AIR BEARING

Guided By
Prof. S.M.RAMNANI

Presented By
YOGESH M. VISPUTE

INTRODUCTION
Bearing is a machine member which
supports moving parts & confines its
motion.
Bearing are classified as contact & non
contact bearing.
Air bearing is a non contact bearing.

WHY AIR BEARING?

Drawbacks in conventional bearing.
Friction, noise, dust collection, power loss,
need of lubriction.

Requirment of new industry.

Accurate, precise, easy controlled machines,
quality of product, low wear & tear, low friction etc.

WHAT IS AIR BEARING?

Small gap between
shaft & inner recess of
bearing.
Compresed air is used.
As load increases the
pressure increases
linearly.

WORKING PRINCIPLE
Whenever a thin film of
lubricant is used between
two mutually dynamic
compressed surfaces, the
friction is reduced.

TYPES OF AIR BEARING

Single Orifice Air Bearing

Multiple Orifice Air Bearing

Porous Orifice Air Bearing

COMPARISON OF ORIFICE &

POROUS AIR BEARING

MATERIAL USED IN AIR BEARING

For Orifice Air Bearing
metals
alloys & alloy steel
e.g. aluminum, duralumin,

For Porous Air Bearing

graphite carbon
porous ceramic

REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR BEARING

Clean air
Free from oil (oil / oil vapour should be
10mg/m3)
Free from moisture

APPLICATION
Precision Machining

high precision measuring instrument

medical machines & instruments
diamond turning machines
material testing machines

High loading application

guiding slides
micro-turbines
heavy load moving platforms

ADVANTAGES
Elimination of friction related problems
Elimination of heat generation
High stiffness
High precision
Silent & smooth operation
No need of lubrication
High speed
No requirement of life testing

DISADVANTAGES

High cost
Need of pressurized air
Limited loading

CONCLUSION
Air bearings will soon replace the
conventional bearings in high speed, low
loading applications because of their
excellence in overcoming the friction
related problems.

THANK YOU !