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Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optical Post Assemblies / Ø1" Optical Post Assemblies / Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Pillar PostsØ1" (Ø25 mm) Pillar Posts
- Solid Stainless Steel Construction
- Mounting Taps at Both Ends
RS12
RS6
RS4
RS3
RS2
RS1.5
RS1
RS075
RS05
RS10M
RS8M
RS024
RS016
Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Post Spacers
Smooth or Threaded Bore
Turn Ø1" Posts into
Pedestal-Style Posts
CF125
BE1
Application Idea
3/16" (5 mm)
Balldriver hole
for extra leverage
during tightening
RS4 Post Mounted in
an RB2 Post Mount
Please Wait
Click to Enlarge
RS4 Pillar Post Shown Mounted in a Flexure Clamping Base, Allowing for Small Height Adjustments
Click to Enlarge
Mirror Center of a Ø1/2" Polaris Mirror Mount Raised to a Standard 2.00" Height Using the PLS-P150 Post
Features
- Standard Posts Used to Extend the Height of Our Pedestal Posts
- Top- and Bottom-Located 1/4"-20 (M6) Tap
- Posts Used to Raise the Mirror Center of Polaris® Mirror Mounts to Standard Optic Axis Heights
- One or Three Top-Located 8-32 (M4) Taps
- One Bottom-Located 1/4"-20 (M6) Tap
- Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Solid, Nonmagnetic Stainless Steel Construction
- Large-Diameter Relief Cut on Top and Bottom for Mounting Stability
- 3/16" (5 mm) or 0.24" (6 mm) Hole Provides Extra Leverage During Tightening
Thorlabs' Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Pillar Posts are a basic component in any optical setup. Posts with heights between 0.5" (12.5 mm) and 12" (300 mm) are available below, as well as a variety of post construction accessories. Ø1" (Ø25 mm) posts designed to raise the mirror center of Polaris mirror mounts to a 2" or 50.0 mm height are also available.
Standard Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts
Our standard Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts have one 1/4"-20 (M6) tap on both the top and bottom, allowing them to be threaded to another post or optical table in any orientation. A 3/16" (5 mm) hole in the center of the post is provided so that a balldriver can be used to provide extra leverage when securing a mounted component. These posts can also be mounted using Ø1" post mounts, enabling arbitrary height adjustments, or Ø1" post holders that are then secured to the table using clamping forks. Alternatively, our BE1 pedestal adapter, sold below, can be threaded into the end of the post for functionality similar to that of our Ø1" pedestal posts.
Pillar posts are available in a variety of heights from 0.5" (12.5 mm) to 12" (300 mm). Additional heights can be achieved by stacking posts with heights of 0.39" (10 mm) or shorter on top of a standard pillar post. These posts can be stacked easily and securely by using the SPW501 or a balldriver on the torque hole, which provides extra leverage while tightening the components onto each other.
Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts Designed for Polaris Mirror Mounts
These posts are designed for use with Polaris mirror mounts. They contain one or three top-located 8-32 (M4) taps, for directly attaching a mirror mount without using a thread adapter, and a bottom-located 1/4"-20 (M6) tap. A precision 0.24" (6 mm) hole, located 20 mm from the base of the post, allows for alignment of multiple mounts along a common optical axis or for fine angle tuning. These posts can also be customized with specific taps, post heights, or usage features using the provided post configurator below. Although these posts can be mounted utilizing the options described above for our standard posts, we recommend using our POLARIS-CA1(/M) or POLARIS-CA25/M Clamping Arms, sold below. These clamping arms, which are constructed from heat-treated stainless steel, remove the bridging effect commonly seen with standard clamping forks (described in further detail below) while also providing a higher holding force.
| Posted Comments: | |
karsten.sperlich
(posted 2018-07-13 10:53:57.733) Hello,
I like the pedestal post with pillar post concept as it is very stable.
