Pneumatic Air Spring Vibration Isolation Optical table | SIMTRUM Photonics Store

Choosing the right type of optical table

In research laboratories, it is often necessary to conduct experiments and take measurements in vibration-free environments. Many types of experiments are hindered or even made impossible to perform in the presence of small vibrations. Air conditioners, building ventilation fans and many appliances around a building as well as foot traffic from building users all contribute to vibrations contribute to the vibrations that could have an adverse effect on the experiments conducted with the laboratories. To prevent such undesirable effects from occurring, Simtrum’s optical tables, or table supports specifically, are designed to dampen vibrations to varying degrees based on needs and requirements.  Simtrum offers three levels of optical table supports: rigid, passive, and active.

Rigid Optical Table Supports

Simtrum’s Solid Vibration Isolation Damping Optical Tables utilize rigid optical table supports which are used predominately when experiments do not need to require the optical table to be isolated from vibrations. Instead, the main purpose of the optical table is to provide a flat and rigid surface for experiments to be carried out. The advantages include high load capacity, excellent horizontal and vertical stability.

Passive Optical Table Supports

Simtrum’s Solid Vibration Isolation Table with Hollow Cone structure Isolators utilize passive optical table supports suitable for environments which require minimal vibrations. The deformable air reservoir in the passive optical table supports isolates the optical table from background vibrations. The advantages are effective vertical vibration isolation as well as stability. While the supports are not able to dampen vibrations as well as the active optical table supports, there is also the advantage of requiring less maintenance.

Active Optical Table Supports

Simtrum’s Pneumatic Air Spring Vibration Isolation Optical Tables make use of active optical table supports that should be used for vibration-sensitive applications and in environments where there is significant vibrations, for instance in labs of upper floors of buildings, which encounter more horizontal and vertical vibrations. Vertical damping is achieved by the pneumatic air springs. The air spring isolators also feature auto levelling and inflating characteristics. The Pneumatic Air Spring Vibration Isolation Optical Tables with Pendulum Rod can achieve much lower inherent frequency in horizontal direction and higher load capacity. Overall, the advantages are superior vertical and horizontal vibration isolation, self-leveling features as well as excellent horizontal and vertical stability.