<title>Gas Bearings For Precise Rotation And Linear Motion</title>

Abstract

Gas bearings are useful for optical scanning systems in a broader sense than is implied by their application as self-lubricated bearings for high speed spinners in aerospace vehicles. Aerostatic bearings extend the scanning geometries and speeds into new areas of use including linear motions and low speeds with extremely high resolution. Pressurized gas bearings are also useful for the manufacture of metal optics and gas bearing parts. Highly accurate surfaces with fine finishes can be machined directly and measured in the process, thereby reducing the cost of subsequent processes such as inspection, lapping, qualifying, and plating. Higher information rates and packing densities can be obtained at much lower scanning velocities, thus reducing heat generation, centrifugal distortion, vibration, and control requirements. An objective of this paper is to develop a perspective for synthesis of laser scanning systems around the truly strong points of pressurized gas bearings.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.