Air bearing production given a lift - all files (zip)

The rise in the popularity of air bearing spindles for new applications owes much to the ability of modern machine tools to provide extremely tight dimensional tolerances and fine surface finishes. Achieving such results, however, can involve lengthy set-up times; especially where batch production must be combined with frequent tool changes. Air Bearings Ltd (ABL) of Poole, Dorset, a highly successful manufacturer in this expanding field, has tackled this by fitting Renishaw tool setting systems and spindle-mounted touch probes. Not only has this reduced costs, but also sustained ABL’s drive for quality improvements.