How does an air bearing work?

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Many of today’s manufacturers are faced with the increased demands of high-speed operations, coupled with extreme levels of precision. These unique requirements drive the need for machinery and tools which avoid friction to operate with high accuracy and reliability.

Air bearings provide an outstanding solution avoiding the traditional bearing-related problems of friction, wear and lubricants. One of the greatest benefits is that they provide new options for designers to push the envelope on precision, high speed, and high acceleration applications. Whether you’re an OEM or an Integrator, these porous media air bearings are not only a great technology but an outstanding product. Off-the-shelf or designed for your application, our years of experience with world beating precision design is here to help you change your paradigm.

 

At a glance

The advantages of designing with air bearings:

  • Zero friction and wear; better crash resistance and damping
  • Supports high speeds and acceleration
  • Ensures straighter motion (unlike rolling element bearings insensitive to surface finishes & guide irregularities)
  • Eliminates oil; positive air pressure self-cleaning in dusty environments
  • Performs a silent and smooth operation
  • Maintenance free

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Insights by our experts

Case study

Case Study custom high-temperature air bearings

IBS supported SparkNano in their high-temperature Spatial ALD application, with the integration of custom made full carbon air bearings, designed to withstand up to 250°C.

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Air Bearing noise analysis

An Air Bearing was tested under a 570N payload and 5 bar operating air pressure. The results show that the Air Bearing is quiet, with a noise level of less than 2.5nm. The noise level is reduced when air is applied.

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New roll-to-roll printing technologies.

Exploiting air bearings in roll-to-roll. Non-contact, almost zero friction, and no static build-up benefits production processes.

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Contactless handling, flattening and stabilization of webs.

In roll-to-roll processes for printed electronics, avoiding web contact is critical to reduce damage and contamination. Air bearings deliver contactless, precision control for printing, drying and inspection processes.

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Contactless shape manipulation of thin substrates.

How can you shape substrates to your wishes without even touching them. Read how the magic is done.

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Unexpected encounters.

Air bearings can be exploited by mechanical engineers to extend their design capabilities for precision manufacturing systems. Read about some surprising new applications.

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