Anti vibration mats are not as effective as the ones with compressed air. I have not used them for the particular task you want but as a general rule the softer your anti-vibration mount is better. To have a better idea, for the simplest model of your system, a single degree of freedom model (a mass on a spring and a damper), the isolation happens at frequencies higher than square root 2 times the natural frequency which is square root of the mass divided by the stiffness (sqrt(k/m)). To have better isolation you want to increase mass and decrease stiffness. The damping prevents high resonance at the natural frequency but it reduces the performance at high frequency where you require isolation, so in your case where it is not likely to excite your system at resonance you should not look for high damping. From all of this, if you can find a mat that is soft enough and with low energy absorption properties then it can be used in your case.

You must use the right anti-vibration system. You should know the lowest frequency that you want to cut-off (maybe from apparatus manual). It is right what Ali says, only one thing, if your apparatus have high mass in relation to "your" soft mats you should have problem with Elasticity and the system mass-spring don't work very well. So you shoul know the elasticity range of the mats.

Hi Ken, I'm not familiar with anti vibration mats or your technique. While the other answers sound highly sophisticated and hopefully helpful, it is our experience with atomic force microscope (AFM) spectroscopy that a platform hanging from bungee cords is superior to any commercially available isolation tables for AFM, where even sound waves were a major source of noise. So our home-built solution was gutting out refrigerators and mounting our AFMs on a slab of marble (~10 x 10 inches) suspended from the 4 corners with bungee cords. The lab is on 5th floor and this trick isolates building sway, vibrations, and sound. And as u can imagine, the cost is really minimal.... I hope this helps.

Kenneth; As Head of Research & Development for KELLETT Ent, we've provided Vibration Isolation Pads for many similar medical applications for measurement tables. We are able to customize the LP-13 KELLETT 3 layer Vibration Isolator to any required Durometer and can provide damping coefficient down to 10 Hz if required. The unique ABS Isolator core in the middle of the pad provides the critical isolation barrier that enhances damping coefficient on top and bottom of the pad, enhancing vibration abatement of compression, rarefaction and cross phasing of Vibration. Various customized configurations of our LP13 Vibration Isolator are currently in use in several Government research projects, Server Rooms, Measurement tables (of various kinds) , and Critical Defense Laboratories.

Contact TERRY MAULDIN. He is the President of KELLETT, and would be happy to assist you in finding the best Vibration Pad Isolator for this demanding application. Terry can be reached @ 1-864-382-3004. We are currently the supplier of KELLETT Vibration Pad Isolators to the Watervliet Federal Arsenal in Albany, New York, as well as many others involved in Research. He will be happy to help you! The TECHNICAL PROPERTIES pdf is on their Website, for you to examine. /Charles G. Kahane C.A.E. & Head of R&D for KELLETT

Kenneth,

Newport Corporation of Irvine, CA offers two lines of isolators that do not use compressed air. First, Newdamp or ND series, is based on highly damped elastomers. Second, VIBe series, is spring-based and engineered mostly for optical microscopes. There are many models to choose from, depending on application and load range. Just go to www.newport.com, click on Products, Vibration Control and pick what you need.

Pneumatic isolators are, however, more effective. Any special reason you do not want to use them?

"Bungee cords" are actually a neat home-grown solution that had never been productized because it is completely "ad hoc" every time. You need high ceilings and reliable means of attachment to it. The problem with bungee cords is that they usually do not have any means of energy dissipation (damping), so they oscillate with very slow attenuation if you touch them.

Good luck in you work!

A solution used on high end microscopes and precision scales is to use a Granite Isolator Anti-vibration platform. A granite slab is supported by silicone gel isolators at the four corners of the platform. You can try one for 60 days at no cost. Web site is www.graniteisolator.com and email me for a free trial at [email protected].