Porous media air bearingsfor the best performances
The Dutch are famous as entrepreneurs. A long time ago, Amsterdam was the home port of the Dutch East India Company; nowadays the Netherlands is the “main port to Europe”.
Entrepreneurs from both the Old and New Worlds find their way to IBS Precision Engineering – and vice versa – because IBS can provide solutions for every problem in precision engineering. Our expertise is not limited by any boundaries
or borders, and it’s against that international background that we match supply and demand.
We can provide tailor-made precision engineering solutions, but we also have a standard line of measurement products – from leading brands like Lion Precision and New Way – that we sell under licence. The future is implicit in the past. With IBS, your precision engineering has a great future.
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Entrepreneurship
The Dutch East India Company
(vereenigde Oost-Indische
Compagnie) was the first
international trade association
to operate on a global scale.
In 1602, the Dutch parliament
(the “States General”) granted
the Company a monopoly on
trade in an area stretching
from the Cape of Good Hope
to the Strait of Magellan.
It became extremely
prosperous by trading in such
commodities as spices, exotic
textiles, and coffee.
Operations were financed
with public capital, subscribed
for the sum of 6 million
Dutch guilders.
The “Seventeen Gentlemen”
formed what we would
nowadays call the
“management board”
of the Company.
Dutch East InDIa company
First International trade association
When it comes to air bearings, IBS Precision Engineering offers the best solution for your application: the porous New Way Air Bearings. This Air Bearing is very reliable and has unique qualities. The porous material, for instance, ensures equal air distribution under the bearing. And porous air bearings are considerably better than conventional orifice bearings as far as bearing capacity, rigidity and air consumption go. In addition, the damping and crash resistance increase. The porous material makes the bearings less sensitive to damage.
Air Bearings provide new options for designers to push the envelope on precision, high speed,and high acceleration applications, while avoiding the traditional bearing-related problems of friction, wear and lubricants.
Air bearings basicsIBS Precision Engineering and New Way Air Bearings
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Benefits• Zero friction• Zero wear• Straighter motion• Silent and smooth operation• High damping• Eliminates oil• High speeds & acceleration• Low air consumption
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New Way flat round porous media air bearings allow anyone to design and build their own custom air bearing assemblies. The round configuration makes the most efficient use of standard raw materials and ultra-precision manufacturing techniques, ensuring low-cost standard product availability.
Available off-the-shelf, these standard bearings compare favorably with conventional rolling element bearings across virtually every performance characteristic. They are appropriate for highly-loaded applications, and are the easiest type of bearings to integrate into prototype designs as they can be readily replaced or changed.
They are also easy to apply. The gimbled mount allows for great flexibility in tolerance and the threaded ball studs make alignment simple. In addition to the standard product line (shown), custom flat round bearings are also available, including replacement bearings for many CMM's.
Flat round and rectangular air bearings
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Flat round air bearings
Flat rectangular air bearings
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Product line comparison: Flat round air bearings Part #
S102501S104001S105001S106501S108001
S1010001S1012501S1015001S1020001
Size (mm)
ø25ø40ø50ø65ø80
ø100ø125ø150ø200
Ideal loadN
80222355666
11101776277544447770
StiffnessN/micron
18285887
114175254350700
Air consumptionnl/min
0.50.71.11.42.32.62.62.93.8
Ball socketSize(mm)
131313131320202525
Bearing height(mm)
131313202025355070
Weight(grams)
143562
151235440
103320924773
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Mounting componentsNew Way standard mounting components are well-thought-out and precision-engineered to make the integration of our standard product line easy.
BallsMade from Grade 25 stainless steel, New Way balls act as a self-leveling interface between our flat air bearing pucks and your application. These balls may be the simplest way of all to mount an air bearing.
Ball mounting screwsIn round or flat end configurations, these 416 stainless steel ball mounting screws enable easy air bearing mounting. Their gimballed design helps to ensure that the bearing face remains parallel with your guide surface.
