page_title: Optical table
section_title: Rails and benches
hierarchical_section_title: Optical table / Rails and benches
caption_attribution_description: Cut of : only cleaned superior portion.
context_page_description: An optical table is a vibration control platform that is used to support systems used for laser- and optics-related experiments, engineering and manufacturing. The surfaces of these tables are designed to be very rigid with minimum deflection so that the alignment of optical elements remains stable over time. Many optical systems require that vibration of optical elements be kept small. As a result, optical tables are typically very heavy and incorporate vibration isolation and damping features in their structure. Many use pneumatic isolators that act as mechanical low-pass filters, reducing the ability of vibrations in the floor to cause vibrations in the tabletop.
  The surface of an optical table is typically stainless steel with a rectangular grid of tapped holes in either metric or imperial units:
  metric: M6 on a 25 mm grid
  imperial: ¼-20" UNC on a 1" grid
  Optical breadboards, benches, and rails are simpler structures that perform a similar function to optical tables. These are used in teaching and in research and development, and are also sometimes used to support permanently aligned optical systems in finished devices such as lasers.
context_section_description: An optical bench or optical rail is a simpler piece of hardware that provides a linear (or sometimes curved) track along which to mount optical elements. They are often used for simple experiments, especially for classroom demonstrations. Such rails are typically made of steel and designed to be very stiff, with features that allow holders for optical components to be bolted down and easily shifted along the length of the rail. Rails are common in laser assemblies where the beam path travels on a single axis.
  A more sophisticated example is the silicon carbide ceramic toroidal optical bench in the Gaia spacecraft (illustrated), which supports several optical instruments.
caption: Diagram of Gaia space observatory. Item 1 is the toroidal optical bench.
exif: {}