In a field where microns matter and contact equate to compromise, OAV Air Bearings continues to redefine what’s possible in motion engineering. The company’s latest innovation, the Motorized Dovetail Linear Air Bearing, brings unmatched precision and effortless integration to industries where linear motion must be both frictionless and exact. This line of products integrates two core engineering goals: contactless guidance and precision controlled motion, enhanced with a motorized drive system to enable automated, repeatable positioning with nanometer-level accuracy. Whether it’s high-end inspection stages, semiconductor wafer alignment, or next-gen manufacturing systems, OAV’s motorized dovetail stage is designed to be the backbone of the most demanding linear motion applications on the planet.
OAV Air Bearings is a U.S.-based engineering company specializing in high-precision air bearing manufacturing. From metrology to aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing, OAV enables designers and innovators to achieve frictionless, maintenance-free motion control with industry-leading quality and customer support.
Leaping Beyond Conventional Stages
Mechanical linear guides and crossed roller stages have long served engineers and manufacturers as reliable motion platforms. However, they bring with them the friction, wear, and backlash that naturally emerge from physical contact of the components. These minute mechanical artifacts can crescendo into drift, signal distortion, or outright positioning failure, unacceptable in industries where a fraction of a degree can mean system breakdown. Enter the motorized dovetail air bearing, which replaces rolling or sliding friction with a continuous film of pressurized air. Built on the same air film technology OAV has pioneered within its rotary and spherical air bearing lines, this dovetail stage floats with micron-level clearance across its range of travel, eliminating mechanical contact that leads to mechanical wear over time. Equipped with a fully integrated motor drive, the unit can be commanded via motion control systems to deliver smooth, programmable motion without friction, wear, or need for lubrication.
Inside the Engineering: How It Works
At the core of the DOV150150 and DOV150300 systems is OAV’s precision-machined dovetail rail geometry, paired with a high-performance linear motor and integrated encoder feedback. The air bearing carriage rides on an ultra-thin, controlled air gap, eliminating contact-based resistance and ensuring the system operates with virtually zero friction and zero backlash.
Here are some of the key technical specs:
- Travel lengths of 150mm or 300mm
- Load capacity ideal for heavy-duty metrology, automation, and semiconductor payloads
- Nanometer repeatability thanks to sub-micron encoder resolution
- Ultra-clean operation with no lubrication or particulates, ideal for vacuum and cleanroom environments
- Modular design allowing for horizontal or vertical mounting configurations
Whether integrated as a standalone axis or as part of a multi-axis positioning system, OAV’s motorized dovetail gives designers a building block for fully contactless automation, all within a convenient package.
Two Configurations: Motorized and Manual
OAV’s dovetail is available in two configurations: a motorized version and a non-motorized version, allowing engineers to choose based on their application needs.
- The motorized configuration integrates a high-performance linear motor coupled with encoder feedback, allowing for programmable motion with nanometer-level precision. This setup is ideal for closed-loop control environments, or any setup that requires repetitive and high-precision positioning.
- The non-motorized version delivers the same benefits of frictionless, contact-free motion with zero backlash, but is designed for manual adjustment or integration with an external actuation system. This configuration is well-suited for more budget projects or environments where motorization isn’t a requirement.
- Both options share OAV’s hallmark attributes: cleanroom compatibility, no lubrication, and zero mechanical wear, but the motorized version integrates the power of precision automation, enabling users to dictate motion with unmatched smoothness and repeatability.
Designed For the Future
As systems become more compact and efficient, motion platforms can no longer be the weak link in the engineering chain. The motorized dovetail becomes a future-proof solution, ready for integration into optical inspection tools, quantum computing rigs, medical imaging equipment, and satellite-grade instruments. Moreover, the motorized dovetail’s zero-maintenance architecture significantly lowers the cost of ownership. With no lubrication required, no mechanical deterioration to account for, and no moving parts in contact, system builders can design longer-lasting platforms with fewer service intervals and lower downtime, a major selling point for high uptime industries such as aerospace, semiconductors, defense, and medicine.
The OAV Difference
OAV Air Bearings has built its reputation on developing solutions where traditional bearings fall short. The company’s product portfolio of flat round air bearings, linear slides, and rotary stages have already become staples in precision labs and OEM systems worldwide. With the Motorized Dovetail Linear, OAV expands its product universe into motor-integrated systems, empowering customers to go frictionless not just in theory, but in application.
“Our mission is to bring precision motion into a new era, one where engineers don’t have to compromise between performance, longevity, and flexibility”, said Kaan Erturk, Head of Business Development at OAV Air Bearings. “This product represents everything OAV stands for: elegant design, rigorous performance, and simple use.”
Technical Inquiries & Availability
The Motorized Dovetail Linear Air Bearing is now available in both 150mm and 300mm travel lengths, with customization options available contingent on project needs. For more detailed specs, models, or to speak with an engineer, contact the OAV team at: