The electrical and frictional properties of axially grooved oil-impregnated sintered-metal bearing (porous metal bearing) with varying loads and speeds were measured. The results were compared with the performance of bearings without grooves and conventionally used ball bearings. The test results showed that the frictional values of the porous bearings were lower than those of ungrooved bearings and ball bearings, and that the porous bearings operated in a full-hydrodynamic lubrication regime. The values of rating current, starting time and jitter revealed that the grooved-bearing had better electrical characteristics than the ungrooved bearing as well as the ball bearing. From the endurance tests on start-stop and continuous operating, it was confirmed that this bearing could be mass-produced for use in a laser scanner unit.Presented at the 54th Annual Meeting Las Vegas, Nevada May 23–27, 1999