Nut housingsThese common nut housings are an optional subcomponent used with New Way flat end ball mounting screws. For certain applications they can simplify installation.
Ball retaining clipsWhen mounting your flat round or flat rectangular air bearing using a round-end mounting screw or stainless steel ball, you can use this (optional) ball retaining clip to ensure a more secure application.
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Product line comparison: Flat rectangular air bearings Part #
S121201S121501S122001S122501S124001S124002S125001S127501
S1210001S1212501S1215001
Size (mm)
12 x 2415 x 3020 x 4025 x 5040 x 5040 x 80
50 x 10075 x 150
100 x 200125 x 250150 x 300
Ideal loadN
3662
111187356623
1112258048937784
11121
StiffnessN/micron
57
14223558
110150665
10091645
Air consumptionnl/min
0.10.40.70.91.31.82.11.61.83.04.2
Ball socketSize (mm)
6666
13131325252525
Bearing height(mm)
10101317132025507085
100
Weight(grams)
68
264856
145295
1411362845976693
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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.
These air bushings consist of a porous carbon sleeve encased in an aluminum housing. They typically mount inside a bore. Standard metric mounting housings (pillow blocks) are available for easy assembly of custom slides. In applications where higher stiffness is required, the bearing may be set in-place by a precision potting procedure.
Two o-rings, mounted on the outside of the housing, position and support the bushing, allowing it to self-align. Once the bushing is mounted, these O-rings also create the sealed chamber by which pressurized air is introduced through the outer housing to the porous carbon liner, which evenly distributes a thin film of air between the inside diameter of the bushing and the guide shaft.
Load-carrying capability is greatly dependent on the size of the air film (or the diametrical difference between the guide O.D. and the bushing I.D.). Other critical factors impacting bushing performance include: input air pressure, surface finish of the guide, bushing-guide alignment, and geometry of the guide itself.
Air bushings
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Product line specifications: Air bushings - metric Part #
S301301S302001S302502S304002S305002S307502
Bushing I.D.Diameter (mm)
132025405075
Ideal loadN
44133187645934
1245
StiffnessN/micron
11233472
110159
Max.momentNm
0.81.11.93.15.27.1
Pitch stiffnessNm/mil rad
2.12.85.3112331
Air consumptionrange (nl/min)
2.2 - 3.13.5 - 4.84.5 - 5.97.1 - 9.3
9.0 - 11.913.2 - 17.5
Shaft (mm)
(+0.000/-0.0076)
132025405075
Weight(grams)
335483
223480623
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Mounting componentsNew Way standard mounting components are well-thought-out and precision-engineered to make the integration of our standard product line easy.
End mountsSold in pairs for easy parallel installation of New Way air bushing shafts, these clear anodized aluminum end mounts are manufactured to seat industry standard shaft sizing.
Mounting blocksAvailable in standard sizes, these black anodized aluminum mounting blocks enable the easy assembly of custom slides using New Way air bushings, which are mounted inside on o-rings to allow self-alignment.
O-ringsNew Way offers replacement O-rings. These simple copolymer rings mount on the outside of the air bushing housing, creating a sealed air pressure chamber, while also positioning and aligning the bushing.
ShaftsNew Way air bushings use solid steel cylindrical shaft guide ways. These shafts are manufactured to industry standard sizes with surface finishes of 0.4 rA or better for optimal performance.
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Product line specifications: Air bushings - english Part #
S300601S301201S301901S302501S303801S305001S307501
Bushing I.D. Diameter (inch)
0.250.500.751.001.502.003.00
Ideal load(lbs)
2.75103042
145210280
Stiffness(lbs-in)
10.00060.000
130.000190.000410.000630.000910.000
Max.Moment(lbs-in)
0.1257.5
10.017.028.046.063.0
Pitch stiffness(lbs-in/rad)
19518.75025.00047.400
100.875201.750275.110
Air consumptionrange (scfh)
2.25-3.304.75-6.607.00-9.60
9.50-12.6014.00-19.2019.00-25.2028.00-37.80
Shaft (inch)
(+0.000/-0.0003)
0.24950.50000.75001.00001.50002.00003.0000
Weight(oz)
0.31.12.03.07.2
17.022.0
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Radial air bearings concave & convexThe ideal components for building frictionless rotary motion, New Way radial air bearings provide a fast, made-to-order solution. In either concave or convex configurations, this new product line gives you all the differential advantages of New Way standard air bearings.
