Voice Coil Actuators

Linear Voice Coil Actuators
Maximum Travel Ranges from 6.4 mm to 63.5 mm
High Purity of Motion

VC250/M

Voice Coil Actuator,
25.4 mm Travel

Zero Travel Position

Maximum Travel

VC063

Voice Coil Actuator,
1/4" Travel

VC625

Voice Coil Actuator,
2.5" Travel

Coil Assembly

Magnet Assembly

Related Items

Other Motorized Actuators

Voice Coil Flexure Scanner

Right Angle Clear Aperture Brackets

90° Mounting Adapters

Please Wait

Overview
Operating Specs
Threading Specs
Feedback

Click to Enlarge
The top of each coil assembly includes SM threads and threaded holes for mounting to other components. See the table below for details.

Features

Linear Voice Coil Motors
Direct Force Drive for High Purity of Motion
Up to 63.5 mm Maximum Travel
Current-Driven Operation
High-Speed, Precise Translation
Highly Responsive Acceleration and Deceleration
SM-Threaded Coil Assembly

Thorlabs' voice coil actuators are designed for use in applications requiring positioning with high speed or acceleration. These linear actuators use a bobbin and magnet assembly to provide linear force without contact between the moving and fixed world. The voice coil converts electrical signals directly into linear magnetic force, providing much higher purity of motion compared to DC motors requiring separate drivetrains such as belts or gears. When combined with a position sensor, our voice coils provide quick, accurate movement with excellent repeatability. The polarity of the voltage determines the translation direction of the motor. When using the red wire for positive voltage, the magnet assembly will extend when current is applied. The force can be approximated by multiplying the current by the force constant, although the position of the actuator will also affect the force provided by the actuator (see the graphs in the table below for details).

All voice coil assemblies have external SM threading that enables mounting to our fixed optic mounts or lens tubes. Both ends of the voice coil actuator should be firmly mounted so that the magnet assembly is suspended around the voice coil without contact. The coils with SM05 external thread as well as VC063B(/M) and VC125B(/M) have a center 4-40 (M3) mounting hole while their magnet assemblies have a center blind-tapped 4-40 (M3) mounting hole. The VC380(/M) coils have a center 4-40 (M3) mounting hole while their magnet assemblies have a center blind-tapped 1/4"-20 (M6) mounting hole. The remaining SM1 and SM2 threaded voice coil magnet assemblies have a center blind-tapped 1/4"-20 (M6) mounting hole, while their coil assemblies have two 8-32 (M4) mounting holes on opposite sides of a center Ø0.25" (Ø6.4 mm) through hole. The mounting holes could be used with our right-angle brackets to fix either end of the voice coil to an optical table or moving world of a stage.

If the voice coil actuator is translated beyond its maximum recommended travel range, the magnet assembly may be displaced too far from the coil assembly to maintain proper magnetic interaction. In this case, the actuator may no longer respond as expected and the voice coil must be manually contracted.

Do not bottom hardware in the centrally-located tapped hole of the stainless-steel housing. Doing so may misalign the permanent magnet, requiring repair to the assembly. Maximum thread depths for each voice coil actuator are provided with the Mounting Features given in the table below. Please contact Tech Support for assistance if the magnet becomes dislodged.

Voice Coil Actuator Operating Specifications

Thorlabs' voice coil actuators can be driven with either constant current with variable voltage or constant voltage with variable current. The electrical operating specifications are given in the tables below for the given coil operating temperatures and duty cycles. The constant current specifications are provided with a maximum voltage specification in the format I_Constant @ V_Max. The constant voltage operating specifications are presented in a corresponding format, V_Constant @ I_Max. Changing temperature will affect the linearity of acceleration, therefore graphs of the coil operating temperature over time, showing the amount of time needed to reach equilibrium, are available in the Info Icon ( info ) for each voice coil actuator at 100% duty cycle.

