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 and magnetic cores with the air flow being generally along the length of the motor , wherein a geometry or size of the gaps is designed via an iterative process to maximize heat transfer based on operating temperatures of the armature coils and magnetic cores , 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 and magnetic cores 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 and magnetic cores with the air flow being generally along the length of the motor , wherein a geometry or size of the gaps is designed via an iterative process to maximize heat transfer based on operating temperatures of the armature coils and magnetic cores , properties of the air flow at operating temperatures, performance curves of the fan , or arrangement of the fan . <EOS>