Air Bearings Limited / ABL aerostatic spindles and accessories

Air Bearings Limited / ABL spindles: AW200B PCB drilling units, MM160B micro-machining, DS060E dicing spindles, and precision collets.

AW200B high-speed PCB drilling and routing air bearing spindle

The AW200B high-speed air bearing spindle by Air Bearings Limited (ABL) operates up to 200,000 rpm. Aerostatic journal bearings provide ultra-low dynamic run-out and high radial stiffness, preventing micro-drill breakage during multi-layer PCB production.

Continuous operational speed range from 20,000 up to 200,000 rpm for micro-drills
Precision pneumatic collet chuck mechanism engineered for rapid automated tool changes
Integrated inductive speed pickup and optical feedback monitoring spindle rotation
Liquid cooling jacket maintaining thermal equilibrium and dimensional integrity

AW160D robust PCB drilling and routing air bearing spindle

The AW160D air bearing spindle from Air Bearings Limited (ABL) operates up to 160,000 rpm for PCB routing and drilling. Heavy-duty aerostatic bearings withstand continuous side-loading forces encountered during depaneling and multi-layer board profiling cycles.

Operating rotational speeds up to 160,000 rpm for demanding board depaneling
Enhanced radial load capacity air bearings tailored for continuous lateral routing
Wear-resistant precision collet mechanism holding 3.175 mm shank micro-cutting tools
Integrated positive air purge barrier preventing fine composite dust entry into gap

MM160B ultra-precision micro-machining air bearing spindle

Engineered by Air Bearings Limited (ABL), the MM160B spindle delivers ultra-precision performance up to 160,000 rpm. Liquid cooling around the electric stator and sub-micron rotational run-out provide mirror surface finishes during micro-milling of optical metals.

Maximum rotational speed of 160,000 rpm for ultra-fine micro-milling operations
Radial and axial synchronous run-out under 0.05 microns at nominal drive speeds
Liquid stator cooling channel preventing thermal drift during fine machining runs
Standardized outer diameter sleeve ensuring integration with precision machine tools

LGS10A ultra-high precision lens grinding air bearing spindle

The LGS10A air bearing spindle from Air Bearings Limited (ABL) is designed for grinding ophthalmic lenses, mirrors, and optics. High aerostatic stiffness and zero mechanical friction eliminate micro-vibrations, yielding optical-grade surface profiles and finishes.

Specialized drive mechanism for aspheric and toric contact lens profile grinding
Near-zero micro-vibrations delivered by aerostatic air cushion damping effect
High low-speed torque stability ensuring chatter-free diamond tool engagements
Corrosion-resistant shaft alloys compatible with water-based optical grinding fluids

DS060E wafer dicing and slicing air bearing spindle

The DS060E dicing spindle manufactured by Air Bearings Limited (ABL) operates up to 60,000 rpm for precision cutting of silicon wafers, quartz, and optoelectronics. It accommodates 2-inch and 3-inch dicing blades, maintaining kerf consistency without edge chipping.

Rotational speed up to 60,000 rpm for diamond wheel wafer slicing operations
Blade arbor design supporting 2-inch and 3-inch hubbed and hubless wheels
High axial stiffness preventing diamond blade deflection during deep substrate cuts
Deionized water coolant flow channels directly cooling blade edge during dicing

ABL precision collets, speed probes, and spindle spare parts

Precision accessories and replacement assemblies from Air Bearings Limited (ABL) include precision collet chucks, speed sensors, air filtration cartridges, and fluid fittings. Factory balancing ensures repeatable tool clamping grip and nominal bearing lifespan.

Ultra-precision tool collets with clamped drill radial run-out under 1 micron
Inductive and optical speed probes providing clean feedback signals to CNC units
Fluid fittings and dual O-ring seal kits maintaining cooling jacket pressure
Fine pneumatic air filtration modules protecting aerostatic micro-gap geometry

Aerostatic bearing technology and manufacturing capabilities of Air Bearings Limited / ABL

Established in 1993 in the United Kingdom, Air Bearings Limited (ABL) operates as a world-leading developer and manufacturer of high-precision aerostatic spindle systems.

