Question 1

How do air bearings compare to other types of bearings in terms of performance?

Accepted Answer

Air bearings are a type of mechanical bearing that uses pressurized gas (usually air) to create a thin film of gas between two surfaces. Air Bearings are known for their low friction, high accuracy, and clean operation, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications.
Compared to other types of bearings, such as rolling element bearings and hydrostatic bearings, air bearings have many advantages:
 Low friction: Air bearings have extremely low friction due to the thin film of gas that separates the moving and stationary surfaces. This makes them ideal for applications that require precise movement or low-friction operation. High accuracy: Air bearings are known for their high accuracy and stability. They can maintain a precise position and orientation over long periods of time, making them ideal for applications that require precise measurement or control. Clean operation: Air bearings do not require any lubrication or maintenance, making them ideal for applications where contamination or debris could be a concern. They can also operate in a wide range of temperatures and environments without degrading. Long lifespan: Air bearings have a long lifespan compared to other types of bearings, as they do not wear out or require maintenance. This makes them cost-effective over the long term.

Question 2

How do air bearings work?

Accepted Answer

Air bearings, also known as air cushions or air casters, are mechanical devices that use pressurized gas (usually air) to create a frictionless bearing surface for the motions. They are often used in manufacturing, transportation, metrology and many other industries where precision and ease,frictionless, clean movement are important.

Question 3

I have orifice air bearings. How will I benefit by switching to porous media air bearings?

Accepted Answer

Porous media air bearings distribute air more evenly. Because of this, they offer the benefit of more load capacity, higher stiffness, better gap stability, and more. Additionally, the porous material (graphite) has a natural lubricity. Therefore, your assembly will still work even if the bearing briefly makes contact with the guide. An orifice air bearing however, will have metal-on-metal contact which could damage both the bearing and the guide. The porous media air bearings won't get damaged from contact.

Question 4

How does OAV Air Bearings maintain the stability and damping effect?

Accepted Answer

We design our air bearings to have special epoxy to block the pores on the surface where air flow is not desired. Our design forces the flow in the direction of the frictionless surface. This results in higher stiffness, more stability, and better damping properties.

Question 5

What maintenance do air bearings require?

Accepted Answer

OAV Air Bearings require zero maintenance. If you do need to clean the air bearing surface, simply wipe the surface with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.

Question 6

Can only air be used for air bearings?

Accepted Answer

Compressed air is very common in industrial environments, however other gases such as compressed nitrogen can be also used. Different gases will provide different results. The specifications listed by OAV Air Bearings are based on compressed air.

Question 7

How do air bearings work and what are their principles of operation?

Accepted Answer

Air bearings work by using pressurized gas, usually air, to create a thin film of gas between two surfaces. This thin film of gas acts as a lubricant, reducing the friction between the two surfaces and allowing them to move smoothly and easily against each other. There are several types of air bearings, including journal bearings, linear bearings, thrust bearings, roller bearings, tapered bearings, and vacuum-preloaded bearings. Each type of air bearing operates on similar principles but is designed for a specific type of motion or load-bearing application. Contact the OAV Support team for your specific application. The gas film acts as a lubricant, reducing the friction between the two surfaces and allowing them to move smoothly and easily against each other. This makes air bearings ideal for applications that require low friction, high accuracy, or clean operation.

Question 8

What happens to air bearing systems when the air supply suddenly shuts off?

Accepted Answer

OAV Air bearings are made from Aircraft Quality Aluminum and Graphite. Graphite is a carbon that forms only two bonds with other carbon atoms. This means that it has free electrons and the graphite material exists in layers. This enables one layer to slip over another layer, making graphite an excellent lubricant. If the air supply shuts off, OAV Air bearings act as low friction bushings and it won't damage the platform or the bearing.

Question 9

How accurate are OAV air bearings?

Accepted Answer

The accuracy of air bearings is almost entirely determined by the accuracy of the guide. To improve the accuracy, the guide will need to have high stiffness, excellent flatness, and the right surface roughness.  For best results, use the following tolerances:   Surface Roughness 16 micro-inch (0.4 micron) RMS or better Grade A for high precision Grade AA for ultra precision   OAV manufactures guide surfaces with state of the art measuring and testing equipment. OAV guarantees that tolerances are met and that the air bearings achieve the desired performance on the guide.

