Bently Bearings are pressurized air bearings that provide non-contact support for rotors during balancing operations. Specifically, the device produces a consistent signal that is exactly the same for each revolution, allowing for finer resolution during balancing operations, says the company. This helps to eliminate both damage to the rotor from hard rollers, and the mess of oil-film bearings in vacuum environments. Unit loading of air bearings has been demonstrated at over 400 psi, using 600-psi input pressure. With normal shop pressure of 100 psi, the air bearings will carry 60 psi unit loading. — New Way Air Bearings, Aston, Pa.
