Features

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XT66C1 Clamps Hold Long Rail Segments in Parallel

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Schematic of Rails in Parallel

• Clamp Between Rails or Accessories
• Orient Rails Parallel to Each Other
• XT66C1: 20 mm Long Clamp
• XT66C2: 40 mm Long Clamp

Thorlabs' Double Dovetail Clamps for 66 mm Rails securely join XT66 rails and components in a parallel orientation. They are available in two lengths: 20 mm and 40 mm.

Using two XT66C1 clamps as a pair, as shown to the right, prevents torsional strains and keeps two rails parallel over the entire length spanned by the clamps. If a single-clamp solution is preferred, then we recommend the XT66C2, which provides additional surface contact. The XT66C2 is also perfectly sized to attach to our XT66D2-40 Dovetail Mounting Platform.

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XT66CC Holding Two 66 mm Rails at a Right Angle

• Compact Clamp Joins Two 66 mm Rails at Right Angles
• Single-Screw Clamping Mechanism

The XT66CC Cross Clamp fastens two rails or accessories together at a 90° angle and closes using a single screw, making it easy to adjust and reposition. The clamping surfaces on the top and bottom are 20 mm long.

In order to orient two rails such that they are not orthogonal, please consider the XT66RD Double Dovetail Rotation Clamp shown below.

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XT66CB Holding Two 66 mm Rails at a Right Angle

• Connect Two 66 mm Rails at 90°
• Used with Dovetail Clamps

The XT66CB Cross Bracket creates a 90° intersection between two 66 mm rails and is typically used with dovetail clamps. It is ideal for situations where an XT66CC Cross Clamp is not available or desired. The dovetails on this bracket are 60 mm (2.36") long.

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Standard 66 mm Rail Mounted Vertically from a Base Rail

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Double Dovetail Rail Mounted Vertically from a Base Rail

• Connect Rails at 90° Horizontally or Vertically
• More Surface Engagement than Our Double Dovetail Clamps
• Ideal for Reinforcing a Right-Angle Connection

The XT66RA1 Right-Angle Clamp is a heavy-duty clamp that securely holds two rails together and is well suited for building three-dimensional rail constructions. Its long diagonal helps to brace a 90° rail intersection, and the two-screw clamping mechanism provides a high degree of surface contact.

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Right-Angle Connection Using Double Dovetail Clamps

• Orient 66 mm Rails at 90° in Two or Three Dimensions
• Combines Three Dovetails in One Bracket
• Used with Dovetail Clamps
• Machined from a Single Extrusion for High Rigidity

The XT66RA2 Right-Angle Bracket features three dovetails that can be used simultaneously. It contains two dovetails oriented at 90° for mounting rails horizontally or vertically, and a third dovetail is built into the diagonal brace. This third dovetail, oriented at 45°, both rotates the mounted rail and enables three-dimensional constructions from a single joint.

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90° Intersection Between a Rail Side and Rail End

• Form 90° Intersections Between the Side and End of Two Separate Rails
• Side-Locked Clamping Mechanism is Easily Accessed
• Also Used to Mount Optomechanics to Rail Sides

The XT66P2(/M) Rail Carriage contains four counterbored holes at the corners, positioned such that the carriage can fasten to the end of a standard 66 mm rail by using four M3 cap screws (not included). In this orientation, the swinging clamping arm, which tightens using a side-mounted 9/64" (M3) locking screw, is free to secure another 66 mm rail at a right angle. The arm provides ample clearance to lift the rail off when the locking screw is loosened.

Alternatively, this rail carriage can be fastened directly to a rail side to provide a mounting surface for optomechanics. The XT66P2(/M) contains a closely packed array of six 1/4"-20, four 8-32, and seven 6-32 tapped holes (six M6 and eleven M4 taps in the metric version), along with a centered 1/4" (M6) counterbore.

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Rotate Components within a Plane Parallel to a Rail Side

• Rounded Dovetail Shape Allows Any Orientation Between Rails
• Directly Fastened to Base Rail
• Requires an Additional Double Dovetail Clamp (Sold Above) to Fasten to Second Rail

The XT66RC Counterbored Pivot Platform consists of a removable dovetailed disk with a radially symmetric outer profile and a 40 mm long clamp. Our Double Dovetail Clamps, sold separately, can be directly fastened to this disk at an arbitrary angle and used to continuously rotate an attached rail through a full 360°. The XT66RD Double Dovetail Rotation Clamp shown immediately below is identical to this part, but includes an additional 40 mm clamp for attaching parts to the top.

Alternatively, the rotatable counterbored slot allows 1/4"-20 or M6-compatible optomechanics to be attached using our Low-Profile Channel Screws or Low-Profile T-Nuts, which are sold here.

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Two 66 mm Rails at an Arbitrary Angle

• Two Independent Clamps that Provide a Full 360° of Rotation
• Create Complex Orientations Between Rails and Rail Systems

The XT66RD Double Dovetail Rotation Clamp includes all the parts needed to continuously rotate one rail with respect to another through a full 360°. Rotation is provided by a removable dovetailed disk with a radially symmetric outer profile. It is identical to the XT66RC Counterbored Pivot Platform shown immediately above, except that it includes two 40 mm long clamps instead of one.

In contrast to these options, the XT66CC Cross Clamp pictured above rotates rails by a fixed 90° and uses 20 mm long clamps.

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Two 66 mm Rails at a 45° Angle

• Clamps Directly to 66 mm Rails and Provides ±45° of Rotation
• 5.00" (127 mm) Long Rail Allows Translation of Mounted Objects with Respect to Center of Rotation
• Easy-to-Read Laser Engraved Scale with 1° Resolution

The XT66RP1 Rotation Slide Platform provides a 5" (127 mm) long mounting surface that can be rotated by up to ±45° from the axis defined by the base rail. It clamps to a 66 mm rail using two rear-mounted locking screws. The laser-engraved scale features 1° graduations and allows mounted rails to be precisely and repeatably rotated.