VGI-XL Vibrator Granite Isolator, Max Load 200lbs, 22" x 32"

The VGI-XL is a vibration granite isolator that is 22" x 32" that has a maximum recommended load of 200lbs.


The VGI Granite Isolator consists of only three different parts. The granite top is designed to be about the size of the microscope or other precision instrument. Special, high grade silicone gel isolators are underneath the four corners of the granite, and an ABS plastic baseplate is attached under the silicone gel isolators so that the platform can be easily slipped under the microscope, electronic balance, or other precision instruments. The silicone gel supports of our platforms are the key as they are very compliant with high internal damping, they isolate micro-vibrations as well as larger motions, and have long life ( we have many installations of greater than 8 years). In addition, the silicone gel supports are easy to use as they require no adjustment, no air supply, accommodate a wide range of loading with excellent performance, and are ideal for use in cleanrooms. The granite tops give us the weight we are looking for, and they look very nice under your precision microscopes, balances and other precision instruments.


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The VGI Granite Isolator consists of only three different parts. The granite top is designed to be about the size of the microscope or other precision instrument. Special, high grade silicone gel isolators are underneath the four corners of the granite, and an ABS plastic baseplate is attached under the silicone gel isolators so that the platform can be easily slipped under the microscope, electronic balance, or other precision instruments.


anti-vibration base, granite anti-vibration

The silicone gel supports of our platforms are the key as they are very compliant with high internal damping, they isolate micro-vibrations as well as larger motions, and have long life (we have many installations of greater than 8 years). In addition, the silicone gel supports are easy to use as they require no adjustment, no air supply, accommodate a wide range of loading with excellent performance, and are ideal for use in cleanrooms. The granite tops give us the weight we are looking for, and they look very nice under your precision microscopes, balances and other precision instruments.

VGI-XL Info:

Vibration Granite Isolator (22" x 32") Maximum recommended load is 200lbs

Features:
   • Uses High Grade Silicone Gel for the vibration isolators. Placed at the four corners of the granite, the silicone gel supports are highly compliant and have a high level of internal damping.
    • Simple and low cost vibration control.
    • No air supply required as with an air-based isolation table.
    • Used for over 10 years on high performance microscopes and precission weighing scales.
   •  The platform makes an attractive base for your microscope or other precision instruments.

Model VGI-S VGI-MM VGI-M  VGI-L  VGI-XL 
Weight 24 lbs 36 lbs 36 lbs 72 lbs 110 lbs 
Size 13" x 15" 16" x 21" 16" x 21" 18" x 26" 22" x 32"
Maximum Load  70 lbs 70 lbs 140 lbs 140 lbs 200 lbs
Total Thickness 1.5" 1.5" 1.5" 1.75" 1.75


Warranty

Granite Isolators come with a 1 year warranty covering all defects in workmanship or materials. Units have been in service for 10 years with no degradation in performance, and the manufacturer of the silicone has had this material under precision instruments for 20 years of continuous use with no noticeable degradation of the silicone.

Product Information:
 
   • Manufactured: 
100% MADE IN USA
   • Customer Support:
 1-(800) 832-0060 (U.S.A Based)

Package Information: 
   • Weight:  
~112lbs
   • Box Size:
 24" x 34" x 3"

Details

The VGI Granite Isolator Benefits

  1. Simple and effective vibration isolation.

  2. Reduced eye fatigue compared to no vibration isolation.

  3. Compared to an air vibration isolation table, the VGI Granite Isolator is significantly less expensive and does not require an air supply.

  4. Installation and handling is easier than an air vibration isolation table which can be quite heavy. The 13" x 15" VGI Granite Isolator weighs just 24 lbs. Set-up consists of simply sliding it under the microscope or precision scale.

  5. It is reliable because the VGI Isolator consists of only a granite mass on compliant supports. No air bladders, seals, or air valves that can run into problems over extended periods of time. Long-term reliability is assured because there is nothing to adjust or maintain.

  6. Cleanroom compatible. There are no moving parts, no air valves that have been known to send bursts of particle-laden air into the cleanroom. Granite is very abrasion resistant and an ideal cleanroom material.

  7. Much smaller and lower profile than air tables or benchtop air platforms.

  8. If the center of gravity of the microscope is too high, benchtop air isolation platforms can run into problems such as tilting too much or bottoming out on the isolators on one side. This problem is often solved by making the air isolation platform much larger than the microscope base. Unfortunately, this wastes useful table space. The VGI Granite Isolator does not need to be significantly larger than the microscope base.

Although the VGI Granite Isolator platform does not isolate from vibration as well as an air table, it is well suited for the 200x to 1000x objective magnification range. Higher magnifications should continue to use air tables.

Note however that air tables can also be used with the VGI Granite Isolator platform for better vibration control than obtained with air isolators alone.

Applications

Granite platforms with unique silicone gel isolators offer new vibration damping solutions for noise sensitive industrial, laboratory, cleanroom, and inspection areas. Typical examples include:

  • Microscopes
  • Precision weighing scales
  • Lasers
  • Electro-optic systems
  • Micropositioners
  • Precision measuring instruments such as microhardness and laser dimensional measurement instruments.
  • Silicon wafer inspection stations
  • Turntable isolation

Details

VGI (Granite Isolator) Theory of Operation

 

 
A vibration isolation device can be represented as a simple mass and spring system. This device is placed between the table top and the microscope.

The table top is always moving, and the goal is to prevent as much of this vibration as possible from reaching the microscope. We do this by the use of the vibration isolator which is schematically shown in the diagram. It consists of a mass, a spring that supports the mass, and damping that we describe below.

It is intuitive that the more mass (weight) one has in the vibration isolator, the less it will shake. It will simply tend to move less when the table top vibrates.

And the softer the spring on which the mass rests, the better the isolator will work. Damping is "friction" or a dashpot that absorbs energy as the table top vibrates. Damping is useful to reduce vibrations around the resonant frequency of the vibration isolator.

Granite is an ideal mass for a vibration isolator as it is heavy and has good stiffness and internal damping properties. It has been used for generations in anti-vibration tables and instrument bases. In addition, it can be attractive underneath the microscope.

The silicone gel supports used on the Granite Isolator make ideal "springs" as they are very compliant and have a high level of built-in damping. In addition, they are effective over a wide range of loading conditions. And they are long-lived, as units over 10 years old still retain their resilience and robustness. We have tested a number of soft elastomers, and this gel significantly outperformed all the rest due to its softness and high internal damping.

A potential problem with silicone is that it is one of the most difficult polymers to bond to. But we have developed a proprietary 12 step bonding process that bonds the silicone to the granite and the plastic with a strength that is higher than the silicone itself.

Components & Accessories

VIBRATOR GRANITE ISOLATORS
• VGI-S: Vibration Granite Isolator (13" x 15") Maximum recommended load is 70lbs; utilized by EMZ, RZ, MT4000’s and MT5000’s series
• VGI-MM: Vibration Granite Isolator (16" x 21") Maximum recommended load is 70lbs; utilized by MC, IM, TC, and MT6000’s series
• VGI-M: Vibration Granite Isolator (16" x 21") Maximum recommended load is 140lbs; utilized by MC, IM, TC, and MT6000’s series
• VGI-L: Vibration Granite Isolator (18" x 26") Maximum recommended load is 140lbs  
• VGI-XL: Vibration Granite Isolator (22" x 32") Maximum recommended load is 200lbs