Hybrid spindle bearing

This invention relates generally to the field of hydrodynamic bearings, and more specifically to a design comprising two spindle bearings, one gap/air and one fluid in order to provide balance and reduced power consumption. A bearing system in which an axially stiff narrow gap fluid dynamic gas bearing is preloaded by an axially less stiff larger gap fluid dynamic bearing. As an example two fluid dynamic bearings are provided spaced apart along a shaft, one of the bearings comprising a fluid dynamic bearing, the other comprising an air bearing. The fluid dynamic bearing has a larger gap, while the air bearing has a relatively small gap. The overall working surface area of the air bearing may be twice as much or more than the working surface area of the fluid bearing.