Usually, I use 1" pedestal posts with M4 taps to directly mount the optomechanical mounts. If the height does not fit, I use spacer, which is fine. But if the difference is more than 10 mm, I always wonder, why there are no pillar post with M4 taps. I have to use expensive adapters (M4-M6) to extend my pedestal posts to end up with M6 taps and to use another expensive adapter to go back to M4 again.
Do you think, you could extend your portfolio with M4 tap pillar posts?
As one can see from the other comments, this is highly desired.
Thanks and best regards,
Karsten llamb
(posted 2018-07-27 04:09:11.0) Hello Karsten, thank you for your feedback. All of our standard pillar posts will ship with either a #8-32 or M4 screw thread adapter to satisfy this thread conversion in most cases. Otherwise, connecting a short pillar post with M6 taps (RS10/M for example) to your main post with an M6 setscrew may be more convenient than using a spacer, so you can save the included thread adapter for the topmost, shorter post. I will also reach out to you directly in case a custom post solution may be more beneficial. lzcarid
(posted 2017-09-14 00:32:11.917) Dear Thorlabs,
Is it possible that you sell 1/8'' spacers? I think they are in general very useful in the lab, but I can't find them in your website. Then I need to go to Newport to buy it...
Best,
Zeren tfrisch
(posted 2017-09-21 11:49:59.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you about a custom quote. popei
(posted 2016-02-22 06:41:22.243) 25mm diameter metric pillar post with M4 tapped holes for use with M4 tapped Pedistal posts.
These would be useful for making up non standard post hights which require larger spacers. EG a 50mm pedistal post plus a 19 mm pillar post to give a total height of 69mm. besembeson
(posted 2016-03-04 11:56:20.0) Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: This can be achieved currently using the AP6M4M single external thread adapter: http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_ID=1745 jjurado
(posted 2011-08-15 14:21:00.0) Response from Javier at Thorlabs to last poster: Thank you very much for your feedback. We understand that the prices of some of our components are slightly higher than those offered by a few competitors. However, we constantly strive to offer fair prices for all of our products, without sacrificing functionality nor quality. Please contact us at techsupport@thorlabs.com if you would like to discuss your concerns a bit further. user
(posted 2011-08-07 22:46:09.0) Ok, I remember when you guys had the best prices but not so any more. . When you made these new spacers you were supposed to make them less expensive than the other guys, not more. Dont be greedy....And don be evil. Thorlabs
(posted 2010-10-20 17:33:23.0) Response from Javier at Thorlabs to fabian.luecking: The metric post extensions are M6 threaded, but they ship with an M6 to M4 adapter, which has external M6 threads and internal M4 threads (p/n AE4M6M). fabian.luecking
(posted 2010-10-20 16:13:35.0) Please provide spacers and extensions for M4, too. Actually, on the post page it says "extendable with M4 and M6 taps (see RS-extensions)" - but there seem to be no M4-tapped extensions... jens
(posted 2009-06-29 13:07:56.0) A reply from Jens at Thorlabs: thanks for the suggestion. I will contact our engineers and add the idea to our internal database. Besides that most customers at the moment would use a RB2 or depending on the setup the spacer plates, e.g. BA2S2 to create small height offsets. patricia.lee3
(posted 2009-06-29 11:39:44.0) It would be great if you would offer fractional-inch length spacers, i.e. RS025 for 1/4" and RS0125 for 1/8". RS01 through RS04 are really hard to use for imperial standards. jens
(posted 2009-06-10 11:17:41.0) A reply from Jens at Thorlabs: Thomas, I just recognized in addition that the description which show on the main page is misleading since the adapter is not the best choice for connecting two RS posts, the adapter is really meant to give you the option to use 8-32 threaded parts with the RS posts. In order to connect two RS posts a solid 1/40-20 set screw as included in our HW-KIT4 will be the best choice. The page is being change at the moment. jens
(posted 2009-06-04 08:22:08.0) A reply from Jens at Thorlabs: Thomas, thanks for the feedback. I looked at a couple of studs/set-screws yesterday and tightened them using a lot of mechanical force. Since that worked fine I am wondering if you might have gotten a set which should not have passed our quality checks. Let me contact you directly via your email and get you a few new ones to check if this was the case or if we are using different ways of fixing these and a change of the design might be required. thomasce2
(posted 2009-06-01 19:04:12.0) Hi.