Constant Current Operating Specifications^a
Item #		VC063(/M)	VC063B(/M)	VC125(/M)	VC125B(/M)	VC125C(/M)	VC190(/M)	VC250(/M)	VC380(/M)	VC500(/M)	VC625(/M)
Coil Operating Temperature^b,c	Duty Cycle
60 °C	10%	2.15 A @ 4.95 V	2.55 A @ 5.10 V	1.80 A @ 7.10 V	2.30 A @ 7.10 V	2.45 A @ 18.40 V	1.80 A @ 9.35 V	2.10 A @ 14.30 V	1.60 A @ 11.85 V	1.75 A @ 18.45 V	1.85 A @ 19.75 V
	50%	1.00 A @ 2.35 V	1.59 A @ 3.15 V	0.95 A @ 3.55 V	1.15 A @ 3.65 V	1.30 A @ 9.75 V	0.90 A @ 4.95 V	1.05 A @ 7.30 V	0.85 A @ 6.30 V	0.90 A @ 9.45 V	0.95 A @ 10.25 V
	100%	0.80 A @ 1.85 V	1.15 A @ 2.50 V	0.70 A @ 2.65 V	0.95 A @ 3.00 V	0.85 A @ 6.30 V	0.65 A @ 3.50 V	0.75 A @ 5.35 V	0.70 A @ 5.05 V	0.65 A @ 6.90 V	0.70 A @ 7.40 V
100 °C	10%	2.95 A @ 8.20 V	3.90 A @ 9.35 V	2.75 A @ 11.85 V^d	3.60 A @ 12.80 V	3.35 A @ 27.80 V	2.55 A @ 15.50 V	3.05 A @ 24.85 V^d	2.35 A @ 20.20 V	2.50 A @ 30.35 V^d	2.60 A @ 30.35 V
	50%	1.35 A @ 3.60 V	2.05 A @ 4.70 V	1.35 A @ 5.80 V	1.85 A @ 6.80 V	1.70 A @ 14.00 V	1.30 A @ 8.05 V	1.55 A @ 12.30 V	1.20 A @ 10.10 V	1.25 A @ 15.10 V	1.35 A @ 16.85 V
	100%	1.10 A @ 3.05 V	1.45 A @ 3.50 V	1.05 A @ 4.45 V	1.35 A @ 4.80 V	1.25 A @ 10.45 V	0.95 A @ 5.80 V	1.15 A @ 9.30 V	0.90 A @ 7.60 V	0.95 A @ 11.40 V	0.95 A @ 11.80 V

Typical Constant Current and Max Voltage Parameters for Operation at a Given Coil Operating Temperature and Duty Cycle
22 °C Ambient Temperature
Severe damage to skin may occur on contact with exposed coil at temperatures >60 °C. The field produced by the permanent magnet will be significantly reduced at temperatures >110 °C.
These values were calculated due to testing constraints. The theory applied described all of the experimentally obtained data well.

Constant Voltage Operating Specifications^a
Item #		VC063(/M)	VC063B(/M)	VC125(/M)	VC125B(/M)	VC125C(/M)	VC190(/M)	VC250(/M)	VC380(/M)	VC500(/M)	VC625(/M)
Coil Operating Temperature^b,c	Duty Cycle
60 °C	10%	4.85 V @ 2.00 A^d	7.00 V @ 2.95 A^d	7.10 V @ 1.85 A	7.15 V @ 2.10 A^d	17.10 V @ 2.30 A^d	9.30 V @ 1.75 A^d	14.40 V @ 2.05 A^d	13.45 V @ 1.75 A^d	18.20 V @ 1.75 A^d	19.95 V @ 1.85 A^d
	50%	2.25 V @ 0.90 A	3.25 V @ 1.65 A	3.75 V @ 1.10 A	3.80 V @ 1.15 A	8.80 V @ 1.15 A	5.00 V @ 0.95 A	7.35 V @ 1.00 A	6.25 V @ 0.85 A	9.25 V @ 0.85 A	10.15 V @ 0.95 A
	100%	1.80 V @ 0.75 A	2.50 V @ 1.05 A	2.75 V @ 0.70 A	2.80 V @ 0.85 A	6.30 V @ 0.85 A	3.50 V @ 0.65 A	5.40 V @ 0.75 A	5.00 V @ 0.65 A	6.85 V @ 0.65 A	7.50 V @ 0.70 A
100 °C	10%	6.95 V @ 2.50 A^d	8.90 V @ 3.65 A^d	11.35 V @ 2.65 A^d	12.80 V @ 3.50 A^d	26.00 V @ 3.15 A^d	15.55 V @ 2.50 A^d	24.80 V @ 3.00 A^d	19.00 V @ 1.80 A^d	29.60 V @ 2.45 A^d	31.60 V @ 2.60 A^d
	50%	3.30 V @ 1.15 A	4.50 V @ 1.90 A	5.85 V @ 1.50 A	6.65 V @ 1.80 A	13.95 V @ 1.70 A	8.05 V @ 1.30 A	12.30 V @ 1.50 A	9.55 V @ 1.10 A	14.95 V @ 1.20 A	16.00 V @ 1.30 A
	100%	2.60 V @ 0.95 A	3.35 V @ 1.40 A	4.25 V @ 1.00 A	4.80 V @ 1.30 A	9.75 V @ 1.20 A	5.85 V @ 0.95 A	9.30 V @ 1.15 A	7.15 V @ 0.85 A	11.10 V @ 0.90 A	11.85 V @ 0.95 A

