Laser lab table board?

[ColdWelder]

Well guys I'm not sure what to call it, but i am looking for one of those lab-style metal tables with all the holes for bolting your modules and dichros into place. I imagine it would be a pretty simple build but if I wanted to BUY one, where should I go? I've tried looking for at lab supply sites and the like, there just doesn't appear to be much of a market for it. Or I'm just a bigger noob than I thought.

 

[Cyparagon]

Optical breadboard - they're NOT cheap. I recommend a thick Al plate instead.

 

[ColdWelder]

Ah I see, So a thick AL plate? Is it worth trying to drill holes just right, or do you know of any other nifty ways to fine-tune, and align your modules and such?

 

[sopark4000]

Here ya go
http://thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?Guide_ID=40
Just so you know they're expensive

Heres another source

Optical Breadboard Components and Laboratory Tables - Edmund Optics

As was mentioned before your best bet is to punch holes in aluminum sheeting yourself. I've searched a lot of sites looking for optical breadboards with and without vibration isolation. The lower end ones in 5 ft x 5ft range go for a couple hundred without vibration isolation components. The high end is literally in to the tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Fine tuning is often done with the adjustable optic
mounts.
HMike

 

[ColdWelder]

Okay thanks guys, I might just build a little one myself. I want to try my hand and combining beams, but I don't want to do it with popsicle sticks and glue. Maybe i'll try using heavy block pieces of steel to mount my instruments on, on an Al plate. This is for my own personal experimentation, I would just like a sturdy, relatively precise table/stand to work on.

 

[Bluefan]

I once build one with a 5mm thick plastic plate, it's 50x50cm and was a lot of work to build. I used it quite a lot, it's very handy to have an optical breadboard. I now have a 3cm thick 90x60cm aluminum one, it's way more stable.

Those optical tables have a honeycomb structure and are way better damped, aluminum has a lot of ringing. Aluminum also expand with temperature. For research setups those things matter, if you want to make something yourself a thick aluminum plate would be more than good enough.