I really like the 1" post extensions with 1/4-20 threaded holes, however, the 1/4-20 studs/set-screws that come with them are complete junk! They tear apart if you look at them. I tried to use a couple and then just started ordering studs/set-screws from Amazon and Grainger. Thin hollow studs that tear apart when looked at just dont cut it. After I tore up a couple I just gave up and ordered a real stud/set-screw. Lets make a good product even better and include studs/set-screws that dont tear up like tissue paper--make em solid stainless, not hollow!!
best regards, tommy thomas Laurie
(posted 2009-01-26 08:57:14.0) Response from Laurie at Thorlabs to flickingerd: Thank you for taking the time to provide us with some feedback concerning our website. Thorlabs business model is focused around customer centricity. That is why youll find a "You Speak, We Listen" link on the homepage. In this case, you as well as many other customers contacted us asking that we bring back our product pages and we have listened. Youll note that we have made slight changes to the product pages like removing the drop down menu to find the support documents. Instead, they now appear on the page itself. However, the pages, for the most part, will look exactly like they did in the past. We hope that you find these slight changes to be even more user friendly. Please feel free to speak up in the future if you have additional suggestions for improving your web experience. flickingerd
(posted 2009-01-21 11:18:07.0) I *REALLY DISLIKE* the recent change to the Thorlabs website--where now clicking on a product takes you directly to the catalog page and the individual product web pages dont seem to exist any more. Please change back! I really liked the individual product web pages because they made it easy to access all of the support documentation/drawings for that specific product. Now you have to search through the (often long) lists of support documents that are on the full product line pages for the proper item number. And when youre transferring order information from the website to something else, you cant isolate one product on the page any more so you keep having to scan the full product line page to re-find your specific product each time you look away. This makes a difference if you do a lot of shopping, and product recommendation, which I do.
I hardly ever want to see the catalog pages either, so dont think they deserve such a prominent position.
Dan |
Zoom- Posts used to Extend the Height of Our Ø1" Pillar Posts
- 1/4"-20 Tapped Hole on Both Ends
- Torque Hole for 3/16" Balldriver or SPW501 Spanner Wrench Provides Extra Leverage During Tightening
These Pillar Posts provide strong support in an optical setup. By combining the rigidity of these solid Ø1" posts with our high stability RB2 base, any arbitrary height support structure can be constructed. Each post is machined with a 1/4"-20 tapped hole in both ends for direct mounting to an optical table or standard base and an optical mount. These posts are machined from nonmagnetic 303 stainless steel.
Each Imperial Pillar Post is shipped with an AE8E25E adapter. This adapter has external 1/4"-20 threading and internal 8-32 threading. The adapter can be used with an 8-32 setscrew to attach many of Thorlabs' imperial optomechanical parts to a Ø1" imperial pillar post. In principle, the adapter can also be used to connect two Pillar Posts, but a solid 1/4"-20 setscrew, which is included in our HW-KIT4 hardware kit, is a more stable choice for this.
Zoom- Posts used to Extend the Height of Our Ø25.0 mm Pillar Posts
- M6 Tapped Hole on Both Ends
- Torque Hole for 5 mm Balldriver or SPW501 Spanner Wrench Provides Extra Leverage During Tightening
These Pillar Posts provide strong support in an optical setup. By combining the rigidity of these solid Ø25.0 mm posts with our high stability RB2 base, any arbitrary height support structure can be constructed. Each post is machined with an M6 tapped hole in both ends for direct mounting to an optical table or standard base and an optical mount. These posts are machined from nonmagnetic 303 stainless steel.