Typical Constant Voltage and Max Current Parameters for Operation at a Given Coil Operating Temperature and Duty Cycle
22 °C Ambient Temperature
Severe damage to skin may occur on contact with exposed coil at temperatures >60 °C. The field produced by the permanent magnet will be significantly reduced at temperatures >110 °C.
These values were calculated due to testing constraints. The theory applied described all of the experimentally obtained data well.

Click to Enlarge

Threading Specifications

The following is a general overview of screw threading. For more details regarding specifications and dimensions, please consult the Machinery's Handbook, available for purchase at many bookstores.

Features of a Thread
A thread consists of three repeating features: a crest, flank, and root (see drawing to the right). Except in special cases, threads have symmetrical sides inclined at equal angles when a vertical line is drawn through the center of a crest or root. The distance between corresponding points on adjacent threads is known as the pitch of the thread. The flank angle is defined as the angle the flank makes with a perpendicular ray drawn from the screw axis. Unless otherwise stated, threads have a flank angle of 30°, resulting in a total angle between flanks of 60°. Each feature is shown in the diagram to the right.

The major diameter is taken from the crests of a thread while the minor diameter is taken from the roots. For most screws, crests and roots do not terminate at a sharp point, so crest and root truncation values are included in the definitions of major and minor diameter. The pitch diameter is approximately halfway between the major and minor diameters.

Thread Form
A thread form is a set of rules that define the features' scale relative to one another. Common thread forms include the Unified Screw Thread Form, used in the United States of America and measured in imperial units, and the ISO Metric Screw Thread Form, used in many parts of the world and measured with the International System of Units. There are many thread forms in the Unified screw thread standard designated by either UN, which defines a flat root contour, or UNR, which defines a round root contour. These can be further described by appending more letters. For example, an extremely fine thread with a flat root contour is designated UNEF. Those forms which are not standardized by the Unified screw thread system are designated UNS.

Thread Series
Most screws are identified by their thread series. Thread series are denoted by the major diameter and density of threads. Unified threads specify density in threads per inch, while Metric threads specify the thread pitch. For example, in the Unified nomenclature, a 1/4"-20 cap screw has a 1/4" diameter barrel and the pitch is 20 threads per inch (TPI). In metric nomenclature, an M4 x 0.7 cap screw has a 4 mm barrel and the pitch is 1 thread per 0.7 mm. The term M4 x 0.7 is often shortened to just M4.

Unified Thread Class Tolerancing
Location	Loose	Optimal	Strict
Internal	1B	2B	3B
External	1A	2A	3A

Metric Thread Tolerance Positions
Location	Loose	Optimal	Strict
Internal	-	G	H
External	e or f	g	h

Metric Thread Tolerance Grades
Dimension	Location	Tolerance Grades^a
Minor Diameter	Internal	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Major Diameter	External	4, 6, 8
Pitch Diameter	Internal	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Pitch Diameter	External	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The tolerance becomes looser as the grade increases. The underlined grades are used with normal lengths of thread engagement.

Thread Class
The tolerances and allowances on a thread series are given by a thread class. Unified thread classes are alphanumeric identifiers starting with a number from 1 through 3, where 1 is the loosest tolerance and 3 is the tightest, and either A for external threading or B for internal threading.

Metric threads have a slightly more complex tolerancing method that uses tolerancing grades, designated by a number 3 through 9; and tolerancing positions, which use letters e through h. Grades provide a measure of the tolerance itself: the smaller the number, the tighter the tolerance. Positions denote the distance of the tolerance from the pitch diameter. Uppercase positioning letters indicate internal threads while lowercase positioning letters indicate external threads.

Quoting from the Machinery's Handbook, 29th Edition, p. 1885: "To designate the tolerance class, the grade and position of the pitch diameter is shown first followed by that for the major diameter in the case of the external thread or that for the minor diameter in the case of the internal thread, thus 4g6g for an external thread and 5H6H for an internal thread. If the two grades and positions are identical, it is not necessary to repeat the symbols, thus 4g, alone, stands for 4g4g and 5H, alone, stands for 5H5H."

