Recently, research on non-contact conveyance systems using electromagnetic levitation technology has accelerated. We have constructed an electromagnetic levitation control system that keeps the relative distance between the electromagnet and steel plate constant. To investigate the levitation stability of thin steel plates, we performed magnetic levitation experiments on a thin steel plate with curvature. A physical disturbance was applied to the electromagnet units by vibrators. The electromagnet units were vibrated up and down by a vibrator. We investigated whether the bending magnetic levitation improved the levitation performance even if the magnetic levitation system was in a vibrating environment. We determined that it was possible to realize stable levitation for a steel plate under external disturbances during levitation at the optimal bending angle.

Recently, demand for thin steel plates has increased. In the manufacturing of thin steel plates, surface quality deterioration due to contact between the rollers and steel plate involved is problematic. We are investigating magnetic levitation conveyance to propose a noncontact conveyance system using electromagnets. However, the magnetic levitation of thin steel plates is unstable because of the deflection in the range where the electromagnetic force is not affected. Therefore, to improve the levitation stability, we are investigating a bending magnetic levitation system in which a thin steel plate is bent during magnetic levitation but not deformed plastically. In this study, a dynamic analysis using the finite difference method is performed to understand the behavior of a thin steel plate during magnetic levitation. In the dynamic analysis, vibration is evaluated based on the displacement standard deviation. The dynamic simulation visualizes the dynamic behavior of a levitated flexible steel plate.