A motor drive apparatus including a scanner unit, a scanner moving unit, and a detection unit for detecting that the scanner unit has reached a position apart by a predetermined distance from the forward end position of the scanner unit in case of axially operating or moving the scanner unit toward the forward direction, wherein in case of operating the scanner unit axially toward the forward direction, the scanner moving unit carries out speed control based on a first speed set value until the detection by the detection unit achieves a detection, and after the detection by the detection unit, the scanner moving unit carries out the speed control based on a second speed set value smaller than the first speed set value.