Thorlabs' SM Series Threads
Threading specifications for our SM threads, utilized in our lens tube and cage system components, are given below so that you can machine mating components to suit your application. Most SM series threads utilize a non-standard Unified thread form, indicated by the letters UNS, with a 30° flank angle and a thread class of 2A and 2B. The exception is our SM30 series thread, which is a Metric thread form with a 30° flank angle and a tolerance of 6H/6g. We also offer products with C-Mount and RMS threads, and the specifications for these threads are given below for reference. Please note that other manufacturers may have different tolerances for C-Mount and RMS threads. For other thread specifications that are not listed here, please contact Tech Support.

SM05 Threading: Ø1/2" Lens Tubes, 16 mm Cage Systems
External Thread, 0.535"-40.0 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 0.535"-40.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	0.5340"	Min Major Diameter	0.5350"
Min Major Diameter	0.5289"	Min Pitch Diameter	0.5188"
Max Pitch Diameter	0.5178"	Max Pitch Diameter	0.5230"
Min Pitch Diameter	0.5146"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	0.508"
Max Minor Diameter	0.5069"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	0.514"

RMS Threading: Objective, Scan, and Tube Lenses
External Thread, 0.800"-36.0 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 0.800"-36.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	0.7989"	Min Major Diameter	0.8000"
Min Major Diameter	0.7934"	Min Pitch Diameter	0.7820"
Max Pitch Diameter	0.7809"	Max Pitch Diameter	0.7866"
Min Pitch Diameter	0.7774"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	0.770"
Max Minor Diameter	0.7688"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	0.777"

C-Mount Threading: Machine Vision Lenses, CCD/CMOS Cameras
External Thread, 1.000"-32.0 UN-2A		Internal Thread, 1.000"-32.0 UN-2B
Max Major Diameter	0.9989"	Min Major Diameter	1.0000"
Min Major Diameter	0.9929"	Min Pitch Diameter	0.9797"
Max Pitch Diameter	0.9786"	Max Pitch Diameter	0.9846"
Min Pitch Diameter	0.9748"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	0.966"
Max Minor Diameter	0.9651"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	0.974"

SM1 Threading: Ø1" Lens Tubes, 30 mm Cage Systems
External Thread, 1.035"-40.0 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 1.035"-40.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	1.0339"	Min Major Diameter	1.0350"
Min Major Diameter	1.0288"	Min Pitch Diameter	1.0188"
Max Pitch Diameter	1.0177"	Max Pitch Diameter	1.0234"
Min Pitch Diameter	1.0142"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	1.008"
Max Minor Diameter	1.0068"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	1.014"

SM30 Threading: Ø30 mm Lens Tubes
External Thread, M30.5 x 0.5 – 6H/6g		Internal Thread, M30.5 x 0.5 – 6H/6g
Max Major Diameter	30.480 mm	Min Major Diameter	30.500 mm
Min Major Diameter	30.371 mm	Min Pitch Diameter	30.175 mm
Max Pitch Diameter	30.155 mm	Max Pitch Diameter	30.302 mm
Min Pitch Diameter	30.059 mm	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	29.959 mm
Max Minor Diameter	29.938 mm	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	30.094 mm

SM1.5 Threading: Ø1.5" Lens Tubes
External Thread, 1.535"-40 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 1.535"-40 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	1.5339"	Min Major Diameter	1.535"
Min Major Diameter	1.5288"	Min Pitch Diameter	1.5188"
Max Pitch Diameter	1.5177"	Max Pitch Diameter	1.5236"
Min Pitch Diameter	1.5140"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	1.508"
Max Minor Diameter	1.5068"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	1.514"

SM2 Threading: Ø2" Lens Tubes, 60 mm Cage Systems
External Thread, 2.035"-40.0 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 2.035"-40.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	2.0338"	Min Major Diameter	2.0350"
Min Major Diameter	2.0287"	Min Pitch Diameter	2.0188"
Max Pitch Diameter	2.0176"	Max Pitch Diameter	2.0239"
Min Pitch Diameter	2.0137"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	2.008"
Max Minor Diameter	2.0067"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	2.014"

SM3 Threading: Ø3" Lens Tubes
External Thread, 3.035"-40.0 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 3.035"-40.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	3.0337"	Min Major Diameter	3.0350"
Min Major Diameter	3.0286"	Min Pitch Diameter	3.0188"
Max Pitch Diameter	3.0175"	Max Pitch Diameter	3.0242"
Min Pitch Diameter	3.0133"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	3.008"
Max Minor Diameter	3.0066"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	3.014"

