A method based on the Levitation Mass Method (LMM) for evaluating the components of the force acting on a moving part of a pneumatic linear bearing has been proposed by the author. The total force acting on the moving part is accurately measured as the inertial force using an optical interferometer. The efficiency of the developing method for evaluating the frictional characteristics of pneumatic linear bearings and the new information obtained on the frictional characteristics of a pneumatic

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... near bearing is discussed. The essence of the LMM as a precision method for measuring mechanical quantities is reviewed. KEY WORDS inertial force, inertial mass, optical interferometer, pneumatic linear bearing, friction, tribology.