Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optical Post Assemblies / Mini-Series Optical Post Assemblies / Ø12 mm Pedestal PostsØ12 mm Pedestal Posts
- Precision Ground Stainless Steel Pedestal Posts
- 4-40 (M3) or 8-32 (M4) Removable Setscrew in Top
- Clamping Forks Secure Pedestal Posts
- Ideal for Miniature and OEM-Level Optomechanical Assemblies
MSC2
Slot for a 1/4"-20 (M6) Cap Screw
MSP2
MSP1.5
MSP1
MSP05
TRP50/M
TRP1.17
TRP1
TRP14/M
MSC3
Counterbored Slot for an 8-32 (M4) Cap Screw
MSC1
Counterbored Slot for a 4-40 (M3) Cap Screw
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Features
- Designed for Use in Limited Spaces and OEM Applications
- Essential Building Blocks for Small Assemblies
- Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts:
- 4-40 (M3) Setscrew and 4-40 (M3) Tapped Base
- 8-32 (M4) Setscrew and 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Base
- Clamping Forks Secure Pedestal Posts and Accept 4-40 (M3), 8-32 (M4), 1/4"-20 (M6) Cap Screws
- Mini-Series Thread Adapters Available for 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) Compatibility
Thorlabs' Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts are designed to be used in space constrained setups and OEM applications. They are part of our Mini-Series optomechanical components, which are designed to increase the number of optical elements that can be assembled within a limited space. The pedestal posts on this page can be used to enable the integration of our Mini-Series components and accessories for compact and OEM-level optomechanical assemblies. Two different pedestal posts are offered: posts with a 4-40 (M3) setscrew and tapped holes, and posts with an 8-32 (M4) setscrew and bottom-located 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped hole.
Pedestal posts with 4-40 (M3) taps are directly compatible with our MS12B(MS12B/M) Mini-Series breadboard. Pedestal posts with an 8-32 (M4) setscrew and 1/4"-20 (M6) tap are directly compatible with our 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) Mini-Series breadboards as well as other breadboards with 1/4"-20 (M6) taps. In addition, 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. This matches the optic height of our Polaris® fixed monolithic mount, a selection of our Polaris mounting posts, and our DIY Cerna® Breadboard Top with Two-Position Slider.
These Ø12 mm pedestal posts are designed to be used with our clamping forks and post thread adapters, which expand their functionality. The clamping forks secure these pedestal posts to breadboards and optical tables and are compatible with 4-40 (M3), 8-32 (M4), or 1/4"-20 (M6) taps. The forks swivel around the pedestal-style post to access the most convenient mounting holes. We also offer post thread adapters to enable compatibility across Mini-Series and other components by converting among the 8-32, 4-40, and 1/4"-20 imperial thread types as well as the M3, M4, and M6 metric thread types.
Our range of Mini-Series products facilitates setups combining both standard and Mini-Series optomechanical components and accessories. For questions regarding our Mini-Series products, please contact Tech Support.
| Posted Comments: | |
Jan Lowinski
(posted 2020-12-01 09:37:28.003) Dear Thorlabs,
In our lab we try to stick to the beam height of 50 mm. We also very often use RSP05/M Rotation Mount for Ø1/2" optics which unfortunately cannot be easily put on any pedestal post, because of not well matched heights. It would be great, if you could offer a post TRP38/M-like but 36 mm high, which would match the rotation mount.
Cheers,
Jan YLohia
(posted 2020-12-01 10:12:17.0) Hello Jan, thank you for your feedback. We will consider adding such an option to our catalog in the future. dfilgas
(posted 2018-05-15 13:31:40.043) need to offer 1/8" and 1.4" spacers for use on top of MSP posts to get fixed lens mounts to and even beam height. You have spacers for the 1" fixed posts. The MSP posts need them as well. YLohia
(posted 2018-05-15 04:42:30.0) Hello, thank you for your feedback. I will suggest this idea in our internal engineering forum. In the meantime, it may be worth noting that the TRxM series spacers on this page (https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1266) are compatible with the TRP series Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts with 8-32 (M4) Setscrew. |
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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.
ZoomThese 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 |
Mini-Series Pedestal Posts