SM4 Threading: Ø4" Lens Tubes
External Thread, 4.035"-40 UNS-2A		Internal Thread, 4.035"-40.0 UNS-2B
Max Major Diameter	4.0337"	Min Major Diameter	4.0350"
Min Major Diameter	4.0286"	Min Pitch Diameter	4.0188"
Max Pitch Diameter	4.0175"	Max Pitch Diameter	4.0245"
Min Pitch Diameter	4.0131"	Min Minor Diameter (and 83.3% of Thread)	4.008"
Max Minor Diameter	4.0066"	Max Minor Diameter (and 64.9% of Thread)	4.014"

Posted Comments:

Hyojeong Shon (posted 2024-07-31 15:50:35.54)

Hi, Thorlabs. Could you please give some information about its typical response time of "VC063/M", if possible? And could you also provide the information about recommended controller and Amp.? Thank you!

cdolbashian (posted 2024-08-30 11:28:54.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry. This device is a purely analog inductive circuit driving a ~7gram mass. The response time would depend on your driving parameters directly. I have contacted you regarding this, as well as regarding some recommendations for controller and amplifier.

Viacheslav Slesarenko (posted 2024-05-07 17:33:29.82)

Hi Thorlabs, We are trying to build a small testing setup consisting of two voice coils. While the VC125C/M options are very good in respect to stroke and force, we are bit lost regarding suitable motion controller and amplifier. Could you please give some recommendations? Thanks a lot!

cdolbashian (posted 2024-05-10 03:51:57.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry. I have contacted you directly to discuss some basic recommendations and usage tips.

user (posted 2024-02-29 13:22:54.4)

Hi Thorlabs, I am currently using your VC125B/M and VC380/M. I am trying to drive them with a H-Bridge motor driver (originally for a bldc motor) and want to identify the system over the current's step response. Have you done something similar which's documentation you could provide? Or do you have any other documents regarding the mathematical model or system identification that you could send me? Thank you in advance.

jpolaris (posted 2024-03-01 06:56:44.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you directly with raw force over travel data for VC125B/M and VC380/M when driven at 1 A. If you know the mass load being driven by the coil, you can use the force data along with the kinematics equations to calculation motion.

user (posted 2023-12-04 03:26:26.747)

Hi, Could you also provide the information about controller/amp recommendations? Thanks.

cdolbashian (posted 2023-12-11 10:46:04.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry. As this is a current-driven device with very low resistance, we recommend using a function generator in combination with a unity-amplifier, or using a benchtop current supply with modulation options. I have contacted you directly with some recommendations.

user (posted 2023-11-12 21:39:05.373)

Hi, can you recommend a controller/ driver for your VCAs with current control?

jdelia (posted 2023-11-13 02:49:03.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you directly regarding controller/amp recommendations.

user (posted 2023-08-15 16:01:29.14)

Hi, We are interested in this product to stabilize our laser by partially blocking the laser beam based the PID loop using the current reading (~100 uA) of a detector device. In this case, would you recommend having a separate current amplifier/driver? Also, could you provide a Solidworks file with a lower (2021) version? I cannot open the file as it's a future version file. Thanks a lot for your help!

ksosnowski (posted 2023-08-30 04:16:46.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us. Common photodiode max output currents are fairly low so transimpedance amplifier can be useful to convert this to a voltage with high gain while also preserving the sensor bandwidth. Optical feedback is one method of creating a closed-loop system with the voice coils. It would otherwise require a fairly high impedance input on any driver to reach a 5V signal swing with 100uA current, and if using the input impedance as a load directly then that will lower the RC time constant of the photodiode resulting in a lower bandwidth. Depending on the exact gain and bandwidth necessary our amplifiers like AMP120 may be a solution. I have reached out directly to discuss this application and other file versions in further detail.

user (posted 2023-07-24 09:30:50.067)

Hello, please recommend controller/amplifier for these coils

jdelia (posted 2023-07-24 01:12:44.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you directly regarding function generator and unity amp recommendations.

