Electrical and Fiber Optic Cable Management

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CM010 Base Secured Using Low-Profile Cap Screws

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Dimensional Drawing for the CMS010

• Releasable Cable Ties and Bases, P-Clips, and Nylon Saddle Clips
• Cable Clips Assist in Keeping Cables and Fiber Optics Tidy and Secure

The CMS011 Zip-Tie-Style Cable Ties (supplied in bags of 100) are releasable and are typically used to bundle cable looms. They are designed to be used with the CMS010 Cable Tie Bases (supplied in bags of 250), which allow the cable bundles to be secured on the optical table or work surface. This tie base has a countersunk clearance hole for 1/4"-20 (M6) low-profile cap screws (Item #s SH25LP38 or SH6M10LP), allowing it to be affixed directly to the table's surface.

The CMS022 P-Clips (supplied in bags of 10) can secure cable looms with diameters up to 19 mm (0.75"). This P-clip base has a clearance hole for 1/4"-20 (M6) screws, allowing them to be affixed directly to the table's surface.

Our PFS01 and PFS02 Self-Adhesive Cable Clips are useful for securing small-diameter electrical cables, as well as fiber optic patch cables. They feature a self-adhesive base for easy installation and flexible nylon construction for durability.

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CS1 Cable Strap Securing Wires to an Optical Table

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BM075 Button Magnet Securing Four Fiber Patch Cables with Ø3 mm Jackets

• BM075 Magnetic Clamps for Securing Cables, Fibers, and Tubes
• CS1 Screw-On Straps for Cable Routing on Optical Tables or Breadboards

The BM075 Button Magnet Clamps (supplied in quantities of 10) are ideal for securing cables or fibers up to 1/4" (6.4 mm) thick. Two neodymium magnets are mounted in a Ø0.77" (Ø19.5 mm) polystyrene shell. The shell is engraved with the part number and offers a small hole for leverage if manual removal is difficult. Note that the magnets will not clamp onto aluminum breadboards.

The CS1 Cable Straps (supplied in quantities of 15) are designed to confine multiple electrical cables or fiber patch cables to a certain location on an optical table or breadboard. Each polypropylene strap offers a Ø6.5 mm hole on one end and a 31.5 mm long slot on the other, both of which accept 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws; the HW-KIT2 and HW-KIT2/M hardware kits provide 1/4"-20 or M6 cap screws and washers, respectively. This configuration provides both flexibility when restraining cables and compatibility with imperial and metric breadboards.

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• Fabric Cable Wraps and Ties
• Hook-and-Loop Fastener for Quick Release Use
• Ideal for Quick and Convenient Bundling of Fiber and Electrical Cables

Thorlabs offers two types of fabric hook-and-loop cable wraps. The CVS4 is a 4" strap for up to ~ Ø1" (thumb sized) bundles of cables. It has a metal rivet and through hole near the end of the strap for a 1/4" (M6) cap screw for mounting to an optical table or optical breadboard, as shown to the right.

The CMS020 is a 5 m long roll of hook-and-loop-fastener fabric. The fabric has hooks on one side and loops on the other. Simply cut the fabric to the length that is desired and loop it around the cables or fiber optics to create a bundle.

• Tie and Identify Bundles of Cable in One Step
• Easy Method to Label Any Cable or Bundle Clearly
• Fine-Tipped Pen Included

The CMS021 Cable Identification Ties (supplied in bags of 100) enable electrical and fiber optic cables to be bundled and labeled. They feature a zip tie design with a maximum cable size of ~Ø20 mm (0.78"), and a 25 mm x 7 mm (1.0" x 0.27") surface, thus allowing cables and bundles to be clearly labeled. A pen is included with each bag.

