Hydrodynamic bearings utilizing ferrofluids are a new class of high performance bearings. These bearings are self-contained with ferrofluid acting both as a hydrodynamic pressure film and a sealant. Although relatively unknown in the laser scanner industry, ferrofluids have been widely used over the last two decades for applications in the semiconductor, computer and audio marketplaces. In this paper, performance features of Ferrofluid Film Bearings are also discussed, and experimental data such as power consumption, rotational accuracy and audible noise are presented to show that Ferrofluid Film Bearings enhance the performance of high resolution scanners and in this application are superior to ball bearing and gas bearing performance.

Date Published: 1 February 1991
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 1454, Beam Deflection and Scanning Technologies, (1 February 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.28068

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1454:
Beam Deflection and Scanning Technologies
Leo Beiser; Gerald F. Marshall, Editor(s)