Imperial Optical Table Top Product Finder

Use this finder to select an optical table top with external dimensions in feet and 1/4-20 threaded mounting holes. For M6 threads please use our Metric table finder.

Damping Performance Required for Your Application

Consider how you will be using your optical table top. our optical tables can provide unparalleled damping performance for the most demanding applications like gravitational wave measurement. The highest performance isn’t always needed so we’ve included typical applications to help make the best choice for your budget.

Damping Performance Fundamental Superior Unparalleled
Cost $ $$ $$$
Typical Applications  •Manufacturing
•Teaching Labs
•Basic Spectroscopy
•Ultrafast Spectroscopy
•Interferometry
•Optical Fiber Alignment 
•Gravitational Wave Measurement
•Quantum Computing
•Nanometer Imaging
Damping Technology Broadband damping only Broadband and tuned damping
(2 tuned dampers)
Broadband and tuned damping
(6 tuned dampers) or
Broadband and hybrid damping
(2 tuned and 2 IQ active dampers)

Tuned Damping

Tuned mass dampers selectively eliminate a fundamental structural table mode and its entire harmonics to minimize the dynamic deflection coefficient and make the table behave more like an ideal rigid structure. Compared to broadband damping, tuned dampers concentrate damping where it's needed most, at the frequencies of dominant resonance modes, and provides the most effective means of reducing relative motion across the table surface.

Active Damping

Tuned mass dampers can only be tuned to the tables particular resonant frequencies and can not be adjusted for significant changes to table load. SmartTable® Active damping offers a promise of high efficiency without the restrictions of passive methods. Active dampers can effectively address medium frequency resonances of optical tables by sensing the vibrations and driving shakers at the opposite phase of the vibrations to cancel them out. An additional advantage of an active approach is the ability to supply a vibration signal that can be used independently for monitoring the vibration environment. Our upgradable smart tables are field upgradable to active damping. 

Table Top Dimensions

The size of the table isn’t only about fitting through the door. It also impacts the daily experience using the table and how well it suppresses vibration within the table.

  • Width: While a 5 foot optical table width can maximize working space, reaching the middle can be difficult. We recommend choosing a lower working height if you are using a 5 foot wide table.
  • Length: Long tables can be hard to navigate through the building and elevator. This is total optical table length. Two smaller length tables can also be joined together.
  • Thickness: Thickness primarily increases the stiffness of a table. Though thicker tables will be more rigid, it often isn’t needed. 12 inch thick is a good starting point for most uses.

Specialty Table Tops

Our optical tables are also available in custom configurations as required. These include custom sizes, cleanroom use, non-magnetic materials, and other options. Please contact our support team for more information.

Standard Specialty Options

  • UCS Series: Our standard cleanroom tables feature six tuned dampers for unparalleled performance. The tapped hole array is sealed in a protective membrane throughout the assembly process to prevent contaminant penetration. Special procedures and extra cleaning steps are used during manufacturing to prepare the table for cleanroom use up to ISO Class 5.
  • RPR-N Series: Our standard non-magnetic tables feature broadband damping fundamental performance. The top and bottom skins as well as the trussed honeycomb core use virtually non-magnetic 316 series stainless steel making them ideal for supporting large vacuum chambers or other heavy instruments used in materials research applications.

1/4-20 Thread Imperial Optical Table Top Finder