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View Imperial Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Imperial Product List
CC4	1	Caddy for Fiber Optic Patch Cables
TR4	1	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 4"
PH4	1	Ø1/2" Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Hex-Locking Thumbscrew, L = 4"
SH8S025	1	8-32 Stainless Steel Cap Screw, 1/4" Long, 50 Pack
W8S038	1	#8 Washer, M4 Compatible, Stainless Steel, 100 Pack
BA2R	1	Magnetic Mounting Base, 2" x 3" x 3/8"
SH25S050	1	1/4"-20 Stainless Steel Cap Screw, 1/2" Long, 25 Pack
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View Metric Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
Metric Product List
CC4	1	Caddy for Fiber Optic Patch Cables
TR100/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 100 mm
PH100/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Hex-Locking Thumbscrew, L=100 mm
SH4MS06	1	M4 x 0.7 Stainless Steel Cap Screw, 6 mm Long, 50 Pack
W8S038	1	#8 Washer, M4 Compatible, Stainless Steel, 100 Pack
BA2R/M	1	Magnetic Mounting Base, 50 mm x 75 mm x 10 mm
SH6MS12	1	M6 x 1.0 Stainless Steel Cap Screw, 12 mm Long, 25 Pack
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Post-Mounted CC4 Caddy Holding Dust Caps and Fiber Connectors

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• Lightweight, Compact Holder for Patch Cable Connectors
• Four 0.13" (3.2 mm) Wide Slots
• Two Ø0.19" (Ø4.7 mm) Holes in Each Slot Prevent Connectors Sliding Out
• Holds Four CAPM Dust Caps and Four CAPF Dust Caps
• Center Slot for Post Mounting with #8 (M4) Cap Screws

Thorlabs' Caddy for Fiber Optic Patch Cables offers a compact solution for temporarily holding fiber connectors cables with furcation tubing less than Ø0.13" (Ø3.2 mm) on virtually any workstation or science desk. This eliminates the hazard of placing cables directly onto a workstation's surface. The CC4 caddy features four slots to hold the fiber connectors, a #8 (M4)-compatible slot for mounting on a Ø1/2" (Ø12.7 mm) post, and two sets of through holes that can hold four CAPM and four CAPF ferrule dust caps. The caddy has a compact 3" x 1.5" footprint. 

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• Wall Mount Cable Racks
• Store Cables Straight and Untangled
• T1508 is Ideal for Fiber Optic Patch Cables

The T1508 is a test lead holder for wires up to 0.210" (5.33 mm) in diameter and has 14 slots for cables. It is ideal for holding fiber optic patch cables.

The T2708 is a test lead holder for wires up to 0.450" (11.43 mm) in diameter and has 9 slots for cables.

The cable racks are made from cold rolled steel with a baked enamel finish. The wall mounting holes are separated by 3" (76.2 mm). Both racks are 11" (279 mm) long and extend outward from the wall by 3.5" (88.9 mm).

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FSR1 Reel Shown with 1 m of Ø900 µm-Jacketed Fiber

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Underside of FSR3 Reel Features Recesses for Adhesive-Backed Magnets (Included) and Indentations for Stacking Multiple Reels

• Organize Fiber Cables on the Optical Table or Breadboard
• Hold Fiber Optic Cables with Ø900 µm or Ø3 mm Jackets up to 5 m in Length
• 1/4" (M6) Counterbore for Mounting or Stacking on a 1/4"-20 (M6) Breadboard
• Available in Packs of 10 at a Discount Over the Individual Cost

Thorlabs' FSR1 and FSR3 Fiber Storage Reels are designed for fibers with Ø900 μm and Ø3 mm jackets, respectively. Holding up to 5 m of cable, they allow for quick and easy organization of any fiber-based optical setup. Molded from polystyrene, each reel has a 1/4" (M6) counterbore so that it can be mounted or stacked on a standard breadboard. The FSR3 also includes magnets for mounting to magnetic surfaces and slots  for maintaining orientation when stacking multiple reels (see photo to the right).

The FSR1 reel has a 1.25" (31.7 mm) bend radius, while the FSR3 has a 2.35" (59.7 mm) bend radius.

