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Air Bearings

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Spherical Air Bearings

Raptor Scientific is a leader in designing and manufacturing precision air bearing systems for aerospace, defense and research applications. Our portfolio of large hemispherical and spherical air bearings includes space simulator air bearings, rotary air bearings and custom air bearing systems — each designed to deliver frictionless, high-accuracy motion for critical testing and simulation environments.

The Importance of Air Bearings

Air bearings are critical for engineers and program managers requiring ultra-precise, frictionless motion in testing and simulation environments. By eliminating mechanical contact, air bearings enable highly accurate, repeatable results and smooth, multi-axis movement — essential for validating spacecraft attitude control, calibrating sensitive instruments and supporting advanced research and development. Air bearings' reliability, low maintenance and ability to simulate zero-gravity conditions make them indispensable to mission-critical aerospace and industrial applications.

Raptor Scientific Spherical Air Bearings

Our precision spherical air bearings provide 360-degree rotation about vertical and horizontal axes, with additional rotation about a third axis, making them ideal for simulating free-space motion. These bearings are commonly used as space simulator air bearings for testing satellite and spacecraft attitude control systems. By providing a well-defined pivot and friction-free rotation, they enable engineers to accurately replicate the zero-gravity conditions of space, allowing for comprehensive validation of pitch, roll and yaw control systems. Features of Raptor Scientific spherical air bearings include:
  • Custom and standard designs: We provide standard and custom spherical and hemispherical air bearings, with load capacities ranging from small CubeSat simulators to systems supporting over 1,000 pounds.
  • Outstanding stiffness and stability: Sapphire orifice technology maintains a uniform air gap, delivering stiffness of millions of pounds per inch for small deflections, surpassing traditional bearings.
  • No wear or maintenance: With no moving parts coming in contact, our air bearings offer long-term reliability and require minimal maintenance, even under demanding conditions.

Benefits of Raptor Scientific Air Bearings

Raptor Scientific's air bearings are engineered for high-precision rotational motion in metrology, calibration and test systems — providing smooth, continuous rotation with minimal runout. Available in a range of sizes and configurations, our air bearing systems have options for direct integration into custom test setups. Our air bearings also feature:
  • Multi-degree-of-freedom motion: Simulate pitch, roll, and yaw with high fidelity.
  • Payload flexibility: Accommodate a wide range of satellite sizes and masses.
  • Digital integration: Seamlessly interface with data acquisition and control systems for automated testing and analysis.

Enhance Your Precision Testing Capabilities With Raptor Scientific

Choose Raptor Scientific air bearing systems for unmatched precision, advanced technologies and versatile solutions for aerospace, research and industrial applications. Our expert engineers deliver custom support for your most challenging projects. Contact us today to discuss your air bearing requirements or request a quote.

Air Bearings

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