Other Applications

OTHER APPLICATIONS

Other Applications

Frictionless motion can provide significant advantages for many applications beyond those listed in this section of the New Way Air Bearings web site. In fact, New Way standard air bearings are often found at the center of a unique solution implemented by a very ingenious engineer. Where the need for creativity is even greater, New Way Air bearings is often called upon to work with a customer to design and manufacture a custom porous media air bearing solution.

Simple Concept; Sophisticated Technology.

The concept is simple: Force air through billions of sub-micron sized holes to create a non-contact bearing using the thin, continuous layer of air (just a few microns thick) that is then distributed evenly beneath a partnered artifact. The concept is simple...the technology is sophisticated...and the possibilities for new applications are limitless.

With a frictionless, non-contact bearing, vibration, friction, heat (and even the need for lubrication) all disappear. The thin layer of air creates an amazingly stiff and stable support layer for moving artifacts. And with viable surface speeds of up to 100-meters-per-second, we're talking about movement with a fair amount of giddyup. Think about the possibilities.

Then think about the fact that New Way Porous Media technology is naturally lubricious. Even in the event of a catastrophic air-loss, and subsequent grounding of the object in motion, this proprietary graphite material is inherently a bearing surface on its own, preventing potential surface damage to the artifact. Typically, there will be little or no significant damage to the bearing either, and once air resumes, the air bearing will work flawlessly.

Even in mild contact situations, the graphite does not particulate during use, allowing for clean room applications. Testing and analysis have found that these porous media air bearings do not negatively impact ISO Class 10 clean rooms and, in fact, act as a filter to incoming air - much in the way a HEPA filter acts - ensuring compatibility with clean room environments.

If Your Mind Can Conceive It, We'll Help You Achieve It.

Whatever application you dream up for New Way Porous Media™ air bearings, the high stiffness and fast vibration damping result in high motion control resolution. Since the coefficient of static and moving friction is virtually eliminated, sub-micron, even nano level resolution of movement is possible. This is essential in many industries where requirements for precision continue to increase.

The attributes provided by New Way Air Bearings create amazing capabilities for novel and custom machinery and applications. There is literally no end to the uses for air bearing technology, so call our technical support personnel today to find out how we can help you incorporate this technology into your designs today.

Products

		Air Bearings New Way Flat Air Bearings were the original standard, off-the-shelf, porous media air bearing product line, developed by New Way in the 1980's. These versatile bearings are now available in round or rectangular configurations, ideal for a wide array of applications.

		Vacuum Preloaded Air Bearings For applications where pre-loading is difficult or impossible, Vacuum Preloaded Air Bearings add vacuum to New Way Porous Media™ Technology. Simply then, these bearings hold themselves down while simultaneously lifting themselves from the guide surface. This unique combination is ideal for applications of all kinds.

		Air Bushings The New Way air bushing is designed to make air bearing technology readily available to engineers with pre-existing designs based on round shaft guides. These components run on standard precision steel shafting and are available in Metric or English sizes.

		Linear Air Slides New Way® Linear Slides combine an accurate guide with an air slide ready-fit for installation. This provides you with the convenience of integrated guide and bearing systems. Yet these slides have a straightness of motion and dynamic response often an order of magnitude better than conventional rolling element bearings.