• Organize, Store, and Protect Fiber Cables and Components
• Securely Holds any Fiber Component With Cylindrical Housing Diameter from 0.118" to 0.236" (3.0 mm to 6.0 mm)
• Holds Fiber Optic Cables with a Ø900 µm Jacket
• Ideal for Use with Our Cylindrical 1x2 or 2x2 Fused Couplers, Wavelength Division Multiplexers (WDMs), Fiber Circulators, and Fiber Isolators
• Lids Retain Fiber and Help Prevent Unwanted Movement
• Stackable Design
• Slots for 1/4"-20 (M6) Screws for Mounting to Optical Tables or Breadboards
• Slots for 4-40 (M3) Screws for OEM Integration or Mounting to Mini-Series Breadboards

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Fiber Component Coiled Within the BFCT Tray

Thorlabs' BFCT Passive Fiber Component Trays are ideal for holding any of our cylindrical 1x2 or 2x2 Fused Couplers, Wavelength Division Multiplexers (WDMs), Fiber Circulators, Fiber Isolators, or other fiber components that have a cylindrical housing diameter from 0.118" to 0.236" (3.0 mm to 6.0 mm). The trays are designed to hold the fiber in place with as little movement as possible to prevent unwanted bending or mechanical stress that can result in output fluctuations.

Each ABS plastic tray incorporates a stainless steel spring clamp at the top to secure the component's housing in place. The fiber can then be wound through the different channels created by two molded circles that have an outer diameter of 1.19" (30.3 mm). Depending on the length of the fiber, different paths can be used; see the image to the bottom left for more details. Once the fiber is loaded in the tray, the two included lids can be clipped in place over the wound fiber, holding it in place and providing further protection of the cables. The lid will also help prevent unwanted motion within the assembly.

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Trays Rotated 180° with Respect to One Another to Stack

Two trays can then be stacked by rotating one by 180° with respect to the other (see the image to the bottom right); there is no limit to the number of trays that can be stacked together in this manner. This conserves space in the lab and makes it easy to organize fiber components.

Two slots for 1/4"-20 (M6) screws allow the trays to be mounted to optical tables and breadboards, while two slots for 4-40 (M3) screws facilitate mounting to our mini-series optical breadboards or integration into OEM systems. We recommend using washers when mounting the tray to give a better hold and to prevent marring. See the mechanical drawing below for the location of all mounting holes and slots available.

Winding Diagram

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Multiple channels are available to choose from when winding the fiber within the tray. This is ideal when working with different lengths of fiber.

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BFCT Mechanical Drawing
Shown with One Lid

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• Rigid & Lightweight
• Snap-On Lid Allows Easy Access
• Manufactured from High-Impact PVC
• 8 mm Slot Width for Cable Exit
• Ideal For Use in Cabinets and Control Panels

This trunking provides a permanent solution for routing and securing electrical and fiber optic cables. It is supplied in lengths of 1 m (3.2 ft), with a 50 mm x 50 mm (2" x 2") cross section. It is ideal for use in cabinets and control panels, as well as on optical tables or similar work surfaces.

• Supplied in Reels of 5 m (16.5 ft)
• Insertion Tool Included
• Capable of Holding up to 12 BNC Cables
• Constructed of Plastic

The CMS015 Slit Harness Wrap holds bundles of electrical or fiber optic cables for organized cable runs. The insertion tool (supplied) enables you to slide the wrap onto the cables quickly, with minimum effort. The harness wrap is reusable and easy to pull off. The CMS015 has an unexpanded inner diameter of approximately Ø20.0 mm (Ø0.79") and a maximum outer diameter of approximately Ø25.0 mm (Ø0.98") when fully expanded. This allows it to hold up to 12 standard BNC cables, each with an outer diameter of Ø5.0 mm (Ø0.2").

• 1/2" (12.7 mm) Wide Vinyl Tape
• 108' (32.9 m) Long Roll
• Available in Red, Green, or Yellow

Colored rolls of vinyl tape are ideal for color coding fibers cables, electrical cables, tools, and samples. The semi-gloss finish can be written on with permanent marker, and the tape can be used in environments from 40 °F to 170 °F (5 °C to 76 °C), although it is best to apply the tape at room temperature.