The E3300 system comprises an optical module containing the laser, beam steering optics and the microscope interface. The optical module attaches to the microscope either through an additional module such as an epi-fluorescence attachment or a camera port. A range of interfaces are available depending on the make and model of microscope.

The laser beam containing the trapped particle can be directed anywhere within the field of view by manually steering the conjugate optics. Alternatively, the particle can be held trapped in place and the bulk sample moved around it using the precision XY stage. For applications involving rotation of birefringent particles an optional polarization optic and rotation mount can be added.

The 1070nm fibre laser gives a stable high quality TEM00 beam with an M2 of 1.05. This high beam quality when used with high NA microscope objectives gives the tightly focused Gaussian spot required for efficient optical traps it both XY an Z directions. Variable power is available for changing the strength of the optical trap.