Each Metric Pillar Post is shipped with an AE4M6M adapter. This adapter has external M6 threading and internal M4 threading. The adapter can be used with an M4 setscrew to attach many of Thorlabs' metric optomechanical parts to a Ø25.0 mm metric pillar post. In principle that adapter can also be used to connect two Pillar Posts but a solid M6 setscrew as included in the hardware kit HW-KIT4/M will provide a more stable solution.
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Click for Details
A top-located 8-32 (M4) tap allows for the direct mounting of a Polaris mount without a thread adapter. Dowel pins can provide precision mounting.
- One or Three Top-Located 8-32 (M4) Taps
- One Bottom-Located 1/4"-20 (M6) Tap
- Two Ø2 mm Alignment Pin Holes Around Each Tap for Precision Mounting
- Vacuum Compatible to 10-9 Torr at 25 °C with Proper Bake Out
- Heat-Treated to Remove Internal Stresses for Increased System Stability
- Configurator Available Below for Custom Lengths, Taps, and Usage Features
These posts are designed to raise the mirror center of our Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø3" Polaris mirror mounts to standard optical axis heights. See the table below for the resulting optical axis heights when these posts are used directly with our Polaris mirror mounts. Each post contains one or three top-located 8-32 (M4) tap and a bottom-located 1/4”-20 (M6) tap. These threading choices eliminate the need for a thread adapter, as the mirror mount can be directly attached to the post. Consequently, these posts provide a one-piece post solution, thereby reducing the instability created when using multiple optomechanical components. Posts with one 8-32 (M4) tap are ideal for use with mounts up to Ø2", while posts with three 8-32 (M4) taps are designed for Ø2" and Ø3" mounts, which have multiple counterbores at each mounting face. To reduce instability with the larger Ø2" and Ø3" mounts, we recommend using a post with three taps.
Created with OEM and custom systems in mind, two Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located around each tap, which will allow for DIN-7-m6 ground dowel pins (not included) to be used. Securing posts and accessories within a system using dowel pins, as shown in the photo to the right, prevents them coming loose due to vibrations, shipping, or incidental contact.
The posts are made from heat-treated stainless steel, which has a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and matches the material used in all of our Polaris mirror mounts, clamping arms, and 45° adapters. Matching the CTE of materials within an optical setup is essential to achieve optimal thermal repeatability. Heat treating the materials used removes the internal stresses that can cause temperature-dependent hysteresis. Therefore, when mounting, we only recommend using components fabricated from the same material.
Our Polaris Clamping Arms, available below, are the ideal mounting solution for these posts. These posts feature a non-bridging design that reduces the gap, or “bridge,” that traditionally results between the back of a standard clamping fork and a Ø1" pedestal post base.
Click here for more information on these posts including OEM mounting options, mounting stability details, and test data.
OEM Solutions and Volume Orders
Thorlabs manufactures custom and high-volume Polaris products for use in custom and OEM systems. See our custom configurator below for our custom post options. High-volume discounts are built into the configurator, with a minimum order size of 26 posts required to recieve the discount.
For pricing information on high-volume orders of our standard posts, please contact Technical Support.
Alignment Bore
A Ø6 mm bore is located 20 mm above the base of the post to allow for fine alignment. The alignment bore will not be covered when these posts are secured with a POLARIS-CA1 or POLARIS-CA25/M Clamping Arm. Please note that this bore does not go completely through the posts with lengths of 1.0" or shorter; these posts contain two bores on opposite sides, within ±0.3°, that are 0.20" (5.1 mm) deep. Given their shorter length, a through bore would interfere with the mounting threads, preventing anything from being securely attached to the post. In the custom Polaris post configurator below, any post with a length of 1.49" (37.6 mm for metric posts) or less will have a similar alignment bore configuration.
Cleanroom and Vacuum Compatibility
These posts are designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications. They are chemically cleaned using the Carpenter AAA passivation method to remove sulfur, iron, and contaminants from the surface. After passivation, they are assembled in a clean environment and double vacuum bagged to eliminate contamination when transported into a cleanroom. Please contact Tech Support for details.
Posts with three 8-32 (M4) taps cannot currently be made using the custom post configurator below. For a custom size of our posts with three mounting taps, please contact Tech Support.
| Polaris® Mount and Post Interoperabilitya | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item # | Post Length (L) |
Mounting Taps (Top) |
Mounting Tap (Bottom) |
Resulting Optical Axis Height (Mirror Center) | ||||
| Ø1/2" Polaris Mirror Mountsb | and Ø1" Fixed Mounts |
Ø1" Polaris Mirror Mounts | Ø2" Polaris Mirror Mounts | Ø3" Polaris Mirror Mounts | ||||
| PLS-P1 | 1.00" | One 8-32 | One 1/4"-20 | 1.50" | 1.75" | 2.00" | 2.40" | 3.00" |
| PLS-T1 | 1.00" | Three 8-32 | 1.50" | 1.75" | 2.00" | 2.40" | 3.00" | |
| PLS-P150 | 1.50" | One 8-32 | 2.00" | 2.25" | 2.50" | 2.90" | 3.50" | |
| PLS-T2 | 2.00" | Three 8-32 | 2.50" | 2.75" | 3.00" | 3.40" | 4.00" | |
| 24.2 mm | Three M4 | One M6 | 36.9 mm | 43.3 mm | 49.6 mm | 59.8 mm | 75.0 mm | |
| 24.6 mm | One M4 | 37.3 mm | 43.7 mm | 50.0 mm | 60.2 mm | 75.4 mm | ||
| 37.3 mm | One M4 | 50.0 mm | 56.4 mm | 62.7 mm | 72.9 mm | 88.1 mm | ||
| 49.2 mm | Three M4 | 61.9 mm | 58.3 mm | 74.6 mm | 84.8 mm | 100.0 mm | ||
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Click to Enlarge
SPW501 Spanner Wrench Being Used to Tighten a Small Ø1" Post onto a
- Solid Stainless Steel Construction
- 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Hole
- Large Diameter Relief Cut on Top and Bottom for Additional Mounting Stability
- Spanner Wrench for Ø1" Posts and Ø1/2" Posts
These small posts are designed for achieving "in between" heights of our Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts without compromising structural rigidity. The center 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped through hole allows threaded studs to pass through to the mating tap of the components on the top and bottom. Each features two slots on the side which allow it to be securely tightened onto a post using the SPW501 spanner wrench (sold below), as shown in the image to the right. Posts with lengths 0.35" (9 mm) or larger feature a through hole instead of the two slots; this through hole accepts a 1/8" (3 mm) balldriver as well as the SPW501 for providing leverage while tightening or loosening.
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- Solid Stainless Steel Construction
- 1/4" (M6) Clearance Hole
- Large Diameter Relief Cut on Top and Bottom for Additional Mounting Stability
These spacers are designed for achieving "in between" heights of our Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts without compromising structural rigidity. The center Ø1/4" (M6) clearance hole allows threaded studs to pass through to the mating tap of the components on either side of the spacer. Achieving, for example, a total post height of 8.2" is as simple as inserting one RS5M spacer (0.2" thickness) in between two RS4 posts (4" length).
Two hex-driven setscrews are included with each spacer. The 1 mm through 6 mm spacers include an M6 x 20 mm setscrew and a 1/4"-20 x 7/8" setscrew, while the 7 mm through 10 mm spacers include an M6 x 25 mm setscrew and a 1/4"-20 x 1" setscrew.