Radial air bearings - concaveIdeal for rotary motion, New Way concave porous media radial air bearings are designed to maximize open-ID aperture by enabling you to engineer a supporting structure outside the rotating body.
Radial air bearings - convexLike its concave counterpart, New Way convex porous media radial air bearings are ideal for rotary applications, designed to minimize the OD circumference, enabling a support structure inside the rotating body.
W-ProfileThe New Way concave/convex W-Profile radial air bearing profile features a radius cut across the width of the bearing.
L-ProfileThe L-Profile concave/convex radial air bearing profile features a radius cut across the length of the bearing to meet the needs ofyour application and the bearing-to-shaft ratio of your specific configuration.
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
W-Series concave
L-Series concave
W-Series convex
L-Series convex
Productline specifications: Radial air bearings - concave configuration "W" and "L" series
L-Profile
S3212L xx01S3215L xx01S3220L xx01S3225L xx01S3240L xx01S3250L xx01S3275L xx01
S32100L xx01S32125L xx01S32150L xx01
Size(mm)
12 x 24 mm15 x 30 mm20 x 40 mm25 x 50 mm40 x 80 mm
50 x 100 mm75 x 150 mm
100 x 200 mm125 x 250 mm150 x 300 mm
Height(mm) 101013172025507085
100
Ideal LoadN
224489
156445756
186837816672
10453
StiffnessN/micron
61017264688
120528801
1306
Air consumptionnl/min
0.240.941.181.183.073.543.074.254.965.19
Ball Socket(mm)
6666
131325252525
Weight(grs)
68
2648
145295
1411362845976693
W-Profile
S3212W xx01S3215W xx01S3220W xx01S3225W xx01S3240W xx01S3250W xx01S3275W xx01
S32100W xx01S32125W xx01S32150W xx01
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Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Productline specifications: Radial air bearings - convex configuration "W" and "L" series
L-Profile
S3312L xx01S3315L xx01S3320L xx01S3325L xx01S3340L xx01S3350L xx01S3375L xx01
S33100L xx01S33125L xx01S33150L xx01
Size(mm)
12 x 24 mm15 x 30 mm20 x 40 mm25 x 50 mm40 x 80 mm
50 x 100 mm75 x 150 mm
100 x 200 mm125 x 250 mm150 x 300 mm
Height(mm) 101013172025507085
100
Ideal LoadN
224489
156445756
186837816672
10453
StiffnessN/micron
61017264688
120528801
1306
Air consumptionnl/min
0.240.941.181.183.073.543.074.254.965.19
Ball Socket(mm)
6666
131325252525
Weight(grs)
68
2648
145295
1411362845976693
W-Profile
S3312W xx01S3315W xx01S3320W xx01S3325W xx01S3340W xx01S3350W xx01S3375W xx01
S33100W xx01S33125W xx01S33150W xx01
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Air bearing stagesDovetail air slidesNew Way dovetail air slides combine an accurate guide with an air slide ready-fit for installation. The dovetail guidebar can be end-supported, or continuously-supported. A continuously-supported dovetail will prevent the guidebar sag that can occur with a long span end-supported configuration. The dovetail air slide features New Way's lowest profile linear track, and a slightly longer stage length than other assemblies. The dovetail also contains a space between the guidebar and stage where a linear motor or other driver can be mounted.
