An apparatus comprising: a linear motor configured to output a linear force along its length (x) including: an internal housing; a central support core extending from a top of the internal housing to a bottom of the internal housing; a first armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by an upper gap and separated from the central support core by a first side gap; a first magnetic core associated with the first armature coil; a second armature coil disposed within the internal housing, wherein the second armature coil is separated from the first armature coil by a central gap, separated from the internal housing by a lower gap, and separated from the central support core by a second side gap; a second magnetic core associated with the second armature coil; and a fan configured to cause air to flow in the upper gap, the first side gap, the central gap, the lower gap and the second side gap, and to blow air directly across the armature coils (202a, 202b) and magnetic cores (204a, 204b) with the air flow being generally along the length of the motor, wherein a geometry or size of the gaps (224a, 228a, 222a, 226a, 228b) is designed via an iterative process to maximize heat transfer based on operating temperatures of the armature coils (202a, 202b) and magnetic cores (204a, 204b), properties of the air flow at operating temperatures, performance curves of the fan, or arrangement of the fan. a linear motor configured to output a linear force along its length (x) including: an internal housing; a central support core extending from a top of the internal housing to a bottom of the internal housing; a first armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by an upper gap and separated from the central support core by a first side gap; a first magnetic core associated with the first armature coil; a second armature coil disposed within the internal housing, wherein the second armature coil is separated from the first armature coil by a central gap, separated from the internal housing by a lower gap, and separated from the central support core by a second side gap; a second magnetic core associated with the second armature coil; and a fan configured to cause air to flow in the upper gap, the first side gap, the central gap, the lower gap and the second side gap, and to blow air directly across the armature coils (202a, 202b) and magnetic cores (204a, 204b) with the air flow being generally along the length of the motor, an internal housing; a central support core extending from a top of the internal housing to a bottom of the internal housing; a first armature coil disposed within the internal housing and separated from the internal housing by an upper gap and separated from the central support core by a first side gap; a first magnetic core associated with the first armature coil; a second armature coil disposed within the internal housing, wherein the second armature coil is separated from the first armature coil by a central gap, separated from the internal housing by a lower gap, and separated from the central support core by a second side gap; a second magnetic core associated with the second armature coil; and a fan configured to cause air to flow in the upper gap, the first side gap, the central gap, the lower gap and the second side gap, and to blow air directly across the armature coils (202a, 202b) and magnetic cores (204a, 204b) with the air flow being generally along the length of the motor, wherein a geometry or size of the gaps (224a, 228a, 222a, 226a, 228b) is designed via an iterative process to maximize heat transfer based on operating temperatures of the armature coils (202a, 202b) and magnetic cores (204a, 204b), properties of the air flow at operating temperatures, performance curves of the fan, or arrangement of the fan.