Passive Isolation Optical Table Supports

Features

• Passive Vertical Vibration-Isolating Supports with Oil-Free Design
• High Load Capacity with Excellent Stability
  • Standard: 275 - 1100 kg (600 - 2425 lbs)
  • Heavy Duty: 550 - 2400 kg (1200 - 5280 lbs)
• Compatible with All of Thorlabs' Nexus^® Optical Tables
• Closed Pneumatic Isolation System Isolates Frequencies in the Critical 10 - 50 Hz Range
• Maintain 910 mm (35.8") Optical Table Working Height
  • 600 mm (23.6") Legs for 310 mm (12.2") Thick Optical Tables
  • 700 mm (27.6") Legs for 210 mm (8.3") Thick Optical Tables
• Sold in Sets of Four

Thorlabs' passive vibration isolation optical table supports can be used with all of our optical tables, and are ideal for general imaging and micropositioning-based experiments. They have a closed pneumatic isolation system that effectively isolates the optical table from floor vibrations throughout the 10 to 50 Hz frequency range. Most sources of vibrations in a lab are within this frequency range, thus these supports are suitable for use in many labs (see the Vibrations tab of the Optical Tables Tutorial).

These isolators provide simple and effective passive vibration isolation with excellent stability. The closed pneumatic isolation system can be inflated with any air pump that has a Schraeder valve. These isolators do not require a constant source of compressed air to maintain isolation. If the pneumatic isolation system is depressurized, the optical table will remain securely supported on and slightly isolated by the reinforced rubber air mount of the optical table supports. Alternatively, if the air chamber is overinflated, vertical stops will prevent the optical table from rising above the maximum designed range. If the table is at either end of the range of motion, the optical table supports will no longer isolate the optical table from floor vibrations. More information about the function and construction of the optical table supports can be found under the Design tab on this page or in the Isolation Systems tab of the Optical Tables Tutorial.

Two versions of each passive isolator are offered: standard, with a load range of 275 - 1100 kg (600 - 2425 lbs) per set of four, and heavy duty, with a load range of 550 - 2400 kg (1200 - 5280 lbs) per set of four. These load capacities are designed to support Thorlabs' complete range of optical tables, which can weigh from 261.6 to 1232.9 kg (484.66 to 2861.60 lbs). Full installation instructions are included; see the manual for details. For higher loads, longer tables, or custom-designed joined systems, more than four isolators may be needed. Please contact Tech Support to discuss your specific requirements.

Tabletop Height
To complement our optical table thicknesses of 210 mm (8.3") and 310 mm (12.2"), our optical table supports are available with heights of either 700 mm (27.6") or 600 mm (23.6") to produce a working height of 910 mm (35.8"). To achieve this working height consistently and to ensure the table is level, please follow the installation instructions in the manual so that the legs are neither overinflated nor underinflated. The manual can be accessed by clicking the red docs icon () next to the Item # below. These table supports are also compatible with our 460 mm thick optical tables, but the total height will not be equal to 910 mm (35.8").

Transmissibility

An optical table system is subjected to continuous vibrational impulses from the laboratory floor. These vibrations may be caused by large machinery within the building or even by wind or traffic-excited building resonances (swaying). Transmissibility is a measure of the isolator's efficiency at damping out these vibrations and is defined as the ratio of the amplitude of the transmitted vibration to that of the forcing vibration.

Other common ways to represent this ratio are:
Percent of isolation = (1 - transmissibility ratio) x 100 or
Isolation in dB = 20 x log(transmissibility ratio)

At resonance, the system amplifies the input vibration so that the transmissibility ratio is greater than one. The transmissibility ratio is dependent on several factors; for instance the ratio will be dependent on the load placed on the isolators. Remember that the isolators only damp vibrations transmitted through the legs of the frame from the floor; air handling systems are often a significant source of vibration that is transmitted to the work surface through the air. As a result, in applications particularly sensitive to vibrations a comprehensive evaluation of the environment is recommended before choosing a vibration isolation platform. For more information on this topic please see our Vibration Isolation Tutorial.

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When passive vibration isolation optical table supports are used in a lab where the load placed on the optical table is frequently changing, it is sometimes advantageous to use a pressure regulator in conjunction with a constant source of compressed air. This allows the user to quickly level the optical table by adjusting the pressure in the air chamber of each optical table support.

Optical Table Supports Comparison Table

• Specifications measured at 55% of max rated load. At higher loads the resonant frequency will decrease and isolation efficiency at 10 Hz will increase.
• Upgradeable to passive isolation using upgrade kit PWA076.