Passive Vibration Isolation

Overview

Vistek passive systems are small and efficient and rely solely on the Vistek Vibration Isolation Bearing (VIB) which is a mechanical six-degree-of-freedom isolation bearing that can be scaled to support payloads from a few pounds to several thousand pounds. These bearings are passive, mechanical bearings that employ Vistek's patented vibration isolation technology (US Patent No. 6,517,060, 6,520,283 and foreign patents pending (not pending-issued)). Vistek passive systems are easy-to-use and work for a variety of applications including microscopes and other small lab equipment and devices. Our passive systems require no external service such as compressed air or electrical power, are maintenance-free, require no calibration and do not rely upon complicated software driven algorithms and supporting computer hardware.

Microscope Platforms

Vistek microscope platforms are designed to match the footprint of each model of microscope. This minimizes the workspace occupied by the isolation platform. Vistek platforms are also designed to be very low profile and when installed under a microscope they raise the microscope only 1 to 1-½ inches. Competing products typically require a supply of compressed air or nitrogen, come only in a few standard rectangular platform sizes, and typically raise the working height of the microscope at least 3 inches, which can create ergonomic problems for the user.

 Olympus BX51 microscope and Vistek VIP3200 Low Profile platform

Because our products are made to fit, you don't have to worry about added height or bulk that standard platforms would cause. Our custom platforms fit the base of your specific microscope for a low profile, low weight solution to your vibration isolation needs. In response to ergonomic problems caused by raising the microscope working height, Vistek has recently developed a modified platform that raises the microscope working height by only half an inch! This adaption of our standard platform is available for any of our microscope platforms.

Microscopes that are connected to remote viewing heads may require the remote viewing head to be isolated along with the body of the microscope. Vistek offers a platform just 6 inches in diameter for isolating remote viewing heads. This is a space efficient, economic alternative to installing a platform large enough to hold the microscope and the remote viewing heads. Ask us about the VIP320-6R.

 Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee – Maintenance Free Forever

Vistek platforms are truly maintenance free and require no power of air. We are so sure of our product that we offer and unconditional lifetime guarantee. Still unsure? Call us for a risk free trial. We'll ship the platform to you and if you don't love it, just send it back free of charge. We cover a large variety of platforms for microscope models and manufacturers. If you are unable to find your microscope listing, please contact us with information about the microscope manufacturer and model number and we will either be able to match it to an existing platform design or design a new platform to fit it.

Ultra Low Profile Platforms

Vistek Vibration Isolation Platforms are already the lowest profile available. The standard platform raises the height of the microscope approximately 1.25 to 1.5 inches above the work surface. We have learned that for some operators and some microscopes, even this height increase can cause ergonomic issues. The ultimate solution is to purchase the Vistek Vibration Isolation Table which has the isolation platform flush with the rest of the table top.

When this is not a viable option Vistek has introduced an ultra low profile option that can be provided with any standard or custom platform. This configuration allows the steel platform to sit just above the work surface and results in only raising the microscope 0.5 inches to provide the vibration isolation. If the low profile option is of interest please contact us for price and delivery for your choice of platform Vistek has developed custom Series 3200 VIPs for microscopes manufactured by Carl Zeiss, Leica Microsystems, Nikon and Olympus. If you do not see a Platform for your microscope or other instrument on our size selection charts, and would like a custom shaped Platform for your instrument, simply contact us and we make one.

General Platforms

Our Vibration Isolation Platforms are meant to sit on a sturdy table or work bench, with microscopes, sample preparation tools, hardness testers or other vibration sensitive equipment placed on top. This special platform cuts off the transmission of vibrations from the tabletop or work bench into the equipment. These platforms can also be placed directly on the floor to isolate larger items such as incubators or motor driven equipment such as generators or compressors.

Our platforms are passive, mechanical and maintenance free, and therefore require no external services. Services such as compressed air or electrical power, supporting software or hardware, or calibration are completely unnecessary with Vistek platforms. The bearings used in these platforms effectively isolate for horizontal and vertical vibration components in all six degrees of freedom.

Our platforms are comprised of a black powder-coated steel plate supported on three, four or more Vibration Isolation Bearings. We can also supply hard black anodized aluminium platforms. We supply optical breadboard platforms available in any size in which optical breadboards are manufactured.

VIP 320 Series

This Series features rectangular-shaped Platforms with three or four Vibration Isolation Bearings. The Platform is available in five standard sizes ranging from 12x 18 inches (30cm x 46cm) to 24x 30 inches (61cm x 76cm) and can handle weights up to 500 lbs (225 kgs). In addition you can order custom size platforms to meet your exact requirements and minimize platform footprint while still isolating your sensitive equipment. The platforms are fabricated from 3/8 inch steel plate for maximum stiffness.

‘xx’ represents the lowest payload supported by bearings supplied with the platform and ‘yy’ represents the heaviest payload supported by the bearings supplied with the platform.

Any combination of bearings from the VIB320 table (link) can be provided . The payload range for any platform is calculated as follows:

Minimum Payload = 4*(VIB320 minimum rating) – platform weight

Maximum Payload= 4* (VIB320 maximum rating) – platform weight

Example: If we want an 18 in by 24 in platform to support a 100 pound payload. Then the total weight to be supported by the four bearings is 147 pounds (100 + platform weight). Spread equally over four bearings, each bearing needs to support 39 pounds. We need to select a bearing that has 39 pounds as a mid point between its min and max rating. In this case the VIB320-2947 would be a good match.

The minimum payload calculation from the formula = 4*29-47 = 69 pounds The maximum payload calculation from the formula = 4*47-47 = 141 pounds.

Lab Platforms

 Our General Lab Isolation Platforms (LIPs) are specifically designed for lab balances, Petri dishes, and other small lab equipment and devices, all of which are susceptible to environmental vibrations created by HVAC equipment, elevators, automobile traffic, foot-traffic, shakers, and other equipment. Our lab platforms cut out the transmission of both horizontal and vertical vibrations from the work surface.

The Series 275 Lab Isolation Platform is lightweight and easy to set up. It is comprised of a sturdy, gray PVC platform with a neoprene, non-stick surface supported by three or four Series 275 Vibration Isolation Bearings. These bearings are passive, mechanical bearings that employ Vistek's patented vibration isolation technology (US Patent No. 6,517,060, 6,520,283 and foreign patents pending (not pending-issued)). Our lab platforms can handle loads up to 52 lbs (24 kgs).

LIP 275 Series

Introducing the LIP 175

Vistek has recently developed a new elastomeric vibration isolation bearing (patent pending) for less demanding applications. The LIP-175-912-01 is a 9 inch by 12 inch rectangular platform suitable for isolating smaller low to medium power microscopes when environmental conditions are impacting image quality. The platform is approximately one inch high and can isolate payloads up to 40 lbs.

Specifications

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