End supported air slidesThe simplest of the linear motion assemblies, end-supported air slides provide a precise, integrated linear motion solution ready-fit forinstallation. Designed specifically for situations wherecontinuous support is impossible or impractical, theend supported air slide is engineered to minimize guidebar sag and provide straightness of motion and dynamic response often an order-of-magnitude better than conventional rolling-element bearings.
Boxway air slidesBoxway air slides are original integrated slide-and-guide assembly. The guidebar for the boxway can be end-supported, or continuously-supported (preventing the sag inherent in long span endsupported configurations). Featuring a low profile lineartrack, and a slightly wider stage than the New Waydovetail, the boxway also provides the largest load carrying capacity and the longest travel length.the options in the New Way line of assemblies.
Boxway Air Slide
Dovetail Air Slide short
Dovetail Air Slide long
End-Supported Air Slide
New Way air slides provide a local straightness (in X and Z) of250 nanometers (0.25 microns) per 25mm travel and a maximum error(global) of 2 microns per 1000mm travel.
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Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Dovetail air bearing slides performance data
Part #
S40-06150-xxxS40-06300-xxx
StageArea(inch)6" x 6"
12" x 8"
Max.Load"Z"N
6101275
Max.Load"y"N
330660
Stiffness"Z"
N/micron250485
Stiffness"y"
N/micron120240
Max. Pitchmoment
Nm2380
Max.rollmoment
Nm2580
Max.yawmoment
Nm1038
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FPD (Flat Panel Display) conveyor air bearingsNew Way offers a line of modular air bearing components specifically designed to meet the non-contact glass-handling requirements, of for example, the Flat Panel Display (FPD) manufacturing process, including FPD conveyor air bearings for high speed or low airflow applications.
H-Series conveyor (High speed)New Way developed the high speed FPD conveyor air bearing to provide manufacturers with improved non-contact control of Flat Panel Display glass at high manufacturing process speeds, with lower initial set-up costs and reduced operating expenditures. A large vacuum area results in a smaller air gap, providing higher stiffness and improved damping. The large, attractive forces give excellent flattening ability for more reliable glass control. This, combined with the constant low pressure at the leading edge of the glass, prevents it from lifting off the conveyor and ‘sailing’ at high speeds.
L-Series conveyor (Low airflow)New Way low flow FPD conveyor air bearing provides manufacturers with non-contact control of Flat Panel Display glass, optimized for applications with low airflow requirements. The difficulty with high fly-heights of greater than 50 microns is that they typically result in low air film stiffness (less control) unless they also have correspondingly high pressures and flows. By plumbing most of the porous media face with low pressure air, and with high pressure air only around the vacuum holes, the flow requirements are greatly reduced. This is how low flow conveyor air bearings are designed. The periodic high pressure areas, preloaded by the vacuum, create high stiffness points which stabilize the glass dynamics even at high air gaps and low air consumption. And because the pressurized air bleeds out of the entire bearing face it provides a high margin of safety against glass touch-down.
Non-contact glass-handlingC-Series conveyor (Hybrid)The New Way C-Series conveyor air bearing combines the best performance characteristics of the H-Series (high speed) and L-Series (low airflow) conveyors into a single hybrid design. This new profile is also engineered to significantly reduce both the system and the operating cost.
The single vacuum groove provides necessary control of the leading edge of the glass, while also enabling a greater fly height range of 20 to 120 microns. These fly heights have a stability of ±5 microns, well within the focal range of most inspection cameras, for example. This makes the C-Series ideal for FPD manufacturers looking for non-contact control of Flat Panel Display glass at 30 microns, and also for Solar Module manufacturers requiring 80 microns of fly height.
The combination of air pressure evenly distributed through the entire surface of the conveyor, and vacuum pulling the glass down, and flattening it, provides a high margin of safety against glass touch-down.
Further, the C-Series design enables conveyors to be placed further apart in the array, and can even enable the glass to 'jump' 100mm spaces (over inspection or production zones), further reducing costs and offering fabs or machine builders additional design flexibility.Finally, because these conveyors are manufactured using New Way Porous Media Technology, which restricts the flow of air through the bearing surface, the compressed air required is significantly less than that for competitive products; even the compressor size can be reduced for many applications.
