PA-Rail – Pressure Only – Substrate Conveying

Introducing the PA-Rail Series of Air Bars

New Way Air Bearings^® wants you to know about an innovative new line of air bars, the PA-Rail line of pressure only air bars that are ideal for glass conveying systems and related substrate handling applications. The PA-Rail line deepens New Way’s air bars product line, and provides customers with a pressure only rail assembly that utilizes our Porous Media Technology™.

Ideal for Glass Handling and Substrate Conveying Applications

Designed to meet specifications of a glass floating height between 100-150µm and an air flow <50 L/m per meter of rail, the PA-Rail line of air bars requires lower air consumption and the use of porous media does not scratch the glass.

Air is delivered through a permeable material formed with millions of holes that allow the distribution of air. The superiority of porous media is why it is New Way’s choice for air bearing design for all its products. Our Porous Media Technology™ utilizes a porous carbon material inherent with millions of sub-micron holes. A thin yet robust air film is created across the entire bearing surface providing an even distribution. This removes the concern of pressure gradients and as a result is able to provide greater precision on a consistent basis.

Clean Room Compliant

Click to view full testing and analysis report

The unique use of porous media in air bars makes them ideal for clean room use. Not only is less air used in air bars when compared to orifice-based air bearings, but the air is evenly distributed by the porous media. Both of these features minimize the potential of currents or eddies in the clean room and its damaging impacts on production.

Another benefit of the use of porous media is its ability to perform as a sub-micron filter for the air emitted. Testing indicates the bearing satisfies the requirements of Class 1 (ISO class 3) cleanliness, with airborne particulate concentrate limits of less than 1,000 x 0.1μm particles / m3.