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| RS-KIT Post Spacer and Setscrew Kit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Qty. | Item | Qty. |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 1 mm Thick (RS1M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 7 mm Thick (RS7M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 2 mm Thick (RS2M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 8 mm Thick (RS8M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 3 mm Thick (RS3M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 9 mm Thick (RS9M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 4 mm Thick (RS4M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 10 mm Thick (RS10M) | 5 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 5 mm Thick (RS5M) | 5 | 1/4"-20 Setscrew, 7/8" Long | 25 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 6 mm Thick (RS6M) | 1 | 1/4"-20 Setscrew, 1" Long (SS25S10) | 25 |
| RS-KIT/M Post Spacer and Setscrew Kit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Qty. | Item | Qty. |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 1 mm Thick (RS1M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 7 mm Thick (RS7M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 2 mm Thick (RS2M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 8 mm Thick (RS8M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 3 mm Thick (RS3M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 9 mm Thick (RS9M) | 1 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 4 mm Thick (RS4M) | 5 | Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 10 mm Thick (RS10M) | 5 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 5 mm Thick (RS5M) | 5 | M6 x 1.0 mm Setscrew, 20 mm Long (SS6MS20) | 25 |
| Ø25 mm Post Spacer, 6 mm Thick (RS6M) | 1 | M6 x 1.0 mm Setscrew, 25 mm Long (SS6MS25) | 25 |
ZoomClick to Enlarge
The SPW501 wrench tightens Ø1" posts that have torque slots or holes.
The SPW501 Spanner Wrench is designed to tighten or loosen Ø1" posts that have torque slots, as illustrated in the photo to the right. The SPW501 can also be used with Ø1/2" posts and Ø1" posts that have through holes. The wrench is designed to fit into the slot or through hole and provide leverage for tightening or loosening the post when mounting the post directly to a tapped hole. Please use minimal force when tightening to prevent binding due to overtightening.
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- Peel Away Individual Layers as Needed
- Stainless Steel
- Tabbed for Easy Peeling
- Sold in Packs of 5
This Ø25 mm, peelable, laminated shim provides fine height adjustment when using our Ø1" posts. These 1.0 mm ± 10% thick shims come in packs of 5 and have 14 layers, which are each 0.075 mm thick. They have a through hole to accommodate a 1/4"-20 (M6) screw.
Be aware the finish on some shims may appear tarnished due to the manufacturing process. This does not affect form, fit, or function. Only the appearance is altered.
To peel, take a sharp edge like a box cutter and hold it at a 45° angle to the tab on the shim as shown in the photo to the right. Gently flick the knife upward until the layer begins to lift. In general, you should be able to lift an edge within 5 attempts. If you cannot get an edge to lift, gently tap the corner of the tab on a table until the material begins to flare.
Once an edge is lifted, insert the blade under the layer, squeeze the layer between your thumb and the blade, and roll your wrist down and then up to start peeling (see photo in the upper left). Once the layer has been peeled up enough, you can use your thumb and forefinger to remove it the rest of the way. Repeat this process until you have removed as many layers as desired. Discard all peeled-off layers.
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Click to Enlarge
The BE1R has a magnet in the base for stability in temporary setups.
Click to Enlarge A CF125 fork is used to secure a Ø1/2" post holder to an optical table with a BE1 base.
Click to Enlarge
Clamping forks are available with three slot lengths.
