Improving Capacity, Stiffness and Pneumatic Hammer Stability of Aerostatic Thrust Bearing Using Damping Orifice and Virtual Recess

Abstract An aerostatic thrust bearing is designed using damping orifice and virtual recess. Finite element simulations and measurements are performed and results indicate that with damping orifice and virtual recess, the maximum capacity of the designed aerostatic bearing increases from 1590 N to 2285 N and its maximum stiffness increases from 106 N/μm to 145 N/μm, while the range of pneumatic hammer decreases from 8.5 μm to 4.5 μm at 4 bar. It is therefore concluded that damping orifice and virtual recess are one of the means which can be used to improve the capacity, stiffness and pneumatic hammer stability of aerostatic bearing.An aerostatic thrust bearing is designed using damping orifice and virtual recess. Finite element simulations and measurements are performed and results indicate that with damping orifice and virtual recess, the maximum capacity of the designed aerostatic bearing increases from 1590 N to 2285 N and its maximum stiffness increases from 106 N/μm to 145 N/μm, while the range of pneumatic hammer decreases from 8.5 μm to 4.5 μm at 4 bar. It is therefore concluded that damping orifice and virtual recess are one of the means which can be used to improve the capacity, stiffness and pneumatic hammer stability of aerostatic bearing.