Question 10

How do I choose the right size and type air bearing for my application?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the right size air bearing for your application is important to ensure that it performs appropriately and meets the requirements of your application. Here are a few factors to consider when selecting the size of an air bearing: Load-bearing capacity: The load-bearing capacity of an air bearing is determined by the pressure of the gas film and the size of the bearing surfaces. It is important to ensure that the air bearing is capable of supporting the required load without failing or deforming. Envelope Size Accuracy  Operating conditions: The operating conditions of the air bearing, such as temperature, humidity, and contamination, can also affect its performance. It is important to consider these factors and choose a size that is appropriate for the operating environment.

Question 11

What is the recommended air quality for OAV Air Bearings?

Accepted Answer

Between ISO 8573.1 Quality Classes 3 & 4. Minimum recommendation: dirt particle size at 15 microns, dew point at 37 deg F, oil/vapor content at 5mg per cubic meter.  Ideal recommendation: dirt particle size at 5 microns, dew point at -4 deg F, oil/vapor content at 1 mg per cubic meter.

Question 12

How much do air bearings cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing will vary based on quantity. Contact OAV Air Bearings for a quote. http://oavco.com/purchase.html

Question 13

Can I download solid files and drawings?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by clicking on the product link where each size will have a solid file and drawing.

Question 14

How fast can a bearing rotate?

Accepted Answer

Below are the standard size air bearing speeds (rpm):  0.25 Inch - 140,000 rpm 13 mm - 76,500 rpm 20 mm - 50,000 rpm 25mm - 40,000 rpm 40mm - 25,000 rpm 50mm - 20,000 rpm 75mm - 13,250 rpm

Question 15

How do I install OAV Air Bearings?

Accepted Answer

It is important to read the Design Guides found here. This information will help you design around the air bearing. The links below are the direct links to the Installation Guides for the respective air bearings:   Roller Air Bearing Thrust Air Bearing Air Bushing Flat Air Bearings

Question 16

How small can you manufacture custom sizes?

Accepted Answer

We can manufacture parts as small as 3mm ID air bearings.

Question 17

How much air pressure do I use?

Accepted Answer

It is best to start with 40 PSI and gradually increase until your desired results are achieved. Our standard air bearings are designed to function between 40 PSI and 100 PSI.

Question 18

Can I use OAV Air Bushings for fixed locations, rotational motion, as well as linear motion?

Accepted Answer

Yes, OAV Air Bushings as well as OAV Roller Air Bearings are designed to support rotating shafts with linear motion or a fixed location.  See here: http://oavco.com/rollerairbearing

Question 19

What is the accuracy of OAV Air Bushings?

Accepted Answer

OAV Air Bushings have ultra-precise linear and rotary motion capabilities. Linear Accuracy: 10µin/in, 100µin/36 in  Rotary Accuracy: ±1µin TIR Roll/Pitch/Yaw: 0.25 arcsec/in  Linear Repeatability: ±10µin  Rotary Repeatability: 1µin  Positioning Resolution: to ±1 encoder count

Question 20

What is the difference between the OAV Air Bearing Guides and the OAV Flat Air Bearings? Which one do I need?

Accepted Answer

Both are designed for precision linear motion. Flat air bearings are more commonly used and are more cost effective. The Air Bearing Guides such as the Dovetail Series are high-end air bearing systems designed to handle more load, higher acceleration, and more momentum.

Question 21

What size and type of components does OAV Air Bearings offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer components ranging from o-rings to shafts to mounting blocks to air filters. Our components are available in numerous sizes both in imperial and metric.

Question 22

What is the OAV Roller Air Bearing?

Accepted Answer

The OAV Roller Air bearing is designed to replace conventional bearings. The roller bearing is hard-installed at a fixed location. The result? Zero friction, zero contact, zero maintenance, an indefinite operating life, and zero heat generation at high speeds.

Question 23

How is a thrust bearing guided? How is a thrust bearing held in position

Accepted Answer

There are clamps or face collars on each side of the thrust bearing to hold the bearing in one position. Once in position, the bearing stays there and the shaft can rotate freely.

FAQ

What is OAV Air Bearing Material and Technology?