Andres Gomez (posted 2023-07-11 18:09:57.39)

Hello, I wanted to know if I can control the voice coil with a raspberry pi and with the following amplifier "15A 400W PWM Supported MOSFET Switching Module". Thank

cdolbashian (posted 2023-07-21 03:25:23.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry. I have contacted you directly to share our experienced when driving these devices.

user (posted 2023-07-12 11:32:12.54)

Dear thorlabs, Hellow, I am interested in your voice coil. I have a function generator, but don't have any current source. So, could you please recommend any current source to control your device? Do you have any dedicated voice coil controller? Thanks

cdolbashian (posted 2023-07-21 03:25:31.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us. When we tested this device, we used OPA548 amplifier from Texas Instruments with an analog function generators as a driver in our development of this device. A similar, stable, current source should be appropriate.

user (posted 2023-07-10 21:53:42.097)

Hello, I wanted to know if you can control l voice coil by means of a raspberry pi and current amplifiers and if not so they recommend me to control the movement. And this actuator "motor driver 810-01" if it is compatible with the voice coil. Thank you.

cdolbashian (posted 2023-07-21 03:36:44.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us. I have contacted you directly to share the configuration we use when driving this device, as I am unsure as to what "motor driver 810-01" is referring.

user (posted 2023-05-20 13:07:57.87)

Hello, I wanted to know what is the positioning resolution of the device? and what type of controller do you use?

cdolbashian (posted 2023-05-26 12:05:13.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us Benjamin. This device is nominally analog, and the position of the actuator moves as a function of applied current. Depending on the quality of your current control, you will have varying quality of positional resolution.

Lee Kyesung (posted 2023-05-15 16:41:24.14)

Is it possible to reciprocate in an axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity without contact between the moving and fixed world? Thanks

ksosnowski (posted 2023-05-15 04:17:57.0)

Hello Lee, thanks for reaching out to Thorlabs. We have used the voice coils in this orientation before, although it does require a mount that will maintain the coil separation. Currently we have one product series VCFL35(/M) which incorporates the VC063/M voice coil into a flexure mount for scanning applications.

Alex Barker (posted 2023-04-04 13:14:35.53)

Hi there, I can't open the solidworks files for the voice coils as the version is newer than my version of solidworks. Do you have solidworks part files (*.sldprt) for VC250 and VC500 for solidworks version 2019 SP5.0 or earlier? Thanks very much -Alex

cdolbashian (posted 2023-04-13 10:57:32.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us Alex! While we do not have an older version of this Solidworks file, we do also have .STEP files in the same location, which should be insensitive to the version of Solidworks used.

Klaus Becker (posted 2023-03-14 12:04:23.243)

Hello, could you perhaps recommend a priceworthy frequency generator / amplifier which works with the VC063/M voice coil actuator? best regards, Klaus

jdelia (posted 2023-03-14 09:20:34.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you directly regarding function generator and unity amp recommendations.

Taeguk Um (posted 2023-02-18 23:45:20.573)

Hi, I'm taeguk Um in KAIST, KOREA. I want to more about this product. In this product, how fast can it move? Also, if i input sinusoidal voltage, can i get reciprocating linear motion? Sincerely Taeguk Um

jdelia (posted 2023-02-23 01:27:47.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. While we do not have any speed data for these actuators, you can use the force vs travel plot we show on the website to extrapolate the acceleration and speed of the actuator using the kinematic equations. The speed will depend on the mass attached to the actuator. To answer your second question, yes, applying a sinusoidal voltage wave will result in linear motion.

Rahul Yadav (posted 2022-12-14 21:02:16.67)

I purchased Voice coil actuator(VC125/M) to control the movement in z- direction. So, I have few questions regarding that 1) How to operate it as if I'm directly giving signal from signal generator it stays upto some voltage and then suddenly shoots up. So, please tell me how to operate it precisely as I need precision of 20 um. 2) And if there is any components or driver to run these actuators please mention them as I'm getting difficulty in running these actuators. Regards, Rahul

cdolbashian (posted 2022-12-28 09:59:24.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us Rahul! It is important to ensure that there is current flowing to your device. Since this device works via current-generated magnetic fields, simply providing a voltage supply will not necessarily ensure full functionality. I have contacted you directly to troubleshoot this issue and attempt to figure out exactly how to make this work for your application.

user (posted 2022-12-11 14:24:19.69)

Hi, we are interested in your voice coil actuators and want to know if any controller, driver or amplifier are required for operation. If so, do you recommend any instruments (and their brand names) for the actuator control and operation? Thank you.

jdelia (posted 2022-12-12 08:15:43.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Yes, you would need a controller in order to driver our voice coils. While we do not currently offer a driver, we suggest using a unity amp in conjunction with a signal generator. I have contacted you directly regarding amp recommendation.

