Quick Answer: The Air Bearing Apparatus has a variable speed motor and belt drive that turn a bearing shaft inside a vertically loaded bush. Pressure tappings equally spaced around the bush connect to a multichannel digital pressure display unit.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Variable speed motor turning the bearing shaft through a belt drive
Shaft with a smooth surface finish spinning inside a vertically loaded bush
Hand-operated load control and load cell apply and measure the load on the bush
Pressure tappings equally spaced around the bush circumference
Tappings connect to a multichannel digital pressure display unit
Motor Drive Module varies bearing speed and displays speed and measured load
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Drive
Variable speed motor with belt drive
Loading
Hand-operated load control with load cell
Pressure measurement
Equally spaced tappings to multichannel digital display
Speed control and display
Motor Drive Module with speed sensor
About This Product
Students run the shaft at different speeds and loads and record the pressure around the bush to map how the film supports the shaft. Plotting the pressure distribution against load and speed shows how a gas-lubricated bearing builds up its load capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the load on the bearing applied in the Air Bearing Apparatus?
A hand-operated load control applies a vertical load to the bush, and a load cell measures it; the Motor Drive Module displays the reading.
