Dynamic Characterisation of Rectangular Aerostatic Pads with Multiple Inherent Orifices

Aerostatic pads are successfully employed in linear systems where very accurate and precise positioning is required, e.g. machine tools and measuring equipment. Both the static and dynamic performance of many different types of aerostatic pads have been already numerically and experimentally investigated. However, literature does not present so many works that investigate the performance of rectangular aerostatic pads with multiple restrictors, especially as regards their dynamic features. This paper shows an experimental and a numerical study of the static and dynamic performance of a rectangular aerostatic pad with multiple orifices distributed on a supply rectangle. The paper investigates the effect of the orifices diameter, of their position and of the supply pressure on the pad performance.