Number 13, October 2013
 

What's Here for You:
 
Vibration Isolation News is designed to keep our customers and friends up-to-date on the latest products and applications facilitating improved measurements, images and nanomanufacturing. We are an OEM supplier to leading manufacturers of scanning probe microscopes, micro-hardness testers and other sensitive instruments, and we have users at more than 200 leading universities and private and government laboratories in 43 countries.

 

 

 
 


Minus K Technology currently builds
vibration isolators to handle payloads from
3
lbs to 10,000 lbs (per isolator).


When you need the best isolation for your dollar.
Our patented technology will provide you true 1/2 Hz performance.

Give us your challenge.

   
 

The need for more precise vibration isolation with atomic force microscopy is becoming more critical as resolutions continue to bridge from micro to nano. When measuring very few angstroms or nanometers of displacement, an absolutely stable surface must be established for the instrument

 

Excerpted from Laboratory Equipment Magazine:

Expanding capability, scanning range
Since the release of the first commercial AFM about 25 years ago, technology advances have been integrated into AFMs to improve their performance. One of these has been expanding the AFMs ability to image biological samples in an aqueous buffer, and provide a range of physical data for the sample-a key capability that not all microscopy techniques can deliver. Another has been to increase the imaging speed of AFMs. Unlike SEMs, which are capable of scanning in near real-time, conventional AFMs, prior to about five years ago, required between one and 100 minutes to obtain a high-resolution image. With the introduction of high-speed AFM systems, imaging speeds can now be achieved that are three orders A of magnitude of three times faster than with previous AFMs.

Since the AFM was designed for imaging rnicro-structures on the micrometer and nanometer scale, its single scan image size is somewhat limited to a maximum scanning area of about l00 x100 micrometers. When researchers require a larger scale image, they typically use a SEM, which can produce quality images on a wide range of magnifications and sample sizes in the X and Y axis. In one pass, the SEM can image an area on the order of square millimeters, and with a depth of field of millimeters.

Within the past several years, however, research into AFM design, conducted by the Paul Hansma Research Group, Department of Physics, at the Univ.. of California, Santa Barbara, has demonstrated success with AFM imaging of large-scale samples at nanoscale resolutions, while extending the range of the Z-axis. The lab's current technical challenge is to design an AFM system that can significantly extend the scan range, while operating at a reasonable imaging speed with acceptable image resolution and linearity.

The Hansma lab's objective for expanding the scan range of its latest prototype AFM design is directed toward exploring the molecular origins of fracture resistance in mineralized tissues, primarily bone. Because of the limited range of AFMs, many critical measurements of large-scale bone fractures have not been produced. Typically, SEM is used to show the entirety of a bone crack, but it is unable to provide the detailed information that an AFM is capable of producing, nor to image bone matrix material properties in a natural hydrated fracture process.

Bone fracture and fracture surfaces on the microscale and nanoscale have been imaged with AFM," says Hansma.. "but many microfractures remain beyond the reach of AFM, such as those created by bone diagnostic instruments like the reference point indentation (RPI) instrument."

The RPI is an instrument that creates a small indent in the bone to determine its fracture resistance and gathers data on the depth and forces of the indent.

"By imaging these indents and the associated rnicrofractures, we have an opportunity to make real progress in understanding the nanoscale mechanisms that contribute to fracture resistance," explained Hansma.

Check out the whole article at:
https://minusk.com/content/in-the-news/LabEqu_0713.html

 

 

 


  Future Product: Minus K's is designing a new Small and Mighty isolator  
 

The LC-4 is a highly compact designed, low-frequency negative-stiffness isolator. While we haven't finalized the dimensions yet we are looking approximately 5" W x 4" D x 6.5" H (127mm W x 114mm D x 152mm H).

Payload capacites will be up to 150 lbs (68 kg) for this small and mighty isolator.

Planned performance characteristics:

  • Horizontal frequencies are weight dependent.
  • Horizontal frequency of 0.5 Hz is achieved at the upper limit of the payload range.
  • Vertical frequency is tunable to 0.5 Hz throughout the payload range.

