Flotation Subsystem - Carleton-SRCL/SPOT GitHub Wiki
The floatation system used the components, per platform, shown in the following table. The plumbing used to route the air to the air bearings is presented in the Plumbing Section.
| Name | Manufacturer (Supplier) | Part Number | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bearing (40mm Flat Round) | New Way Air Bearings | S104001 | 3 |
| Elbow Air Fitting (M5/0.125 Right Angle) | New Way Air Bearings | S90F049 | 3 |
| Mounting Screw (13mm Diameter / M10x.50 x 54mm) | New Way Air Bearings | S8013B17 | 3 |
| Mounting Clip (13mm Ball Retaining Clips) | New Way Air Bearings | S8013S01 | 3 |
| Solenoid Valve | Peter Paul (Sempress Pneumatics) | 582W19DGM 12VDC | 1 |
The Mounting Screw is attached to the air bearing with the Mounting Clip. The mounting screw mates with the air bearing with a spherical joint, which allows the air bearing to align itself such that it is perfectly parallel with the granite table. The mounting screw is then attached to the base of the spacecraft platform using nuts and washers.
Clean and dry air is delivered to the air bearings through the Elbow Air Fittings. The air is regulated to 60 psi through the low pressure regulator. This pressure appears to be sufficient to float the platforms when they are roughly 20 kg. It is difficult to measure the actual floating height, so these the pressure used was obtained by trial and error. The top pressure gauge on the side of the platform reads the pressure delivered to the air bearings. If more pressure is needed in the future, simply increase the pressure to the air bearings by adjusting the low pressure regulator. Note: DO NOT EXCEED 80 PSI. The following figure shows the air bearing, mounting screw, mounting clip, air supply line, and elbow air fitting.
The following figure shows the top and bottom of the air bearings on their own. The bottom of air bearing is shown on the left. The top and mounting clip holes are shown on the right. The spherical groove is where the mounting screw sits.