Srinivasan Manivannan (posted 2022-12-05 14:31:26.917)

Is this product Ultra high vacuum compactable? And do we need any controller for this?

jdelia (posted 2022-12-05 02:24:32.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately, our voice coil actuators are not considered vacuum compatible. You would need a controller in order to drive them. While we do not currently offer a driver, we suggest using a unity amp in conjunction with a signal generator. I have contacted you directly regarding amp recommendation.

Santosh C R (posted 2022-10-28 15:07:19.98)

Hi i am a doctoral research scholar at SSSIHL, India working on ultrafast fiber lasers. i am interested in using yourr VC500/M to set up an interferrometer experiment. i would like to know how do you mount the voice coil actuator on a regular optomechanical mount? most importantly, how do you drive the voice coil actuator to perform a simple micelson interfermeter experiment?

ksosnowski (posted 2022-10-28 03:42:09.0)

Hello Santosh, thanks for reaching out to Thorlabs. We have not designed mounts for all of the voice coil sizes, however VCFL35 is an example of a flexure-mounted unit we've designed. The webpage for VCFL35 has a brief video and Application Guide covering Michelson Interferometry as an example. Generally a triangle function is used to drive the coil, we do not have a driver for these however we have used the OPA548 amplifier from Texas Instruments with function generators as a driver in our development. I have reached out directly to discuss this further.

Nick Mascolo (posted 2022-10-11 11:15:54.2)

Good Morning, is there information available for what frequency range these products are optimized for? Or is there information about the acceleration of these products?

cdolbashian (posted 2022-10-14 03:48:38.0)

Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry Nick! As the motion of these devices are driven by currents converted to forces due to the winding the coils of wire, we do provide the force which each of these devices can deliver as a function of displacement (see graph in tables above). This determines the maximum acceleration (when adding mass to the component in motion) as well as frequency, as the turning points of the device will require large accelerations to complete the motion. Depending on the Mass and driving waveform it is certainly possible to estimate a max driving frequency though we have not explicitly tested it.

Oscar Martinez (posted 2021-11-17 10:57:03.793)

Do you provide a controller for the voice coil?

jgreschler (posted 2021-11-18 11:04:13.0)

Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. Unfortunately, we don't offer a controller for our voice coil actuators at the moment. That being said, we currently have a controller in development scheduled for release in Q2 2022.

user (posted 2021-09-09 21:37:52.913)

We wish to buy one of these products to perform experiments and we have some queries regarding some of the possible applications First which part of the coil moves, is it the coil assembly or the magnet assembly? Can I attach a 30g mirror on the magnet assembly and expect it to oscillate about a mean position of frequency 1kHz. Will the coil be able load this mirror in the horizontal position? What resolution of movement can we expect (we require a max displacement of 60micrometers). At what voltage can we operate this coil.

azandani (posted 2021-09-23 03:54:57.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Allow me to address each of your questions individually. Depending on how the voice coil is mounted, either the magnet or the coil can be the moving component. In most cases, the magnet will be the moving body so the wires do not get fatigued from constant movement. Your second question is more application dependent, but if you are looking to use it as a scanning device, a standalone voice coil will not yield ideal results. It is essentially just a motor and would need to be integrated and designed into a scanning device. The motion of a mirror mounted to the end of the voice coil would not provide constant motion on the surface of the mirror. That being said, these unfortunately do not have an encoder, so the movement resolution would be dependent on the resolution of the voltage and current applied.

Guoxing Gu (posted 2021-03-14 01:25:55.75)

I would like to attach a 10 g part on the voice coil motor and use it as a vertical stage to move the part down, what acceleration can be achieved? what is the response time?

asundararaj (posted 2021-04-01 01:49:53.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The voice coil actuators have not been formally tested for the achievable acceleration and response time. We are looking to conduct more tests on these in the coming months and will publish any repeatable specs.

Chan Leh Mun (posted 2021-01-18 02:28:36.843)

Hi What is the max current can be use? I thinking of using 3A for maybe 5 seconds to press a part down during UV curing. Then the coil should be at 1A current for another 5 seconds. This coil use to drive a Z axis for pick & place application. I wish to have up to 11.5N of force available during pressing down for 5 seconds.

