TMC's optical tables provide industry-leading performance and rigidity with their all-steel structure, the highest core density, and the smallest honeycomb cell area on the market.
CleanTop optical tops are utilized for a wide range of applications, including metrology, spectroscopy, photonics research, holography, quantum computing, high energy physics, and interferometry.
They are available in a range of sizes, both industry standards as well as custom designs, such as joined optical tables, vacuum optical tables, non-magnetic tables, and Class One tables.
TMC optical tables are distinguished by the fact that each tapped hole is sealed by a separate plastic (or stainless steel) cup. The sides are made entirely of steel, and the honeycomb core structure is very dense for maximum rigidity.
Image Credit: AMETEK, Inc.
Individually Sealed Holes
The holes in the CleanTop table are tapped and countersunk to allow the machined top sheet to be fully cleaned with open rather than blind.
The top plate is processed through a unique TMC industrial cleaning center, which forces a high-pressure, high-temperature cleaning solution through each threaded hole, thoroughly clearing them of any machining or tapping debris.
Several rinse and dry cycles guarantee that the top surface is essentially "sterilized" before connecting the cups.
Once the tapping and countersinking is complete, chemically resistant nylon 6 cups are epoxy-bonded beneath each individual hole.
Cross-section of an individual cup. Image Credit: AMETEK, Inc.
All Steel Construction
The CleanTop is an all-steel construction. No particleboard sidewalls or plastic layers exist between the top skin and the honeycomb core. All the contacts are steel-to-steel, ensuring optimum strength and structural integrity.
CleanTop creates a spill-proof core with only two bonding layers: top skin to core and core to bottom skin. Imitations of the CleanTop require a third connecting layer that weakens the structure: top skin to plastic layer, plastic layer to core, and core to bottom skin.
In addition to strength and durability, the CleanTop has impressive thermal stability due to its all-steel structure, which ensures that materials have identical thermal expansion coefficients.
Steel sidewalls for added strength and best thermal stability. Image Credit: AMETEK, Inc.
Densest Honeycomb Core for Stiffness
TMC's honeycomb core is comprised of 0.010 in (0.25 mm) thick steel, work-hardened and coated to resist corrosion and provide years of service.
The steel honeycomb’s Young’s Modulus is three times higher than aluminum, making it the perfect material for optical tops.
TMC's honeycomb core has a closed-cell structure with a basic cell size of 0.5 in2 (3 cm2), resulting in a core density of 13-14 lb/ft3 (300 kg/m3), much higher than others on the market.
The effective core density is 18-20 (16 lb/ft3), including the sidewalls and dampers. This density is approximately twice that of competitive systems, which means the CleanTop has particularly good stability and dampening.
Image comparing honeycomb structures. Denser CleanTop on the left. Competitor on the right. Image Credit: AMETEK, Inc.
Made in TMC’s Vertically Integrated Factory in the USA
All TMC CleanTop optical tops are manufactured in the vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Peabody, Massachusetts.
TMC has complete control over the entire process, and its manufacturing team can collaborate with the on-site engineering and quality teams to ensure that quality is built in from the outset.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by AMETEK, Inc.
For more information on this source, please visit TMC.