Precision Perfected: TMC's CleanTop Optical Tables

TMC’s CleanTop series presents an optimal solution for achieving spill-proof, meticulous, and corrosion-resistant optical surfaces coupled with unparalleled structural integrity.

This product line stands out due to its impeccable spill-proof tapped-hole design, ensuring a clean and accurate surface. It boasts the highest core density and the smallest honeycomb cell area, all incorporated into a robust all-steel construction.

Notably, the compact honeycomb cell dimensions contribute to the structural rigidity and weightiness, resulting in a table with superior damping.

TMC employs broadband damping techniques that eliminate the need for meticulous tuning. This approach significantly reduces susceptibility to mass loading, a factor that could otherwise alter the table’s resonant frequency.

The product range comprises three performance tiers: Research, Scientific, or Laboratory grade, each tailored to specific needs. Additionally, TMC offers Specialty Tables designed to address unique environmental requirements.

The CleanTop Advantage

• Liquid spills on the surface are contained and cannot reach the top’s honeycomb core.
• The core and skins are completely clean and dry with no residual thread-cutting oils to compromise an environment or the epoxy bonding.
• Extremely clean tapped holes make screw insertion smooth and simple.
• Easy retrieval of small parts dropped into the holes is assured.
• Homogenous thermal expansion across the entire structure.
• Direct core-to-skin contact, no intermediate layer.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Specifications

• Core: Steel honeycomb, closed-cell, 0.010-inch thick foil
• Core shear modulus: 275,000 psi
• Core cell size: <0.5 sq.inches
• Core density: 13.3 Ib/cu. ft. (230 kg/m³)
• Flatness: +0.005 inches (0.13 mm) within the entire tapped hole pattern | 0.004 inches {0.1 mm) over a 2 x 2 ft. (600 x 600 mm) area
• Top skin: 400 series ferromagnetic stainless steel, 3/16 inches (5 mm) thick
• Sidewalls: Damped, formed steel channel, vinyl-covered
• Tapped holes: Backed by 1-inch. (25 mm) nylon cups

CleanTop honeycomb core structure. Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Options and Accessories

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

TMC’s Optical Tops, in conjunction with the Micro-g System 1 Vibration Isolation, provide support for the patented Gimbal PistonTM isolator family. These isolators offer unparalleled efficiency in isolating vibrations in both horizontal and vertical directions.

The Gimbal Piston, in conjunction with its finely tuned non-linear damping response, offers the utmost stability for advanced research within experimental working environments.

The isolators, available in multiple damping tiers, can be effortlessly interchanged within the same System 1 framework. This flexibility enables effective isolation even for applications characterized by exceptionally high centers of gravity or dynamic mass.

Complementing these features, System 1 supports offer diverse options, including internal casters that make it easy to wheel the table around within laboratory settings.

Isolation performance Comparison between Gimbal Piston and MaxDamp. Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

LaserTable-Base^™: A Hybrid Piezoelectric/Air Active Vibration Cancellation System

This two-stage hybrid active/passive system achieves breakthrough vibration isolation performance.

TMC introduces the STACIS^® LaserTable-Base as the epitome of vibration isolation performance, utilizing a novel hybrid active/passive two-stage isolation approach. While air isolators excel in high-frequency isolation, passive mass-spring-dampers tend to amplify vibrations at their resonant frequency, typically ranging from 1 to 3 Hz.

The LaserTable-Base combines the patented STACIS piezoelectric vibration cancellation system, achieving an impressive isolation of nearly 20 dB at 2 Hz, with TMC’s MaxDamp Gimbal Piston Isolators, culminating in unparalleled overall vibration isolation performance.

This cutting-edge solution is ideal for even the most demanding vibration-sensitive applications, including atomic force microscopy, single-molecule biophysics, laser trapping, and interferometry.

