Construction of the world’s largest telescope is underway, and hydraulics are playing an important role in its operation, namely through the use of hydrostatic bearings.
Two hydrostatic bearings are incorporated into the telescope structure to support the azimuth (vertical) and elevation (horizontal) axes, and will allow the telescope mount to float on a 50-micron thick film of oil, about the thickness of human hair. Hydrostatic bearings were chosen because of their ultra-low friction operation, high stiffness and ability to be used in conjunction with the hydraulic system employed for the telescope’s damping system.
Our lead piece in today’s newsletter is a media gallery with lots of great imagery of the telescope, the hydraulics technology being used as well as the manufacturing of the mount at Ingersoll Machine Tools’ facility in Rockford, IL.
What are some of the more interesting or unique uses of fluid power and motion control technologies you’ve seen in the industry? Have an interesting use case you’d like to share? Email me at [email protected] and let me know your thoughts!
Sara Jensen, Editor, Power & Motion
