Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts

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A Mini-Series Pedestal Post secured to a Mini-Series Breadboard using the MSC1 Clamping Fork.

• Solid, Stainless Steel Construction
• Available in Lengths from 0.5" to 2" (Imperial) or 12.5 mm to 50.0 mm (Metric)
• 4-40 (M3) Removable Setscrew in Top and 4-40 (M3) Tapped Hole in Base
• Ø14 mm Pedestal Base Compatible with MSC Clamping Forks (Available Below)

These Ø12 mm pedestal posts provide a solid mounting structure for our Mini-Series optical mounts. These posts are made from a nominally nonmagnetic 300 series stainless steel. The top and bottom of the posts have 4-40 (M3) tapped holes. A setscrew is provided pre-mounted in the top of the post for connecting to 4-40-tapped components. To easily distinguish the metric posts from their imperial counterparts, the metric posts have a ring-shaped groove in the pedestal base, as shown in the photo to the right.

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To position optics 50 mm above the mounting surface: pair the TRP1.17 (TRP29/M) with one of Thorlabs' 30 mm cage plates that have an edge-to-center distance of 20.3 mm, and the TRP057 (TRP14/M) with one of several 60 mm cage plates that have an edge-to-center distance of 35.6 mm. 

• Solid, Stainless Steel Construction
• Available in Lengths from 0.568" to 2.0" (Imperial) or 14.4 mm to 50.0 mm (Metric)
• 8-32 (M4) Double-Ended Setscrew in Top and Tapped 1/4"-20 (M6) Hole in Base
• Ø14 mm Pedestal Base Compatible with MSC Clamping Forks (Available Below)

These pedestal posts provide a compact footprint and low weight for optical mounts and optical tables. These virtually non-magnetic 303 stainless steel (SS) posts are precision ground to Ø12 mm and feature a Ø14 mm pedestal base compatible with our Mini-Series clamping forks (available below). As illustrated in the image to the right, the TRP057 (TRP14/M) and TRP1.17 (TRP29/M) posts can be used with many 60 mm cage plates and 30 mm cage plates to position the center of mounted optics 50 mm above the pedestal's mounting surface. 

The bases of these pedestal posts feature a 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped hole, while the tops have removable double-ended 8-32 (M4) setscrews [5/64" (2 mm) hex]. A side-located Ø0.10" (Ø2.4 mm) hole is bored straight through the post; using a balldriver inserted through the hole provides extra leverage when tightening mounted components. To easily distinguish the metric posts from their imperial counterparts, the metric posts have a ring-shaped groove in the pedestal base.

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An MSC2 Clamping Fork secures a Mini-Series pedestal post to a breadboard with 1/4"-20 tapped holes.

• Secure Any of Our Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts or Pedestal-Base Post Holders to Breadboards or Optical Tables
• MSC1 Has a 0.63" (15.9 mm) Long Counterbored Slot for a 4-40 (M3) Cap Screw
• MSC3 Has a 0.59" (14.9 mm) Long Counterbored Slot for an 8-32 (M4) Cap Screw
• MSC2 Has a 0.63" (15.9 mm) Long Slot for a 1/4"-20 (M6) Cap Screw
• Swivel Fork 360° to Select the Most Convenient Mounting Hole

Our clamping forks are designed to provide exceptional clamping force when used with our Ø12 mm pedestal posts (sold above) or our pedestal-base post holders. These clamping forks provide flexibility for building setups that combine Mini-Series components and our larger range of optomechanics offerings. The MSC1 and MSC2 are made from anodized aluminum, while the MSC3 is made from precipitation hardened 17-4PH stainless steel to provide a more uniform clamping force.

Designed to be used with the Mini-Series breadboards, the MSC1 and MSC3 are compatible with a 4-40 (M3) and 8-32 (M4) cap screw, respectively. The MSC2 slot accepts 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws, thus enabling the inclusion of Mini-Series posts and components into setups on standard breadboards and optical tables in addition to mini-series breadboards.

Each clamping fork features landing pads on the bottom surface to maximize stability when using a washer and cap screw to lock down a post with the fork. Please note that significant overtightening of clamping forks can deform the surface of an optical table, which can cause misalignment of components.

These thread adapters are designed to interface our standard-series and our Mini-Series optomechanical components. This is a portion of Thorlabs' complete line of thread adapters, which are available for many common thread standards.

Mechanical Drawing	Item #	Thread A	Thread B	Length C	Typical Application
	AP8E4E	8-32	4-40	0.38" (9.7 mm)	Attach Components with 8-32 Tapped Holes to Imperial Mini-Series Posts
	AP4M3M	M4	M3	0.38" (9.7 mm)	Attach Components with M4 Tapped Holes to Metric Mini-Series Posts

Mechanical Drawing	Item #	Thread A	Thread B	Length C	Typical Application
	MSA8	4-40	8-32	0.50" (12.7 mm)	Attach Components with 8-32 Tapped Holes to Imperial Mini-Series Posts
	MSA4/M	M3	M4	0.50" (12.7 mm)	Attach Components with M4 Tapped Holes to Metric Mini-Series Posts
	MSA25	4-40	1/4"-20	0.55" (14.0 mm)	Attach Components with 1/4"-20 Tapped Holes to Imperial Mini-Series Posts
	MSA6/M	M3	M6	0.55" (14.0 mm)	Attach Components with M6 Tapped Holes to Metric Mini-Series Posts

Mechanical Drawing	Item #	Thread A	Thread B	Length C	Typical Application
	AE4E25E	4-40	1/4"-20	0.38" (9.5 mm)	Attach Mini-Series Bases to 1/4"-20-Threaded Optical Tables
	AE3M6M	M3	M6	0.39" (10.0 mm)	Attach Mini-Series Bases to M6-Threaded Optical Tables