Frictionless. Precise. Reliable
What is an
Air Bearing?
An air bearing is a non-contact precision bearing that supports motion using a thin, pressurized film of air instead of rolling elements or traditional lubricants. The air film completely separates the bearing surfaces, eliminating mechanical contact, friction, wear, and the need for oil or grease.
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This frictionless operating principle enables exceptionally smooth motion, micron-level positioning accuracy, high repeatability, and virtually maintenance-free performance. Air bearings are widely used in semiconductor manufacturing, precision metrology, optics, aerospace, medical devices, automation, and other industries where conventional mechanical bearings cannot consistently achieve the required precision.
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OAV Air Bearings utilize proprietary GraphAir® porous graphite technology, distributing air uniformly across the entire bearing surface for greater stiffness, improved load capacity, superior motion stability, and long-term reliability compared to conventional orifice-based air bearing designs.
Trusted by Industry Leaders Worldwide
OAV Air Bearings are used in aerospace, semiconductor, metrology, medical, research, defense, and advanced manufacturing applications worldwide
Ultra-Precision Motion
Cleanroom Compatible
Maintenance-Free
High Speed Precision
Made in the USA
Air Bearing Applications
Air bearings enable frictionless motion, exceptional positioning accuracy, and contamination-free operation across some of the world's most demanding industries.
Because there is no mechanical contact between moving surfaces, they are ideal for applications requiring micron-level precision, long-term reliability, and clean operation.
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OAV GraphAir® porous graphite air bearings are trusted in advanced manufacturing, semiconductor processing, aerospace, metrology, medical systems, and scientific research where conventional rolling-element bearings cannot consistently achieve the required performance.
Aerospace &
Defense
Precision positioning, satellite testing, and guidance systems
Semiconductor
Manufacturing
Wafer stages, lithography, inspection, and vacuum compatible motion
Metrology &
Inspection
CMM machines, interferometers, calibration systems, and precision measurement
Manufacturing &
Automation
High-speed assembly, laser processing, machine tools, and automation systems
Medical &
Cleanroom
Imaging systems, laboratory automation, and cleanroom equipment
Research &
Science
Synchrotrons, university labs, national labs, and scientific instruments
Why OAV GraphAir® Technology is Different
At the core of every OAV air bearing is GraphAir®, our proprietary porous graphite technology. Unlike traditional orifice-compensated air bearings, GraphAir® distributes compressed air uniformly through millions of microscopic pores to create a stable, self-compensating air film.​
GraphAir® Porous Graphite
Millions of interconnected pores distribute air evenly across the entire bearing surface for consistent pressure and superior performance.
Clean, Dry Air Inlet
Pressurized, filtered air enters through the inlet and flows uniformly through the surface.
Self-Compensating Air Film
Automatically adjusts to variations in load and surface conditions, maintaining a stable air film with no contact and no wear.
Performance Benefits of GraphAir® Technology
GraphAir® technology delivers measurable improvements in positioning accuracy, stiffness, stability, equipment life, and maintenance requirements for demanding precision motion applications.
Higher Positioning Accuracy
Even pressure distribution minimizes motion errors and improves repeatability for nanometer-level positioning applications.
✓ Sub-micron repeatability
Extended Equipment Life
With zero mechanical contact, there are no rolling elements to wear, extending service life and reducing downtime.
✓ Virtually zero wear
Greater System Stiffness
Evenly distributed air pressure increases bearing stiffness, allowing higher loads without sacrificing precision.
✓ Higher load capacity
Reduced Maintenance Costs
No lubrication, grease, or bearing replacement significantly lowers maintenance requirements over the system lifetime.
✓ No lubrication required
Improved Dynamic Stability
GraphAir® reduces vibration and stick-slip motion for smoother acceleration, deceleration, and precision control.
✓ Reduced vibration
Cleanroom Compatibility
Oil-free operation prevents particle contamination, making GraphAir® ideal for semiconductor, medical, and optical applications.
✓ ISO Class 1 compatible
Air Bearings vs Conventional Bearings
Compared to conventional rolling-element bearings, OAV GraphAir® air bearings eliminate mechanical contact, reducing friction, wear, lubrication requirements, and maintenance while delivering higher positioning accuracy, greater stiffness, and improved cleanroom compatibility.
Feature
OAV GraphAir® Bearings
Conventional (Rolling) Bearings
Mechanical Contact
✓ None (true frictionless operation)
X Continuous contact between rolling elements
Friction
✓ Near zero
X Moderate to high
Wear
✓ None
X Continuous wear over time
Lubrication
✓ Not required
X Required
Cleanroom Compatibility
✓ Excellent (particle-free operation)
X Limited (risk of contamination)
Positioning Accuracy
✓ Micron-level precision
X Limited by rolling element and play
Load Capacity & Stiffness
✓ High stiffness with uniform load
X Lower stiffness, point of contact
Maintenance
✓ None
X Regular lubrication and replacement
Service Life
✓ Unlimited
X Finite (limited by wear)
Unlike conventional rolling bearings that rely on continuous mechanical contact, OAV GraphAir® air bearings support motion on a thin, pressurized air film. This non-contact design eliminates friction and wear while delivering higher positioning accuracy, longer service life, and maintenance-free operation for semiconductor, metrology, aerospace, medical, and precision manufacturing applications.
Let's Find the Right
Air Bearing for Your Application
Our engineering team works with you to understand your requirements and recommend the optimal air bearing solution for your system.
Expert Engineering
Support
Application analysis and product reccomendation
Custom Solutions
Standard and custom designs to meet your expectations
CAD Models & Data
2D/3D CAD models and data for seamless integration