Spindles
Air Bearing Spindles
The world’s market-leading high-speed air bearing spindles
Unmatched Precision.
Air bearing spindles eliminate mechanical contact between rotating and stationary components by supporting the shaft on a precisely controlled film of pressurised air. Without physical contact, there is no friction, no wear, and virtually no vibration.
This non-contact architecture enables ultra-high rotational accuracy, near-zero runout, and superior surface finish quality, even at extreme speeds. Unlike conventional ball bearing spindles, air bearing technology operates without heat-inducing friction, allowing higher rotational speeds, improved thermal stability, and significantly longer operational life.
For industries where microns define success including PCB drilling, optical inspection, semiconductor processing, and precision machining, air bearing spindles deliver performance levels that conventional bearings cannot achieve.
Engineered for Performance. Built on Decades of Expertise.
Westwind Air Bearing Spindles have set the global standard for precision and durability for decades. Every spindle reflects deep application knowledge across electronics manufacturing, industrial automation, coating systems, and advanced machining environments.
This expertise ensures not only rotational performance, but long-term process stability – a critical requirement in high-value manufacturing where performance drift is not acceptable.
Unmatched Precision.
Air bearing spindles eliminate mechanical contact between rotating and stationary components by supporting the shaft on a precisely controlled film of pressurised air. Without physical contact, there is no friction, no wear, and virtually no vibration.
This non-contact architecture enables ultra-high rotational accuracy, near-zero runout, and superior surface finish quality, even at extreme speeds. Unlike conventional ball bearing spindles, air bearing technology operates without heat-inducing friction, allowing higher rotational speeds, improved thermal stability, and significantly longer operational life.
For industries where microns define success including PCB drilling, optical inspection, semiconductor processing, and precision machining, air bearing spindles deliver performance levels that conventional bearings cannot achieve.
Browse Air Bearing Spindles series
Compare force/torque sensor families by load range, envelope, and electronics. Select the series that best fits your integration, then drill down to model details.
PCB Drilling & Routing
Low runout for increased accuracy
Perfectly balanced reducing vibration for improved small hole drilling
High torque versions for rugged applications
Coating Atomizer
Low turbine air consumption using industry standard air pressure
Suitable for robotic arm applications due to low mass and small footprint
High reliability, minimizing down time costs
Light Industrial Precision Machining
Wide speed range up to 125,000 rpm
Interchangeable collets > 6 mm diameter without shaft rebalance for flexibility
Swarf ingress protection with optional radial load limit sensor for increased reliability
Need a Custom Solution?
Novanta will work with you to customize high-performing Force/Torque Sensors to meet your unique requirements.
Custom solutions may include features such as radiation tolerance, special interface plates for limited spaces, large through holes, IP68 protection, and compatibility with vacuum chambers.
What is an Air Bearing Spindle?
An air bearing spindle is a high-speed rotating assembly supported entirely by a thin film of pressurized air. The air film creates a non-contact interface between the shaft and housing, eliminating mechanical wear and dramatically improving rotational precision.
Because the spindle operates without contact, there is no lubrication contamination, no mechanical degradation over time, and no loss of bearing accuracy. The result is sub-micron radial and axial error motion, exceptional thermal stability, extremely low vibration, and long operational life with minimal maintenance.
Air bearing spindles have become the benchmark solution for ultra-precision, high-speed manufacturing applications where repeatability, surface quality, and reliability are mission-critical.
Talk to an Application Engineer
Work directly with our technical team to optimize sensor integration, calibration, and interface design for your OEM system
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