Air bearings

Flat Air Bearings

For extremely accurate linear or rotary motion, flat air bearings are the ideal components. They offer a non-contact, frictionless bearing solution with zero wear.

Need help selecting the right type of Air Bearings?

Talk to our specialists

Our team can help you achieve the next level of precision with:

Expert advice

Our engineers can guide you on the right component for your application.

Performance data

Air bearings are tested by our expert measurement team.

Ultra precision design services

Solutions designed for your application.

Challenging specifications

Whether your challenge is precision, speed or environment, we can offer unmatched experience.

Our Flat Air Bearings portfolio

Our Flat Air Bearings were the original standard, off the shelf, Porous Media Air Bearing product line. These versatile Air Bearings are available in round or rectangular configurations, ideal for frictionless motion control in a wide array of applications.

Flat Round Porous Media Air Bearings allow anyone to design and build their own custom Air Bearing assemblies. The round configuration makes the most efficient use of standard raw materials and ultra-precision manufacturing techniques, ensuring low cost standard product availability. In addition to the standard product line (shown), custom Flat Round Air Bearings are also available.

Flat Rectangular Air Bearings are designed to carry high loads while maximizing the load bearing surface through a gimballed mounting system. These Air Bearings can be mounted on ball mounts, providing a self-levelling interface between the Air Bearing and the guide surface. For some linear applications, the rectangular profile provides a more efficient bearing surface alignment.

Type

Size

mm

Download

What are flat air bearings?

Flat air bearings are precision mechanical components that support loads on a thin film of pressurized air, creating a virtually frictionless interface between the bearing and a flat guide surface. Air is supplied through porous media in the bearing, creating a cushion that separates the bearing from the surface with no physical contact. This makes them avoid long-standing problems by their unique advantages such as: 

• Low-friction
• Zero wear
• No need for lubrication

What types of applications are flat air bearings best suited for?

They are ideal for high-precision and/or clean applications such as:

• Semiconductor wafer processing
• Metrology and inspection equipment
• Coordinate measuring machines
• Precision machine tools
• Research and development instrumentation
• 3D printing system

We can help you find the perfect flat air bearing for your specific application. Feel free to contact us straight away.

What are the typical operating temperatures and speed limits for flat air bearings?

Standard flat air bearings are designed for environments up to 50°C but are mostly used at room temperature of approximately 20°C. In terms of speed, they can support linear speeds exceeding 50 m/s, depending on load, air supply and surface finish. Custom made air bearings have more possibilities and can be designed to your specific application. For example, extreme temperatures up to 250°C or high accelerations up to 100 G.

Are you wondering if your conditions are suitable for flat air bearings? We can help you choose the right flat air bearing. Feel free to contact us straight away.

How much load can a flat air bearing support?

The load capacity for our flat air bearings depends on the size, but can vary from 50N to 20kN. In porous media flat air bearings, the pressure under the bearing is very evenly distributed. Load capacity is determined by:

• Bearing surface area
• Input air pressure
• Bearing efficiency

Load Capacity = Surface Area x Input Pressure x Efficiency
(where the efficiency can be approximated to 50% for indication)

Flat bearings have the highest load capacity of our product range. Check the bearing specification sheet for the load capacity. Are you wondering if your application is suitable for flat air bearings? We can help you choose the right flat air bearing. Feel free to contact us straight away.

What are the advantages of using flat air bearings over traditional bearings?

Flat air bearings are a natural choice over rolling element bearings for applications requiring a combination of high speed, repeatable motion. The main advantages to flat air bearings are:

• No wear and tear due to zero friction
• No lubrication
• High speed and acceleration
• Precision and straight motion
• Silent and smooth operation
• Higher damping
• Cleanroom compatibility
• E.g. Read more on our benefits vs ball bearings page

Are you wondering if we can replace your traditional bearing for air bearings? Feel free to contact us straight away.

What kind of surfaces are required for flat air bearings to operate correctly?

As for regular air bearings, flat and smooth guide surfaces with a suggested finish of 16 RMS are required for optimal performance of flat air bearings. Common surface materials are:

• Granite
• Hard-coated aluminum
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Stainless steel
• Plated steel

Are you wondering if your conditions are suitable for flat air bearings? We can help you choose the right flat air bearing. Feel free to contact us straight away.

What kind of air supply is needed for flat air bearings?

Flat air bearings require:

• Clean, dry, filtered air
• Regulated pressure, typically between 2–7 bar
  Normal operating pressure is typically 4.1 bar
• Stable flow rate, depending on the number and type of bearings used

Oil-free compressors or centralized industrial air systems are common sources for good quality air supply.

More detailed information about the air supply is explained on our operation, cleaning and care page.

Are you wondering if your conditions are suitable for flat air bearings? We can help you choose the right flat air bearing. Feel free to contact us straight away.

Back to Air Bearings portfolio