Design of a passive alternative for long stroke linear aerostatic stages based on ferrofluid bearings

The objective of this research is to demonstrate the capability of a long stroke linear ferrofluid (FF) stage. This stage is a passive alternative to existing linear aerostatic stages and can be used in low loaded CNC devices, pick and place machines, microscopy or scanner applications. To compete with aerostatic stages the bearing must be...

Design considerations for ferrofluid pressure bearing pads

The novel contribution of this research is insight into the influence of different parameters in the magnet configurations on the load and stiffness of a ferrofluid pressure bearing. It is shown that magnets with a small cross-section magnetized alternatively up and downwards combine a high load capacity and moderate stiffness while being low...

Magnetic fluid bearings & seals: Methods, design & application

The bearing and the seal are two commonly used tribological components since nearly all moving machinery relies on them for proper operation. Even a small improvement in these components can have a big impact on both the market and the environment. The two main problems of these components are wear and friction. In addition, seals suffer from...

Capillary rheometer for magnetic fluids

Magnetic fluids have been around since the 1940s. They come in different forms: magnetorheological fluids (MR fluids) and ferrofluids. MR fluids characterise themselves by having a large change in viscosity under the influence of a magnetic field. Ferrofluids have a significantly smaller change in viscosity, however ferrofluids are colloidal...

Lubrication theory for Bingham plastics

The rheological behavior of many lubricants used in hydrodynamic bearings can reasonably be modeled using the Bingham plastic material model. This behavior is characterized by a strong discontinuity, from a pure solid state to a viscous fluid state depending on the local shear stress. In literature three methods have been presented to model a...

Rheological texture in a journal bearing with magnetorheological fluids

This paper discusses a new type of hybrid journal bearing in which a magnetorheological fluid is used in combination with local magnetic fields, such that the hydrodynamic and hydrostatic working regimes are not compromised. This demonstrates the potential of using the concept of rheological texture in bearings. The performance of this new...

Ferrofluid rotary seal with replenishment system for sealing liquids

Ferrofluid rotary seals are mechanical contact-free magnetic liquid seals that are characterised by their simple structure, low friction and ability to hermetically seal. Although ferrofluid rotary seals for sealing vacuum and gases are part of a well established industry, the sealing of liquids has not been implemented yet. Literature learns...

A Rapidly Deployable Test Suite for Respiratory Protective Devices in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The current COVID-19 pandemic has caused large shortages in personal protective equipment, leading to hospitals buying their supplies from alternative suppliers or even reusing single-use items. Equipment from these alternative sources first needs to be tested to ensure that they properly protect the clinicians that depend on...

Experimental results on a hydrostatic bearing lubricated with a magnetorheological fluid

Magnetorheological fluids can be used as a smart lubricant as a result of the fact that its properties can be changed with the use of a magnetic field. Local flow resistance and local pressure can be generated by applying a local magnetic field. This work presents a hydrostatic bearing in which the pressure profile of a conventional...

Increasing the load capacity of planar ferrofluid bearings by the addition of ferromagnetic material

Ferrofluid pocket bearings are a type of bearing that are able to carry a load using an air pocket encapsulated by a ferrofluid seal. Previously designed ferrofluid bearings show the great potential of the stick-slip-free and low viscous friction bearings, however until now the load capacity is limited. In this article a method is presented...

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. This article presents an experimentally...

Tastings and theory

Ferrofluid bearings have recently been successfully implemented in precise<br/>positioning systems. This article gives an overview of systems built in the<br/>Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering at Delft University<br/>of Technology in the Netherlands. Most applications are in microscope stages,<br/>where high accuracy is...

In-plane friction behaviour of a ferrofluid bearing

Ferrofluid bearings have been demonstrated to be very interesting for precision positioning systems. The friction of these bearings is free of stick-slip which results in an increase of precision. More knowledge on the friction behaviour of these bearings is important for there application in precision positioning systems. This paper...

Load and stiffness of a planar ferrofluid pocket bearing

A ferrofluid pocket bearings is a type of hydrostatic bearing that uses a ferrofluid seal to encapsulate a pocket of air to carry a load. Their properties, combining a high stiffness with low (viscous) friction and absence of stick-slip, make them interesting for applications that require fast and high precision positioning. Knowledge on the...

Planar Ferrofluid Bearings: Modelling and Design Principles

A ferrofluid is a fluid with paramagnetic properties while having a colloidal stability. This can be used to obtain a hydrostatic type of bearing that distinguishes itself from other bearings by its compactness, inherent stability, low (viscous) friction, absence of pumps and absence of stick-slip. These properties, together with its low price,...