Features

• Incorporates patented STACIS technology
• Active inertial vibration cancellation system
• Vibration cancellation starts below 1 Hz
• Six active degrees-of-freedom
• Consists of two isolation systems in series for maximum vibration cancellation
• Installs easily, minimal tuning required
• Incorporates patented MaxDamp Air Isolators
• Includes TMC’s DC-2020 Digital Controller

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Options and Accessories

TMC offers a wide range of accessories to optimize the TMC optical tops. TMC’s expertise also extends to crafting custom configurations based on the client’s specifications.

DoubleDensity^™

By integrating existing compact honeycomb cell dimensions (0.50 in.²) with the exclusive CleanTop^™ technology featuring individually sealed holes, TMC now provides double the quantity of tapped holes.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Alpha-Numeric Grid

Each tapped hole is assigned a distinct address by using electrochemical etching to inscribe a coordinate pattern on the upper surface. This feature proves particularly valuable for documenting setups in OEM applications.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Rounded Corners

CleanTop^® Tops feature standard 1-inch radiused rounded corners that are user-friendly in design. Square corners are also available upon request at no extra charge.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Overhead Shelf

An ideal storage rack for equipment and instrumentation. It spans the long axis of the table and is adjustable in height and free standing. It features a UL-approved electrical strip with two eight-grounded outlet strips in the 6-foot shelf and four eight-grounded outlets in the 8- and 10-foot shelves (125 V, 60 Hz, 15 A).

Additional accessories include a second-tier shelf with two rows of holes on a 2-inch (50 mm) spacing, facilitating fixture mounting. The structure is crafted from formed steel, boasting a non-resonant design and a black powder-coat finish, complemented by leveling feet to accommodate uneven floors. The capacity is rated at 200 lbs (90 kg).

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Breadboard Leveler

This is available as an option for 2-inch (50 mm) thick breadboards featuring 1/8 inch (3 mm) or 3/16 inch (5 mm) skins. TMC also offers a breadboard leveler mechanism.

This mechanism encompasses a threaded sleeve securely attached to the top, a bushing leveler, and a locknut. Subsequently, an M6 or 1/4-20 bolt can be employed to affix the breadboard to another top. The leveler can be adjusted and locked using an Allen wrench.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Earthquake Restraint System

TMC’s earthquake restraint bracket system enhances the safety and stability of optical tables in earthquake-prone regions, all while maintaining the table’s performance.

This system utilizes robust structural tie bars and top brackets for regulating tabletop movement, complemented by fully welded posts and baseplates that anchor the support structure to the floor.

The outcome is a design certified according to ASCE 7-16 standards, achieved without requiring supplementary structures to be bolted onto either the optical top or floor.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Special Materials

TMC manufactures tables from a wide range of commercially available metallic materials. Frequently requested options include aluminum, non-ferromagnetic 300 series stainless steel, and thermally stable Invar Alloys.

Special Through-Holes and Ports

TMC’s use of multiple new 2,000-watt laser machining centers, combined with its capability in punching, drilling, shearing, forming, and welding steel, readily enables the incorporation of custom hole patterns. Notable examples include notches, rectangular through-holes, laser ports, and threaded bosses.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Joined Tables

TMC's expertise extends to Joined Tables, wherein a precisely ground and aligned joiner plate system is welded to the table skins, resulting in a robust coupling between optical tables.

TMC's capabilities encompass not only end-to-end coupling but also configurations in “L” or “T” shapes. Additionally, TMC accommodates varying table thicknesses, enabling configurations with two distinct working heights on a single table.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Model Number Configuration

1. Select a performance level or specialty type code from the Prefix Chart.
2. Select a size code for any one of the thicknesses indicated in the Size Chart.
3. Select a suffix code indicating hole pattern/laser port requirements from the Suffix Chart.

Image Credit: TMC Vibration Control

Source: TMC Vibration Control

Source: TMC Vibration Control

Source: TMC Vibration Control

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by TMC Vibration Control.

For more information on this source, please visit TMC Vibration Control.