Linear motor with stacked electromagnets

An electrical linear motor comprising a stator and an actuation shaft movable in a linear axial direction with respect to the stator, the stator comprising a casing, an electromagnet array mounted in the casing, the electromagnet array comprising a central orifice extending in the linear axial direction within which the actuation shaft extends, the actuation shaft comprising a permanent magnet arrangement comprising a plurality of magnetic pole segments, the electromagnet array comprising a plurality of electromagnets to generate a magnetic field that in conjunction with the magnetic field of the permanent magnet arrangement generates an electromotive force between the stator and actuation shaft having a component in the axial direction to drive the actuation shaft relative to the stator, characterized in that the plurality of electromagnets is a plurality of substantially disc shaped electromagnets, each electromagnet-comprising a coil support having an axial recess extending radially from a radially inner annular rim to a radially outer annular rim, the radially inner annular rim defining the central orifice of the stator, the axial recess arranged on one side of the coil support and at least one coil is fully inserted within said axial recess, a dielectric material covering the coil within the axial recess, in the form of a dielectric potting material, a dielectric resin, or an injected or molded dielectric polymer, said at least one coil being pre-assembled to the coil support to form a single electromagnet, a plurality of said single electromagnets being assembled in a stacked manner in said axial direction to form the electromagnet array.