- BE1(/M) and BE1R(/M) Adapters Convert Standard Ø1/2" Post Holders and Ø1" Posts into Pedestal-Style Mounts
- Clamping Fork or CL8 Table Clamp Secures Pedestal-Style Mount to a Breadboard or Optical Table
- Three Sizes Provide Clamping with 1/4"-20 (M6) Cap Screws
- 0.38" (9.5 mm) Long Counterbored Slot [CF038-P5 and CF038C(/M)-P5]
- 1.24" (31.5 mm) Long Counterbored Slot [CF125 and CF125C(/M)]
- 1.76" (44.8 mm) Long Counterbored Slot [CF175 and CF175C(/M)]
- Swivel Clamping Fork 360° to Select Most Convenient Mounting Hole
- CF038C(/M)-P5, CF125C(/M) and CF175C(/M) Each Include a 1/4"-20 (M6)-Threaded Captive Screw
- BE1(/M) and All Clamping Forks Available in Packs of Five [CF038-P5 and CF038C(/M)-P5 Not Sold Individually]
Pedestal Base Adapters
The BE1(/M) and BE1R(/M) pedestal base adapters feature a 1/4"-20 (M6)-threaded stud that fit into the bottom of our standard Ø1/2" post holders or Ø1" posts to convert them into pedestal-style mounts for added stability. The BE1R(/M) adapter features a magnet in the base that is sufficiently strong to securely hold the base in place without clamping to an optical table (see photo at the top right). Made from solid 303 stainless steel with a 1.25" (31.8 mm) outer diameter, these adapters allow standard Ø1" posts to be used with the clamping forks sold below.
The BE1(/M) base adapter is available in a pack of five for ease of ordering.
Clamping Forks
These clamping forks are designed to provide exceptional clamping force when used with our Ø1/2" post holders and Ø1" posts that have been adapted using the BE1(/M) or BE1R(/M) to pedestal-style mounts. They can also be used with our pedestal-style Ø1/2" post holders or Ø1" pedestal posts without any need for the BE1(/M) or BE1R(/M).
Fabricated from solid 303 stainless steel, all of these clamping forks create three points of contact with the table for high stability. For flexibility in the positioning of post assemblies, the CF038-P5 and CF038C(/M)-P5 forks offer 0.38" (9.5 mm) long counterbored slots, the CF125 and CF125C(/M) forks offer 1.24" (31.5 mm) long counterbored slots, and the CF175 and CF175C(/M) forks have 1.76" (44.8 mm) long counterbored slots. The counterbored slots on the CF038-P5, CF125, and CF175 forks are designed for user-supplied 1/4"-20 (M6)-threaded cap screws. For further convenience, the CF038C(/M)-P5, CF125C(/M), and CF175C(/M) forks each include a 1/4"-20 (M6)-threaded captive screw. Please note that significant over tightening of clamping forks can deform the surface of an optical table, which can cause misalignment of components and decrease stability.
Our clamping forks are also available in packages of five for ease of ordering (note: the CF038-P5 and CF038C(/M)-P5 clamping forks are only available in packs of five).
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Click to Enlarge
Click for POLARIS-CA1/M Holding Torque Results*
The Polaris clamping fork design has undergone extensive testing to ensure high-quality performance. See the full presentation for more details.
*It is important to note that the 1/4"-20 and M6 x 1.0 clamping torque values have been adjusted to provide the same clamping post and table forces. Also note that the maximum recommended tightening torque for an 18-8 stainless steel screw is 75.2 in-lbs for a ¼-20 screw and 8.8 N-m for an M6 x 1.0 screw. Higher mounting torques can cause the screw to fail.
Click to Enlarge
Side-Located 1/4"-20 (M6) Screw Actuates Clamping Bore
- 3-Point Contact Bore with Flexure Clamping Mechanism for Ø1" or Ø25 mm Post Mounting
- Three Options Available:
- POLARIS-CA1: Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm) Bore and 1/4"-20 Screw
- POLARIS-CA1/M: Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm) Bore and M6 x 1.0 Screw
- POLARIS-CA25/M: Ø25.0 mm (Ø0.98") Bore and M6 x 1.0 Screw
- 0.60" (15.2 mm) Deep Mounting Bore for Height Adjustments and 360° Rotation
- Heat-Treated, Stress-Relieved Stainless Steel Provides Large Clamping Force
- Flippable Design Supports Left- and Right-Handed Orientations
(See Image Below Right) - High Stability Ideal for Use with Our Fixed and Kinematic Polaris Mirror Mounts
- Vacuum Compatible to 10-9 Torr at 25 °C with Proper Bake Out
- ±0.001" (±0.02 mm) Surface Flatness
- 1/4"-20 or M6 x 1.0 Clamping Screw
The Polaris Clamping Arm is the ideal solution for stably mounting any Ø1" or Ø25 mm post. Each clamping arm, which is constructed from heat-treated, stress-relieved stainless steel, provides extremely high holding forces with minimal torquing of the mounting screws.
