Features

• Ergonomic Design with a Flexible Line of Accessories
• Welded Steel Frame (No Assembly Required)
• Corner Desk and Breadboard Option Now Available
• Integrated Breadboard Well Prevents Incidental Contact with the Optical Breadboard
• Accessory Post Mounting Points Every 100 mm Along Top Rails
• Adjustable Leveling Feet
• Available Accessories: PC Shelf, Bottom Shelf, Side Shelf, Instrument Shelf, Rear Shelf, Breadboard Shelf, Monitor Mount, Keyboard Arm, Castors, and Wrist Rest

The ScienceDesk frame melds function and form to produce a portable industry-leading vibration isolation platform. ScienceDesk frames feature a durable welded steel construction and the optical breadboard (working surface) is inset in the ScienceDesk frame so that it is protected from incidental contact. The ScienceDesk frame is available for six different sized work surfaces:

• 2' x 3' (600 mm x 900 mm) (Rigid and Passive Models Only).
• 2.5' x 3' (750 mm x 900 mm)
• 2.5' x 4' (750 mm x 1200 mm)
• 3' x 4' (900 mm x 1200 mm)
• 5' x 6' (1500 mm x 1800 mm) (Active Model Only)
• Corner Desk with Work Surface Area of 0.7m²

Independent of the work surface size, the ScienceDesk frame supports the optical breadboard at all four corners with a choice of four types of vibration isolators (please see the Isolators tabs):

• Rigid (No Isolation)
• Standard Passive
• Heavy-Duty Passive
• Active (Self-Leveling)
  [Note: the 5' x 6' (1500 mm x 1800 mm) option is only available with active isolation]

Corner Desk:
In addition to standard rectangular frames, a ScienceDesk option is also available that fits in the corner of the lab/room. Available with active, heavy-duty passive, or rigid isolation supports, these desks are offered with our best, PerformancePlus series breadboard and offer a work surface area of 0.7m². They are compatible with 2' (600 mm) deep lab furniture. These desks are described briefly below. For complete details, please see our Life Sciences section.

Frame Selection

Building a ScienceDesk workstation usually starts with choosing the frame followed by the optical breadboard and concludes with the accessories. When choosing a ScienceDesk frame only two criteria need to be considered: the size of the work surface desired and the level of vibration isolation for that work surface. Thorlabs supports all three sizes of frames with a complete line of optical breadboards and ScienceDesk accessories. A brief description of the isolation types is below while specifications and a more in-depth discussion can be found on the Specs and Isolators tab, respectively.

Rigid ScienceDesk Frames do not isolate the optical breadboard working surface from external vibrations. However, they are commonly used in laboratory environments for applications that are not overly sensitive to vibrations.

Passive ScienceDesk Frames (0.15 Transmissibility @ 10 Hz) provide an isolated work surface for use in vibration sensitive applications located in a laboratory environment or to isolate a work surface from the vibrations present in a noisy environment. See the Specs tab for information about the load capacity of the standard and heavy-duty passive isolators. These frames are frequently used for imaging applications with micron resolution. The pneumatic isolators on the passive desks do not require a constant air supply once inflated with a simple air pump (PTA126).

Active ScienceDesk Frames (0.035 Transmissibility @ 10 Hz) provide the highest level of isolation available in this line of compact, portable, and ergonomic workstations. These frames are frequently used for imaging applications with sub-micron resolution. The pneumatic isolators in the active ScienceDesk require a constant source of pressurized air. In addition, this isolation system will adjust the pressure in each isolator to keep the optical breadboard surface level even when the distribution of weight on the optical breadboard is changed.

To complete the ScienceDesk workstation, select an optical breadboard and the ScienceDesk accessories required for your application.

ScienceDesk compatible optical breadboards are available with or without holes in magnetic stainless steel and with holes in non-magnetic steel.

ScienceDesk Accessories provide all of the features required to customize a ScienceDesk frame into an efficient workspace.

Thorlabs also manufactures a complete line of vibration isolation products ranging from optical tables and supports to optical breadboards and support frames in a wide variety of sizes.

*These specifications were measured at the maximum load capacity for the isolator type. See the compliance curves below.
**The transmissibility is the ratio of the acceleration transmitted to the isolated surface to the input acceleration that the ScienceDesk frame is subjected to. Other common ways to represent this ratio are to report the percent of isolation by taking (1 - transmissibility ratio)*100 or in dB by taking 20*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.

Measured Compliance Curves for ScienceDesk Frames

ScienceDesk™ Isolators

Thorlabs' ScienceDesk frame has isolator mounting platforms in each of the interior four corners of the top-rail. These platforms are fitted with rigid, standard passive, heavy-duty passive, or active isolator supports for optical breadboards depending on the model chosen. Below is a description of the design and benefits of each isolator type while a complete list of the specifications can be found on the Specs tab.

