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I have two SilentAire  SuperSilent 20's (not sure if they're available 
in the U.K.). One floats my TMC table-top air platform; the other 
switches the TEM camera in/out of the column.
You may need a larger pump than this model (depending on the size of 
your air-table), but they are very quiet and seem to be very reliable.
Julian

On 4/8/15 12:51 PM, Craig Brideau wrote:
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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> Post images on https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=8RzQ6Q6bicYLpGUzUpdtvY2J1m7re0AY9grH2N95giM&e=  and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> I've been using four Thorlabs PTA512 compressors and one Panther for a
> couple years now with no issues. The Thorlabs compressors are almost as
> quiet as the Panther, and in a typical lab with cooling fans going and such
> you can't notice the difference. As per all oil-using compressors you just
> need to change out the oil every 6 months to a year to keep it clean, but
> it's much better than shlepping compressed nitrogen or air bottles around
> every month.
>
> Craig
>
> On Wed, Apr 8, 2015 at 10:43 AM, Smith, Benjamin E. <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=-x0Tkr-hIzeX2lCOgzYOtawaZCpV-cSFUZGYkO1BNzs&e=
>> Post images on https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=8RzQ6Q6bicYLpGUzUpdtvY2J1m7re0AY9grH2N95giM&e=  and include the link in your posting.
>> *****
>>
>> I'm not sure what compressors work, but I can tell you what hasn't worked
>> for us.
>>
>> We originally had a Panther Silent Compressor that came with the
>> microscope.  The compressor is very quiet, but despite performing all
>> required routine maintenance, the compressor suddenly died after about a
>> year and a half.  Since the pump is a self-contained unit, there was no way
>> to repair the unit, so we had to buy a replacement.
>>
>> Not wanting to fork over the cash for another Panther, we opted for a
>> California Air Tools compressor.  While not nearly as quiet, we kept it in
>> the back room where, through a single door, the sound was barely
>> noticeable.  Yet again, despite performing all routine maintenance,
>> including draining the tank everyday, after about 3 months  the compressor
>> started running a lot more regularly.  We used a bit of leak detection
>> fluid and found the leak was actually at a poor weld on the pressure vessel
>> itself!!!
>>
>> After that experience, I decided I never wanted to deal with a compressor
>> again (I happen to be fond of all my fingers and toes).  As such, I got an
>> inline drier from Drierite, and now run the air tables off of the house air
>> supply.  Even though I am running three air tables off of this one line,
>> the Drierite lasts a little over a month before it needs to be changed, and
>> can be recharged indefinitely.
>>
>> As a back up, I scavenged the check valve off of the panther compressor,
>> and attached it to a nitrogen cylinder.  The supply line is set to 60PSI
>> and the cylinder is set to 45 PSI.  With the check valve, as long as the
>> house air supply is working, then the cylinder is not used (because of the
>> check valve).  However, if the power ever goes out, or I am changing the
>> Drierite, then the nitrogen cylinder will keep the system pressurized, even
>> with the house air disconnected.   After two months, the cylinder has not
>> lost any pressure.
>>
>> I would highly recommend this route if at all possible, because draining
>> tanks daily gets old, let alone changing compressor oil.  And there are
>> plenty of Youtube videos that show what happens when a standard compressor
>> tank fails.  That, combined with the personal experience of having our own
>> pressure vessel begin to fail after just a few months, made me decide to
>> never use a compressor again.
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>>     Ben Smith
>>
>> Benjamin E. Smith, Ph.D.
>> Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory
>> Research Scientist, Confocal Facility Manager
>> University of Oklahoma
>> Norman, OK 73019
>> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>> Voice   405-325-4391
>> FAX  405-325-7619
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.microscopy.ou.edu_&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=C2xqWViJlivriq6NmLQc7hpJU38AVpwIXpBCSVFsXzo&e=
>>
>> ________________________________________
>> From: Confocal Microscopy List [[log in to unmask]] on
>> behalf of Anton Kamnev [[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2015 10:32 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Purchasing air compressors in UK
>>
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=-x0Tkr-hIzeX2lCOgzYOtawaZCpV-cSFUZGYkO1BNzs&e=
>> Post images on https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=AwIBaQ&c=82NFg6qkAwmLf-ElsTDuMzmUibVPgLssK8WcsyJgSiA&r=D67eBmNxz222Vdk0xqrsRlq4A21dYeahvvFbxFeCvQc&m=w6V5Mz-gDpctcMcVrrSZI0Rzztz2NdcHuJtdpT-qisQ&s=8RzQ6Q6bicYLpGUzUpdtvY2J1m7re0AY9grH2N95giM&e=  and include the link in your posting.
>> *****
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Recently I started looking into purchasing new air pumps for our microscope
>> anti-vibration tables. Any chance you could share your experience with
>> purchasing air compressors for that purpose in UK? What suppliers would you
>> recommend? Which pumps works years and stay quiet?
>>
>> What I'm looking for is a quiet compressor able to supply ~50psi pressured
>> air to a couple of tables.
>>
>> Our tables are Newport Vision IsoStations. They have built-in air filter,
>> thus compressors don't have to be supplied with extra filters. I would,
>> nevertheless, very much appreciate your tips on system for purification of
>> compressed air.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Anton Kamnev, PhD
>> Imaging Manager
>> Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building
>> Division of Biomedical Cell Biology
>> Warwick Medical School
>> The University of Warwick
>> Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
>>
>> tel: +44 (0) 24-7615-1934
>> cell: +44 (0) 782-408-6941
>> email: [log in to unmask]
>>


-- 
Julian P.S. Smith III
Director, Winthrop Microscopy Facility
Dept. of Biology
Winthrop University
349 Columbia Ave
Rock Hill, SC  29733

803-323-2111 x6427 (vox)
803-323-3448 (fax)
803-524-2347 (cell)
Research Website www.birdnest.org/smithj
Personal Website www.rociada-east.net