Flat Rectangular Air Bearing Line Extension - One-Page Release June 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ONE-PAGE RELEASE VERSION
New Way® Air Bearings Extends Line of Flat Rectangular Air Bearings To Accommodate New Profiles and Applications
Aston, Pennsylvania, USA, June 26, 2008 -- New Way Air Bearings has expanded its line of flat, rectangular porous media air bearings. Previously, this core product line consisted of four sizes. With the addition of seven new rectangular profiles - three larger bearings (up to 150mm x 300mm) and four smaller bearings (down to 12mm x 24mm) - there are now a total of 11 altogether.
This broader range of rectangular air bearings will enable engineers to address a number of changing needs. The first is the increasing size of Flat Panel Display glass. FPD manufacturers now use heavy, moving granite gantries that must span several meters. With this line extension, New Way now offers rectangular air bearings with the load capacity to handle such gantries.
Second, recognizing the benefits of air bearings, engineers had been trying to use multiple bearings (per side) to support a single heavier gantry. To be kinematically correct, three points define a plane. Attempts to define a plane with eight bearings are fraught with issues. New Way recognized the need to offer larger bearings so that engineers could follow good design principles.
New Way also responded to the development of the micro - and more recently the nano - industries, by engineering four smaller rectangular air bearings which remove problematic friction for high-precision micromachining or nano-positioning, including biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
With a complete line of 11 flat rectangular air bearings, New Way now enables customers to handle applications from the micro to the macro with precision.
New Way Rectangular Air Bearing Product Line Extension Part Number Size Status
S121201 12mm x 24mm New Small
S121501 15mm x 30mm New Small
S122001 20mm x 40mm New Small
S122501 25mm x 50mm New Small
S124001 40mm x 50mm Original
S124002 40mm x 80mm Original
S125001 50mm x 100mm Original
S127501 75mm x 150mm Original
S1210001 100mm x 200mm New Large
S1212501 125mm x 250mm New Large
S1215001 150mm x 300mm New Large
The Advantages of Porous Media
New Way's modular air bearing products are inexpensive, robust, and easy to use. Unlike conventional orifice air bearings, New Way Porous Media® Technology controls the airflow across the entire bearing surface through millions of sub-micron-sized holes in the material. More consistent air pressure distribution provides for superior performance.
Porous media technology has been in use for more than 20 years in precision applications such as coordinate measuring machines, precision machine tools, and test equipment. One advantage is that the bearing does not damage the surface it runs on should the air supply be inadvertently lost.
Further, because carbon is itself inherently a bearing surface, the New Way air bearings still fly even after severe surface damage. Having no friction or wear problems, and with no lubrication requirements, air bearings are ideal for applications in abrasive, dry and demanding environments that wreak havoc on traditional contact bearings.
For more sophisticated applications like the FPD marketplace, New Way® Air Bearings are approved for use in Class-10 Clean Rooms, where the constant flow of air helps keep the dust and particles found even in that environment away from the bearing surface.
The Benefits of Air Bearings
Zero friction
Because of zero static friction, infinite resolution and very high repeatability are possible.
Zero wear
Non-contact means virtually zero wear resulting in consistent machine performance and low particle generation.
Straighter motion
Rolling element bearings are directly influenced by surface finish and irregularities on the guide. Being non-contact air bearings average these errors.
Silent and smooth operation
Re-circulating rollers or balls create noise and vibration as hard elements become loaded and unloaded and change direction in return tubes. This is especially noticeable in the resolution of scanners.
Higher damping
Being fluid film bearings, air bearings have a squeeze film damping effect resulting in higher dynamic stiffness and better controllability.
Eliminates oil
Air bearings do not use oil lubrication, eliminating the problems associated with oil. In dusty environments (dry machining) ways are dry and bearings are self-cleaning because positive air pressure pushes dust away. In contrast, oil lubrication becomes a lapping slurry.
High speeds
High speeds - high acceleration. No balls or rollers to slip at high acceleration.
About New Way Air Bearings
New Way Air Bearings, Inc. is the market leader in the design and manufacture of modular air bearings and the recognized provider of porous media air bearing solutions. Founded in 1994, the company is located in Aston, Pennsylvania, USA, 15 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport.
In August, 2007, New Way® Air Bearings was named to Inc. Magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing, private companies in America for 2007. The company ranked as No. 2,294 on the list, which measured companies by revenue growth from 2003 to 2006. In November of 2007, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce named New Way recipient of its Technological Excellence of the Year Award for 2008.
Visit New Way Air Bearings at http://www.newwayairbearings.com. This web site includes specifications for the company's full product range, design and installation guides, mounting hardware, air specifications, technical support, and a full range of accessories.
High-Resolution Photography
High-resolution photography is available for use by the press at http://www.newwayairbearings.com/Photography-Products or by contacting Michael Wright directly using the information below.
Air Bearing - Flat Rectangular - Line View A
Air Bearing - Flat Rectangular - Line View B
Air Bearing - Flat Rectangular - Line View C |