Located in Ferndown within the county of Dorset, the dedicated manufacturing complex brings together specialized engineering teams covering computational fluid dynamics, precision CNC tooling, and sub-micron grinding.

Over 90 percent of the complete manufacturing lifecycle at Air Bearings Limited / ABL is performed in-house, ensuring stringent quality control over geometric tolerances and dynamic run-out.

ABL aerostatic spindles serve global electronic industries across high-density circuit board micro-drilling, semiconductor wafer slicing, and ultra-precision diamond machining.

High-speed multi-layer printed circuit board drilling with ABL AW series spindles

Modern microelectronics and high-density interconnect board fabrication demand reliable drilling of micro-vias down to 0.1 mm diameter at rotational velocities up to 200,000 rpm.

The AW series spindles from Air Bearings Limited / ABL, including the AW080A, AW125A, AW160D, and AW200B models, are engineered specifically to satisfy these high-productivity demands.

Utilizing aerostatic air film suspension eliminates mechanical contact wear between sliding elements and reduces dynamic run-out to near-zero levels.

This extends carbide micro-drill tool life, eliminates bit fracture upon rapid workpiece contact, and delivers clean hole walls for dependable multi-layer circuit metallization.

Heavy-duty PCB routing and panel depaneling with the AW160D spindle

Board profiling and routing cycles exert continuous lateral cutting forces on the spindle rotor.

To endure these severe operational demands, Air Bearings Limited (ABL) developed the AW160D spindle, pairing rotational operational speeds up to 160,000 rpm with elevated aerostatic radial load carrying capacity.

The spindle housing incorporates a liquid cooling jacket and an active pneumatic labyrinth barrier with continuous positive air pressure.

This air purge curtain prevents abrasive glass-fiber dust and copper particles from entering the bearing clearance gap, providing long-term reliability throughout continuous industrial shifts.

Ultra-precision micro-machining and diamond turning with MM series spindles

In micro-milling optical mirrors, microfluidic devices, and precision mold inserts, maintaining exact tool tip trajectory is paramount.

The MM series spindles from Air Bearings Limited / ABL, including the MM080A, MM125A, and MM160B models, provide rotational speeds up to 160,000 rpm with total radial and axial synchronous run-out under 0.05 microns.

Driven by brushless synchronous motors and surrounded by stator cooling channels, MM spindles maintain thermal equilibrium throughout prolonged machining cycles.

The minimal thermal drift enables sub-micron coordinate micro-milling of non-ferrous metals to produce mirror-like surface finishes without secondary polishing operations.

Optical lens grinding with LGS10A and wafer slicing with DS060E spindles

For ophthalmic and semiconductor industries, Air Bearings Limited (ABL) manufactures the specialized LGS10A and DS060E spindle units.

The LGS10A model is tailored for grinding toric and aspheric contact lenses, where aerostatic cushion damping prevents micro-vibrations from degrading optical curvature clarity.

The DS060E spindle is dedicated to high-accuracy slicing and dicing of semiconductor silicon wafers, quartz substrates, and optical crystals up to 60,000 rpm.

Its rigid shaft arbor supports 2-inch and 3-inch dicing wheels, while internal deionized fluid ports deliver direct blade cooling to ensure chip-free kerfs.

Compressed air filtration standards and preventative maintenance for ABL spindles

The precision and operational longevity of Air Bearings Limited / ABL spindles depend upon clean, dry compressed air.

Supply air must strictly comply with ISO 8573-1 Class 1 standards for residual moisture, oil aerosol, and particulate content, because bearing gaps operate with single-digit micron clearances.

Air delivery systems must incorporate coalescing filtration stages and refrigerated or desiccant air dryers before connecting to the spindle manifold.

Maintaining positive air pressure prior to motor activation and using balanced ABL collets avoids dynamic unbalance and preserves spindle bearing longevity.

Air Bearings Limited / ABL and model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the equipment for which we source parts. SpareX is not an official dealer, distributor or representative of Air Bearings Limited / ABL and is not affiliated with the trademark owner. Origin, documents and warranty are stated for each item in the quotation.