Frequently asked questions

Air bearings, also referred to as air cushions or air casters, operate by using pressurized gas (typically air) to create a frictionless bearing surface. This technology is widely utilized in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and metrology, where precision and clean, frictionless movement are crucial.

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.

Air bearings utilize pressurized gas (typically air) to create a thin film between two surfaces, resulting in low friction, high accuracy, and clean operation. These characteristics make them suitable for various applications. Compared to rolling element bearings and hydrostatic bearings, air bearings offer several advantages: - Low friction: The thin gas film minimizes friction, ideal for precise movement and low-friction operations. - High accuracy: Air bearings maintain precise positions and orientations over extended periods, perfect for applications requiring exact measurements or control. - Clean operation: They require no lubrication or maintenance, preventing contamination and operating effectively in diverse environments. - Long lifespan: With no wear and minimal maintenance, air bearings are cost-effective over time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Air bearings are used in high-precision applications such as semiconductor manufacturing, medical imaging devices, and aerospace testing, CMM, friction lion motion and automation systems . Their ability to operate without friction enhances accuracy, reduces maintenance costs, and increases efficiency.

Consider load capacity, environmental conditions, size requirements, and system compatibility.

An air bearing is a non-contact bearing that uses a thin layer of pressurized air to create a virtually frictionless load-bearing interface between two surfaces. This allows for high precision, smooth motion, and minimal wear.