Porous Media Radial Air Bearings Deliver Frictionless Rotary Motion

This line of radial air bearings is designed for use in precision rotary motion applications. These new modular components do not constrain rotary motion using a 360° housing as rolling element bearings do; instead, they are positioned in combinations of three to four segments to support a rotor from just a small percentage of its circumference. When this rotor is also constrained axially—for example, using flat round or rectangular air bearings—it will float on a five micron film of air, enabling frictionless rotary motion. The resulting assembly is simple; has only one moving part; and provides smoother, faster, more consistent, and precise frictionless motion, without noise, vibration, or need for lubrication.