YLohia (posted 2021-02-16 02:07:39.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The voice coils have not been tested up to 3 A and the data we have is at 100% duty cycle. The voice coil got up to a temp of 24.5°C in the first 15 seconds of operation at 1 A and then rose to 33 °C over the following 15 seconds (Total 30 seconds of operation at 1 A). The maximum current we specify is 1.9 A. Based on the data we have at the moment and the time that you're looking to run the coil, we believe it can withstand your operating conditions but we cannot guarantee this due to the lack of formal testing with these parameters, but we cannot provide any guarantees at the moment.

Voice Coil Actuators

Item #^a	Coil Assembly Thread^a	Mounting Taps	Force Constant^b	Travel	Coil Assembly Mass	Magnet Assembly Mass	Coil Resistance	Coil Inductance
VC063	SM05 (0.535"-40)	4-40	0.74 N/A (Raw Data )	1/4" (6.4 mm)	7 g	7 g	1.9 Ω	167 µH
VC063/M	SM05 (0.535"-40)	M3	0.74 N/A (Raw Data )	1/4" (6.4 mm)	7 g	7 g	1.9 Ω	167 µH
VC063B	SM1 (1.035"-40)	4-40	1.5 N/A (Raw Data)	1/4" (6.4 mm)	13 g	25 g	1.9 Ω	225 µH
VC063B/M	SM1 (1.035"-40)	M3	1.5 N/A (Raw Data)	1/4" (6.4 mm)	13 g	25 g	1.9 Ω	225 µH
VC125	SM05 (0.535"-40)	4-40	0.89 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	9 g	10 g	3.5 Ω	316 µH
VC125/M	SM05 (0.535"-40)	M3	0.89 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	9 g	10 g	3.5 Ω	316 µH
VC125B	SM1 (1.035"-40)	4-40	1.6 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	16 g	34 g	2.9 Ω	425 µH
VC125B/M	SM1 (1.035"-40)	M3	1.6 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	16 g	34 g	2.9 Ω	425 µH
VC125C	SM2 (2.035"-40)	Magnet: 1/4"-20 Coil: 8-32 (2 Places)	12.4 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	71 g	324 g	6.1 Ω	2950 µH
VC125C/M	SM2 (2.035"-40)	Magnet: M6 Coil: M4 (2 Places)	12.4 N/A (Raw Data)	1/2" (12.7 mm)	71 g	324 g	6.1 Ω	2950 µH
VC190	SM05 (0.535"-40)	4-40	0.8 N/A (Raw Data)	3/4" (19.1 mm)	9 g	11 g	4.6 Ω	585 µH
VC190/M	SM05 (0.535"-40)	M3	0.8 N/A (Raw Data)	3/4" (19.1 mm)	9 g	11 g	4.6 Ω	585 µH
VC250	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: 1/4"-20 Coil: 8-32 (2 Places)	3.84 N/A (Raw Data)	1" (25.4 mm)	38 g	97 g	5.1 Ω	1675 µH
VC250/M	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: M6 Coil: M4 (2 Places)	3.84 N/A (Raw Data)	1" (25.4 mm)	38 g	97 g	5.1 Ω	1675 µH
VC380	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: 1/4"-20 Coil: 4-40	2 N/A (Raw Data)	1.5" (38.1 mm)	26 g	62 g	7.2 Ω	1155 µH
VC380/M	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: M6 Coil: M3	2 N/A (Raw Data)	1.5" (38.1 mm)	26 g	62 g	7.2 Ω	1155 µH
VC500	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: 1/4"-20 Coil: 8-32 (2 Places)	3.99 N/A (Raw Data)	2" (50.8 mm)	51 g	153 g	8.5 Ω	3274 µH
VC500/M	SM1 (1.035"-40)	Magnet: M6 Coil: M4 (2 Places)	3.99 N/A (Raw Data)	2" (50.8 mm)	51 g	153 g	8.5 Ω	3274 µH
VC625	SM30 (M30.5 x 0.5)	Magnet: 1/4"-20 Coil: 8-32 (2 Places)	6.01 N/A (Raw Data)	2.5" (63.5 mm)	78 g	369 g	9.8 Ω	4328 µH
VC625/M	SM30 (M30.5 x 0.5)	Magnet: M6 Coil: M4 (2 Places)	6.01 N/A (Raw Data)	2.5" (63.5 mm)	78 g	369 g	9.8 Ω	4328 µH

See the Mounting Features tab on the Info Icon for dimensions and available mounting threads.
Specified at the stroke position that provides the maximum continuous force when driven with a current of 1 A. Click on the specification for a plot of the continuous force across the entire stroke and click the Raw Data link to download an Excel file with the raw data.

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