As with all Minus K isolators, they are completely passive and use no air or electricity. The isolators can be combined into multi isolator systems to support heavy payloads while taking up very little room themselves.

If needed, the LC-4 isolators can be customized to achieve user specific needs. Eg., different horizontal and vertical frequencies, damping, etc. They can also be made cleanroom and vacuum. compatible.


https://minusk.com/content/products/standard/cm1-low-frequency-cubic-vibration-isolation-isolators.html

 

 

 

 


 
Minus K 20 Year Celebration Vibration Isolator Giveaway
to U.S. Colleges and Universities
 

 

We are celebrating 20 years of business by giving away $20,000* worth of our patented vibration isolators to colleges within the United States.

 
WS-4 Workstation
BM-1 Bench Top
BM-4 Bench Top


Any college/university within the United States, that have an AFM, Electron Microscope, Interferometer, Laser Optical System, Micro Hardness Tester, or any other special equipment that would benefit from a low-frequency vibration isolator and apply. No purchase necessary.

The submission forms will be judged by the 20 Year Giveaway Committee on multiple catagories.Limited to one submission per college department. Submission deadline for applications is January 31, 2014.

The selected college departments will be notified by February 28, 2014 and posted on Minus K's website.
A new FREE Minus K vibration isolator will be shipped within one month of notification.

Minus K will conduct a brief interview with the selected departments six months after receiving their isolator. The interviews will be used to learn how vibration isolator helped with the application goals and interview may be used for articles in industry publications.

Full information available on our website at www.minusk.com/20yrgiveaway.html

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BM-8 Bench Top
BM-10 Bench Top
CM-1 Bench Top

 
  News: Minus K Technology Is Veteran Owned and Certified California Small Business  

 

 
Minus K is a Veteran Owned Small Business.and a certified State of California Small Business. All our products are proudly made in the USA.
 

 

         
Veteran Owned Small Business
Proudly Made in the USA
Small Business Certification
Veteran Owned Small Business
Proudly Made in the USA
California Certified Small Business
         

 


Upcoming Meetings and Webinars:



Meeting: Sponsor: Dates: Location:
43rd annual meeting of
the Society for Neuroscience
Visit Minus K Booth #2912 at this exhibit Nov. 9, 2013 -
Nov. 13, 2013
San Diego, CA

http://www.sfn.org/annual-meeting/neuroscience-2013
 
Photonics West 2014
Visit the Minus K Booth #5307 at this exhibit Feb. 4, 2014 -
Feb. 6, 2014
San Francisco , CA
http://www.biophysics.org/2013meeting/Main/tabid/3523/Default.aspx
 
Biophysical Society 58th Annual Meeting 2014
Visit the Minus K Booth #812 at this exhibit Feb. 15, 2014 -
Feb. 19, 2014
San Francisco , CA
http://www.aps.org/meetings/march/
 
2013 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit
Material Reseach Society Apr. 2, 2013 -
Apr. 3, 2013
San Francisco , CA
http://www.mrs.org/spring2013/
 
NSTI NanoTech 2013 Visit Minus K Booth #218 at this exhibit
May. 12, 2013 -
May. 15, 2013
Washington, D.C.
http://www.techconnectworld.com/Nanotech2013/
 
Spacecraft Expo 2013
Visit Minus K Booth #7016 at this exhibit
May. 21, 2013 -
May. 23, 2013
Long Beach, CA
http://www.spacetechexpo.com/
       
SPIE Optics & Photonics 2013
Visit the Minus K Booth at this exhibit Aug. 27, 2013 -
Aug.. 29, 2013
San Diego, CA
http://spie.org/optics-photonics.xml
 
 

 

 


  We want to hear from you:  

 

Tell us if you have had a great experience with our isolators. Work with us on an article about how negative-stiffness has helped you. Don't be shy. Share your application with our readers.

Do you have an application in a New Field? What applications are of Interest to You?

Email us at newsletter@minusk.com

 

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Tel: 310-348-9656 Fax: 310-348-9638
Contact Us www.MinusK.com
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