Small Optical Air Table — Imaging Workstation

AT-48 Optical Air Table

The AT-48 optical air table from TMC, distributed by Sutter Instrument, is purpose-built for large imaging setups such as two-photon microscopy with systems like Sutter's MOM Moveable Objective Microscope. Imaging rigs typically need more bench space than electrophysiology workstations but rarely require electromagnetic shielding, so the optical tables are built without an integrated Faraday cage, keeping the working area fully open around the microscope.

Magnetic Breadboard Tabletop

The plated steel honeycomb core tabletop carries a magnetic top layer with M6 on 25 mm centers tapped holes, so optical mounts, translation stages and beam-steering components fix directly to the surface. A smooth top layer is available on request.

Active Vibration Isolation

An active air suspension system continuously levels the table and isolates it from vertical and horizontal vibration, keeping sensitive optical alignments stable throughout long imaging sessions.

Standalone or Mobile

The AT-48 is available as a fixed standalone table or fitted with leg braces and casters for easier relocation around the lab.

Applications

• Two-photon and multiphoton microscopy — high-numerical-aperture objectives at depth are acutely sensitive to focus drift caused by building vibration; the AT-48 removes this instability and is the minimum recommended table size for a standard two-photon microscopy rig. The 122 × 244 cm surface comfortably accommodates the microscope body, scan head and detection optics on a single isolated plane.
• Photomicroscopy and videomicroscopy — time-lapse and live-cell imaging at high magnification requires a vibration-free platform. The magnetic breadboard allows fast reconfiguration between experiments without disturbing calibrated optical paths.
• Large-format optical setups — beam-steering optics, spatial light modulators and fibre-coupled light sources can all be mounted directly on the breadboard, keeping the full optical path on a single isolated plane.