Top 12 Air Bearings

One of the biggest enemies in the world of mechanical engineering is friction. Excessive contact between two relative motion surfaces implies faster wear and tear and corrosion of surfaces due to heat. Even though surface friction between two contacting surfaces are removed using industrial grease and lubricants in traditional bearing systems, there will be a need to change these surfaces in the long run, giving rise to high costs of parts replacement. Air bearings solve this problem by eliminating surface contact by creating a thin film of air that acts as a lubricant.

When to use air bearings?

Air bearings may not be suitable for all applications. It is essential to consider the design requirements, installation guidelines, and unique requirements of air bearings. Air bearings are used when there is a requirement for friction elimination, high accuracy, and repeatability. Low acceleration and high load capacity in small design envelopes generally go better with traditional bearing systems and do not need air bearings.

What type of air bearing to use and when?

There are broadly two types of air bearings. One is aerodynamic bearing and the other being aerostatic bearing. While aerodynamic bearings need relative motion between surfaces to create a thin film of air for lubrication, aerostatic bearings do not. An external pressure source supplies this air film for aerostatic bearings. When there is a need for a massive load capacity at zero speed, aerostatic bearings are more suitable than aerodynamic bearings. The latter does not have load carrying capacities at zero speed, resulting in contact of surfaces and increased wear tear.

Orifice or porous media bearings. Which is better?

Air bearings need to be supplied with a continuous stream of pressurized air. Orifice air bearings supply air through small holes and grooves. However, the air supply tends to be uneven and unstable through orifice media bearings. In porous media bearings, wherein air is filtered through millions of sub-micron sized holes, the air supply is stable, and air pressure is equal across the bearing's face. It also automatically regulates and dampens air flow at all times. Hence, porous media bearings are far superior to orifice based bearings.

Categories Simillar to Air Bearings includes Radial Ball Bearings, Sleeve Bearings and Cylindrical Roller Bearings

Radial Ball Bearings

Sleeve Bearings

Cylindrical Roller Bearings

Needle Roller Bearings

Spherical Roller Bearings

Tapered Roller Bearings

Thrust Roller Bearings

Linear Ball Bearings

Ball Transfers

Mounted Bearings

Roller Bearings

Linear Bearings