Rigid Supports

• Set of Four Load Capacity: 1540 lbs (700 kg)
• Non-Skid, Rubberized Optical Breadboard Contact Pad

Rigid supports are non-isolating optical breadboard supports. They consist of a steel mounting tray welded into each corner of the frame. Each tray has 3 contact pads made from a rubberized material. The non-slip rubberized material prevents the position of the optical breadboard from drifting within the optical breadboard well of the ScienceDesk frame. The mounting trays are tested at the factory to ensure they are level. ScienceDesk frames with rigid supports are offered by Thorlabs for use in applications that are not sensitive to vibrations but that can still benefit from the ergonomic design and flexibility of the ScienceDesk system. For instance, applications like microscope slide preparation and low resolution semiconductor inspection might not require an isolated work surface, but the researcher or technician still needs to perform delicate tasks for prolonged periods of time in an environment that can support the preparation and inspection tools required for the application.

Passive Supports

• Set of Four Load Capacity
• Standard Passive Isolators: 570 lbs (260 kg)
• Heavy-Duty Passive Isolators: 1540 lbs (700 kg)
• Pneumatic Spring

The passive isolators on a ScienceDesk consist of an air chamber with a rolling-rubber sidewall. The air chamber is connected by tubing to a Schrader valve so that once the air chamber is inflated the source of compressed air or the pump used to pressurize the chamber can be removed. The optical breadboard is supported by the air pressure in the chamber, which can be adjusted to compensate for a change in the load supported by the system. The volume and stiffness of the reinforced rubber air chamber has been optimized to minimize the resonant frequency of the optical table supports while maximizing the damping performance. The optical breadboard is supported by rigid supports when the passive isolators are not inflated.

ScienceDesks with passive isolators are the most frequently chosen ScienceDesk for imaging applications. The level of isolation provided by the passive isolators provides an ideal environment for optical, OCT, confocal, and other imaging systems without the need for a constant supply of regulated compressed air. The compact frame supports a family of accessories that allow for the creation of an ergonomic workstation for imaging applications. For instance, a Swept Source OCT Imaging System contains the optical scan head as well as a computer, monitor, swept source laser, and a control box. With the ScienceDesk, all of the supporting electronics can be easily situated around the isolated optical breadboard without transmitting the vibrations created by the cooling fans.

Active Supports

• Set of Four Load Capacity: 1540 lbs (700 kg)
• Pneumatic Dual-Chamber Air Spring Damps Vertical Vibrations
• Trifilar Suspension System Damps Horizontal Vibrations
• Self-Leveling Valves with High Repeatability

The ScienceDesks equipped with active isolators provided the highest degree of vibration isolation. Vertical damping is achieved by the use of a dual-chamber, damped pneumatic spring. The table is supported by the air pressure in these chambers. A piston, in contact with the bottom of the optical breadboard, is sealed to the upper chamber with a rolling rubber diaphragm, allowing virtually friction-free motion between piston and chamber. Floor or tabletop motion forces air to flow from one chamber to the other through a laminar flow damper. This restriction of airflow damps oscillatory motion between the floor and table, dramatically reducing settling time. The volume ratio of the chambers has been optimized to minimize the resonant frequency of the ScienceDesk frame while maximizing the damping performance for our complete range of ScienceDesk optical breadboards. Damping of horizontal vibrations is accomplished by supporting the pneumatic vertical isolator on a Trifilar suspension system. This innovative pendulum design uses gravity to provide the restoring force after horizontal disturbances. Horizontal oscillations at the system’s resonant frequency are damped by linking the base of the vertical isolator to the outer cylinder with an oil-free vibration-absorbing damper. To allow for changes in load distribution, the active vibration isolation optical breadboard supports have a self-leveling system based on a precision 3-Way valves that do not compromise vertical isolation when the system is at rest. Because these valves are actuated by tabletop movement, the system returns to its original level position within ±0.5 mm (0.02 in.) after disturbances. These isolators require a constant supply of air. When the air supply is removed, the optical breadboard rests securely on top of the legs with the isolation system disabled.

ScienceDesks with active isolators not only provide the highest level of isolation but because of the self-leveling valves are ideal for applications where the load placed on the optical breadboard is constantly changing. Typical applications for this level of ScienceDesk include holography, optical lithography, and high-power optical microscopy. In addition, the active ScienceDesk frame is often chosen when the surrounding environment is less than ideal since the active isolators provide a higher level of isolation from floor vibrations.

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