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Products - Linear Air Bearings

Nelson Air's linear air bearings provide smooth, accurate linear motion. Choose from just the air bearing with the 100B to 1200B series rectangular air bearing slides, or get a complete integrated positioning package with the Atlas series of linear motor stages. If you require longer travels and light loads, Nelson Air's extended travel air bearings offer up to 64" of travel and do not require expensive precision surfaces for support.

Standard Rectangular Air Bearings

Offered in a variety of sizes, Nelson Air's standard rectangular air bearing slides are the workhorse of the air bearing industry and have been delivering trouble-free performance to our customers for many years. They can be found in a wide array of applications ranging from tensile testing to precision positioning.

Features:

  • Load Capacity from 30 lbs. to 2260 lbs. (@ 80 psi supply)
  • Standard travel from 2" to 36" (Custom travel up to 50" available)
  • 3 Accuracy grades
  • Inherently frictionless/stictionless
  • Material: Hardcoat Aluminum, other materials available
  • Air pressure supply from 40 to 80 psi - low air consumption means you can even use a stand-alone nitrogen tank
  • Longer/shorter and multiple carriage systems available
  • Bearings can be combined for multi-axis positioning
  • English and metric units available

RAB Series Standard Rectangular Air Bearing Sizes
Model
Slider Bar
Carriage
Max
Travel
Load Capacity

Data
S
heet

Width x Height
in x in
[mm x mm]

Length
in
[mm]

Weight
in
[mm]

in
[mm]

Normal
lbs
[N]

Transverse
lbs
[N]

RAB1
1.00 x 0.50
[25.4 x 12.7]
2.00
[50.8]
0.4
[0.18]
8
[200]
30
[130]
15
[65]


English
Units
(227kB)

 


Metric
Units
(227kB)

RAB1S
1.00 x 1.00
[25.4 x 25.4]
2.00
[50.8]
0.5
[0.23]
24
[600]
30
[130]
30
[130]
RAB2
2.00 x 1.00
[50.8 x 25.4]
3.00
[76.2]
1.4
[0.64]
12
[300]
90
[400]
45
[200]
RAB2S
2.00 x 2.00
[50.8x 50.8]
3.00
[76.2]
1.7
[0.77]
36
[900]
90
[400]
90
[400]
RAB3
3.00 x 1.25
[76.2 x 31.8]
4.00
[101.6]
3.0
[1.36]
18
[450]
180
[800]
80
[355]
RAB4
4.00 x 1.50
[101.6 x 38.1]
5.00
[127]
5.3
[2.41]
24
[600]
290
[1280]
110
[400]
RAB6
6.00 x 1.75
[152.4 x 44.5]
7.00
[177.8]
10.0
[4.54]
36
[900]
600
[2650]
180
[800]
RAB10
10.00 x 3.00
[254.0 x 76.2]
12.00
[304.8]
45.0
[20.4]
24
[600]
1700
[7550]
500
[2220]
* Load capacity at 60 psig (4 bar)


-B Series Standard Rectangular Air Bearing Sizes
To learn more about our classic -B series linear rectangular air bearings, download a datasheet or contact us for more info!

(102kB)

Extended Travel Air Bearings


Features:

  • Travel up to 64" available
  • Accuracy up to 0.0001" over travel

Contact us for more info!

Extended travel air bearings are ideal for high speed, high accuracy, lightly loaded applications. Unlike other long travel air bearings, the bearing slide is supported only on the ends (similar to a gantry) reducing the requirements for expensive precision support surfaces. Inherently frictionless air bearings eliminate heat generation due to friction, reducing "warm-up" time and thermal errors. These bearings are ideal for integration with linear motors and optical encoders for a total "non-contact" positioning package.

2" x 4" x 44"
I-Beam Slide Model
Carriage Length: 6"
Travel: 36"

3" x 4" x 64"
Hollow Tubing Model
Carriage Length: 6"
Travel: 56"

Atlas Linear Motor Air Bearing Stages

Atlas stages from Nelson Air are a fully integrated positioning solution. We have combined the highest precision air bearings with linear motors and optical encoders to deliver outstanding performance in an extremely compact package. Contact us to learn more!

(597kB)

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