System and method for aligning a magnetic drive unit

A system for aligning and rotating a bioprocessing drive head comprising:

• a rigid support structure configured for receiving a flexible bioprocessing vessel having an interior cavity that includes an impeller;
• a drive motor attached to an external surface of the rigid support structure;
• a rotary ball spline mechanism operatively connecting the drive motor to a rotatable shaft;
• a drive head operatively connected to an end of the rotatable shaft opposite from the drive motor, the drive head configured to rotate an impeller within a bioprocessing vessel;
• a linear movement mechanism operatively connected to the rotary ball spline mechanism and/or the rotatable shaft;
• and
• wherein the linear movement mechanism is configured to move the drive head linearly via the rotatable shaft into operative contact with the impeller, without linearly moving the drive motor;
• wherein the drive motor is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft and drive head, via the rotary ball spline mechanism, to rotate the impeller.