and rack-and-pinion drives also have contacting mechanisms which are susceptible to friction and backlash caused vibrations.

With MICOS linear motors, the only limit to total system accuracy and repeatability is the sensing device and the bearings of the positioning system. In rotary driven systems there are additional factors which effect these performance variables, including backlash, hysteresis, lost motion and jitter.