The POLARIS-CA1 and POLARIS-CA1/M are designed to hold a Ø1" post, such as our fixed Polaris mount, while the POLARIS-CA25/M is designed to hold a Ø25 mm post or Ø1/2" post holder using a flexure clamping mechanism. The POLARIS-CA1 and POLARIS-CA1/M are not compatible with Ø25 mm posts; the bore diameter is too large and will not contact the post when clamping.
The side-located clamping mechanism, as shown in the photo to the above left, is actuated using a 1/4"-20 cap screw for the POLARIS-CA1 or an M6 x 1.0 cap screw for the POLARIS-CA1/M and POLARIS-CA25/M. Because the side-located clamp and mounting slot are tightened separately, the user can set the position of the fork and adjust the rotational alignment independently. The clamping arm has a compact 3.33" x 1.60" (84.5 mm x 40.6 mm) footprint for tight laser cavity setups, with a thickness of 0.60" (15.2 mm) for increased stability. A 1.30" (33.0 mm) long clearance slot allows for a variety of mounting solutions using a 1/4"-20 or M6 cap screw and washer.
Both the imperial and metric clamping arm have been tested for holding strength. Based on the test results, recommended torques have been determined for both the flexure clamp and for tightening the slot to the table. The scales for these measurements, as seen in the figure above, are not direct conversions due to an efficiency difference between 1/4"-20 and M6 x 1.0 screws. The efficiency of M6 x 1.0 screws is about 5% less than that of 1/4"-20 screws due to differences in diameter and pitch. For optimal performance we recommend tightening this screw of the POLARIS-CA1 with 15 to 25 in-lb of torque and the screw of the POLARIS-CA1/M and POLARIS-CA25/M with 1.75 to 3 N•m of torque. When mounting the clamping arm to the platform we recommend using 40 to 65 in-lb of torque for the POLARIS-CA1 and 4.75 to 7 N•m of torque for the POLARIS-CA1/M and POLARIS-CA25/M. For best results, use the maximum recommended torques from each range. These torque values can be dialed in using a torque driver.
The flat, non-bridging (see drawing below) top and bottom allow the clamping arm to be used on either side depending on the needs of the application. This allows optical components to be placed in near contact to one another while minimizing the footprint, as shown in the image to the bottom right. A relief cut is included around the top and bottom slot; this protects the ±0.001" (±0.02 mm) flat surface that contacts the optical table from any marring due to the screw and washer. Minimizing damage to this surface of the fork allows for more stable mounting of components using the clamping arm.
Note: The POLARIS-CA1 requires a 3/16" hex key and the POLARIS-CA1/M and POLARIS-CA25/M requires a 5 mm hex key.
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The Top and Bottom of the Fork can be Used for Mounting, Minimizing the Overall Footprint and Distance Between Components
Non-Bridging Design
Industry-standard clamping forks are designed with a bridge, as shown in the below diagram, for clamping to pedestal style posts or post holders. This design will slightly damage the laser platform during each use by pulling up the part of the platform located under the bridge. The Polaris clamping arm is designed with a flat top and bottom to eliminate this problem.
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A Bridge is Created When an Industry-Standard Clamping Fork is Used with a Pedestal Post
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The POLARIS-CA1 Eliminates the Bridge Created by an Industry-Standard Clamping Fork
Ø1" Posts
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