Abstract: An improved air bearing for a precision motion system is herein disclosed. The bearing comprises an insert that is secured within a passageway of a bearing member. The passageway is fluidly coupled to a pressurized fluid source such as air. When the fluid source is activated, pressurized fluid is delivered to the passageway. An orifice in the insert permits the fluid to escape from the passageway and form an air film between the bearing member and an opposed guiding surface. The orifice is placed immediately adjacent to the bearing surface so that the air volume forming the air film is minimal. The improved air bearing eliminates the conventional bearing pad used with other motion systems. Accordingly, the major system components are made from one material such as granite. A unitary material permits the system to remain dimensionally stable even when subjected to wide variations in temperature.

Abstract: A permanent dental bridge comprised entirely of composite material may be constructed directly, i.e., without laboratory assistance, either in situ or ex situ. In the in situ process, composite material is applied between abutment teeth in the patient's mouth, affixing wings are formed from the composite material, those wings respectively attaching to corresponding surfaces on the abutment teeth, and the composite material is cured. The steps of application and curing of composite material are successively repeated until a completed dental bridge, including a pontic portion, is formed entirely within the patient's mouth. The ex situ process is accomplished by fabricating a composite pontic, applying composite material between the patient's abutment teeth, curing the composite material, applying a lamination of additional composite material between the abutment teeth, inserting the composite pontic into the lamination, and curing the lamination.