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Precision chucksNew Way Porous Media Precision Chucks are engineered for use under or near precision FPD glass manufacturing processes or Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) stations, inline or off-line. They provide a much higher level of precision, stiffness, and damping than traditional air conveyors. The vacuum holes are designed so that, with air pressure on, the flow through a vacuum hole is the same whether there is glass over it or not. Simple and smart! This also means that as the glass comes on and off the chuck, the vacuum pressures and air gaps remain the same.
These FPD precision chucks provide ±5µm control, well within the focal range of most optical inspection systems. This is a significant advantage over conventional contact bearings or orifice-based air bearings, especially for coating or AOI applications in Gen-10 or higher manufacturing lines. Superior stiffness provides for faster settling time and higher yield, without the scratching or breakage typical of competitive systems. And the larger the glass size, the bigger your advantage.
Conveyor mounting feet kitThese anodized aluminum mounting feet are designed for use with New Way conveyor air bearings. Packaged in sets of two, they allow for easy installation, with o-ring seals and adjustable jack screws for leveling.
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Vacuum preloaded air bearingsFor 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.
Using a combination of air pressure and vacuum, New Way vPL air bearings hold themselves down while simultaneously lifting themselves from a guide surface. By adjusting the vacuum and the pressure separately, the fly height and stiffness of these vacuum preloaded air bearings can be optimized.
This arrangement is ideal for applications where preloading is difficult or impossible. Obviously, there is a cost advantage because only one flat guide surface is necessary. (Opposed bearing preloading requires two flat guide surfaces that are parallel.
There is also a significant technical advantage. Both "x" and "y" axes can be supported by a single bearing plane. Further, the adjustability of film thickness can be used for focusing, squaring and sub-micrometer vertical positioning over a range of several microns.
The combination of air pressure and vacuum necessitates a different mounting methodology from New Way flat air bearings. The typical socket would not provide for bi-directional stiffness because the ball would pull out. New Way has engineered a flexure mount to provide equal stiffness in both directions, while providing a low pivot point. Because there is no stick-slip type friction in the flexture mount, even the smallest amount of angular adjustment is possible.
Note: All performance data is at 4.1 bar input pressure.
Product line comparison: Vacuum preloaded air bearings Part #
S205001S207501S209001
Size (mm)
ø50ø75ø90
Ideal loadN
45110150
StiffnessN/micron
132943
Max.hold downforce@ 680 mbar/N
73180260
Air consumptionnl/min
1.061.41.5
Bearing height(mm)
222222
Weight(grams)
73203306
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Mounting componentsNew Way standard mounting components are well-thought-out and precision-engineered to make the integration of our standard product line easy.
Flexure mountsDesigned specifically for the mounting of New Way vacuum preloaded air bearings, these two-piece, aluminum flexure mounts provide bi-directional stiffness, a low pivot point, and infinitesimal angular adjustment.
France | Evry
Netherlands | Eindhoven
Germany | Stuttgart
European centre of excellence in metrology
At the cutting edge of accuracy
Porous media air bearingsfor the best performances
HEADOFFICE | IBS Precision Engineering bvEsp 201, 5633 AD Eindhoven, The Netherlands Telephone: +31 (0)40 290 12 70Fax: +31 (0)40 290 12 79E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.ibspe.com
IBS Precision Engineering sarl Le Magellan, 7 rue Montespan, 91024 Evry CEDEx, FranceTelephone: +33 (0)1 69 47 60 53Fax: +33 (0)1 69 47 60 70E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.ibspe.fr
IBS Precision Engineering Deutschland GmbHLeitzstraße 45, 70469 Stuttgart, GermanyTelephone: +49 (0)711 490 66 230Fax: +49 (0)711 490 66 232E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.ibspe.de
08-09