Operational range of a ferrofluid pocket bearing

Ferrofluid pocket bearings are interesting for fast and precise positioning systems thank to the absence of stick-slip, the low viscous friction and their cost-effective nature. However, the characteristics of the bearing change due to over(de)compression since air escapes out of the enclosed pocket...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Smart materials and structures 2019-11, Vol.28 (11), p.115030
Main Authors: Boots, A S T, Spronck, J W, van Ostayen, R A J, Lampaert, S G E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
hydrostatic bearing
magnetism
numerical modelling
precision engineering
rotational stiffness
sealing capacity
sensitivity analysis
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Summary:Ferrofluid pocket bearings are interesting for fast and precise positioning systems thank to the absence of stick-slip, the low viscous friction and their cost-effective nature. However, the characteristics of the bearing change due to over(de)compression since air escapes out of the enclosed pocket. This article presents an experimentally validated model that includes the air mass inside the pocket in the calculation of the equilibrium position of the ferrofluid bearing. Moreover, a simple and efficient way to obtain the operational range of the bearing is presented and a sensitivity analysis was performed. The sensitivity analysis showed that ferrofluid pocket bearings are always self-aligning and that the tilt stiffness increases when the fly height decreases or the tilt angle increases.
ISSN:0964-1726
1361-665X
DOI:10.1088/1361-665X/ab2b60