Design and Experimental Validation of a Small-Scale Prototype Active Aerostatic Thrust Bearing

The current research work develops a Mechatronics prototype for low-cost aerostatic bearing that is controlled with the help of an Arduino board, electro-pneumatic high-speed valves, and feedback transducers. The purpose of this prototype is to make low-cost and compact size active aerostatic thrust bearing with small dimensions so that it can be used in sliding machine guideways for linear translation motions. Active aerostatic bearing with its supporting components is designed in solid work and produced with a high precision CNC machining process. There are two high-speed electro-pneumatic digital valves that are controlled by an Arduino board through PWM techniques. These two valves are responsible for controlling flow for aerostatic bearing. Two types of control systems are implemented such open-loop control and closed-loop control. PID control with the help of pressure sensor feedback makes a closed-loop control system. The experiments are performed to check the performance of closed and open-loop control systems under different dynamics conditions of external load force.