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Mounting Platforms for 66 mm Rails![]()
Optical Axis XT66C5 Blank Clamping XT66C4 Clamping Platform with XT66D3 X-Axis Slotted Dovetail XT66D2-50 Dovetail with Related Items ![]() Please Wait ![]() Click to Enlarge Rail-Mounted Periscope (See Application Idea Tab for Details) Features
Thorlabs provides a wide selection of platforms that permit optomechanics with standard 1/4"-20 (M6) threadings to be incorporated into a 66 mm rail assembly. Mounting Dovetails In order to maintain a minimal physical profile, our XT66D2 and XT66D3 Slotted Dovetails require our reduced-height Low-Profile Channel Screws or Low-Profile T-Nuts to fasten to standard optomechanics. The counterbores in these platforms are too shallow to accommodate standard 1/4"-20 or M6 cap screws. Mounting Clamps Thorlabs offers an extensive selection of accessories for 66 mm rails, including clamps and angle brackets, breadboard mounts, mounting platforms, rail carriages, rail platform positioners, rotation slide platforms, rail joiners, and lens tube adapters. Together with size adapters that incorporate 34 mm and 95 mm rails into an XT66 setup, these tools provide a complete family of rigid, versatile building blocks suited for virtually any optomechanical setup.
Application Idea: A Simple PeriscopeThe photographs to the left depict a simple periscope constructed using our 66 mm rail system. The two photos display the same setup from two different angles in order to clearly show how each part has been integrated. The labeled parts correspond to a row in the upper table, while the lower table shows the clamps and optical mounts used throughout the periscope. Please note that lenses and mirrors, which are not shown in the tables below, would also be required.
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge XT66D2-50 Holds Two Post Holders at Once
XT66 Mounting Platforms come in either 40 mm or 50 mm lengths. The 40 mm version (XT66D2-40) contains a single 1/4" (M6) counterbore and is perfectly sized to match our XT66C2 Double Dovetail Clamp. In contrast, the 50 mm version (XT66D2-50), pictured at right, contains three 1/4" (M6) counterbores. It allows three components mounted directly on Ø1/2" Posts or two components mounted with Ø1/2" Post Holders to be placed in close proximity. The counterbored holes in these parts accept standard cap screws. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Tapped Dovetails are Ideal Mounts for Single Components
Our Tapped Dovetails hold a single optomechanical component to a 66 mm rail system. As shown to the right, they are perfectly sized to be attached to an XT66 rail by using an XT66C1 Double Dovetail Clamp. ![]()
These 50 mm long dovetail sections contain one or three counterbored slots that provide flexible mounting options along the X or Z axes. The XT66D2's counterbored slot is parallel to the rail axis, while the XT66D3's three counterbored slots lie across the rail width. The XT66D3 additionally includes two Ø1/8" holes positioned to accept the dowel pins on translation stages like the MT1 Single-Axis Translation Stage. Since these mounting dovetails have minimal height, their counterbored slots are too shallow to accommodate standard 1/4"-20 or M6 cap screws. We therefore recommend that either Low-Profile Channel Screws or Low-Profile T-Nuts are used instead (see below for details). Shown above and to the right is a POLARIS-K1 mounted on a standard 66 mm rail with a pillar post. The pillar post can be coarsely positioned along the counterbored slot before being locked down. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Fastens to Base Rail without Additional Clamps
The XT66C4 Clamping Platform contains a single 1/4" (M6) counterbored slot that is parallel to the rail axis and directly fastens to a 66 mm rail using two side-mounted screws that lock with a 2.5 mm balldriver or hex key. The counterbored slot accepts standard cap screws. This clamp is also offered without the counterbored slot (see immediately below) for customers who prefer custom mounting options. For applications requiring fine translation of the clamping platform, Thorlabs manufactures the XT66N Rail Platform Positioner. ![]()
The XT66C5 Blank Clamping Platform is for customers who would like custom mounting options for a 66 mm rail assembly. It is identical to the XT66C4 Clamping Platform sold immediately above, but contains no 1/4" (M6) counterbored slot. This platform's aluminum construction features a durable, clear anodized coating. The machinable area of the platform, which is shaded in the diagram to the right, is constrained by the width of the bottom relief cut and the threading depth of the two side-mounted locking screws. For applications requiring fine translation of the clamping platform, Thorlabs manufactures the XT66N Rail Platform Positioner. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Counterbored Slot Accepts Standard Optomechanical Parts
The XT66RC Counterbored Pivot Platform contains a rotatable counterbored slot that accepts 1/4"-20 (M6) optomechanics. Due to this platform's compact profile, the counterbored slot is too shallow to accommodate standard 1/4"-20 or M6 cap screws. We therefore recommend that either Low-Profile Channel Screws or Low-Profile T-Nuts, sold below, are used instead. Alternatively, this platform can be used to mount a second rail to a base rail at an arbitrary angle in combination with a Double Dovetail Clamp. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Low-Profile T-Nut in Counterbored Slot ![]() Click to Enlarge Low-Profile Channel Screw in Counterbored Slot ![]() Click to Enlarge Standard Cap Screw Protrudes from Counterbored Slot Our 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) Low-Profile T-Nuts and Low-Profile Channel Screws have a slim profile that permits them to be used in tight spaces. In particular, they are recommended for use with our XT66RC Counterbored Pivot Platform and XT66D2 and XT66D3 Slotted Dovetails, whose counterbore depths are too shallow to accommodate standard cap screws. Shown to the right are a standard cap screw, a low-profile channel screw, and a low-profile T-nut in an XT66D2 Slotted Dovetail. The short height of the channel screw and T-nut prevents them from interfering with an attached dovetail clamp.
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Assembled View ![]() Click to Enlarge Exploded View of SD1 Counterbore Adapter Ring with XT66D2-40
The SD1 Adapter Ring allows an 8-32 (M4) cap screw to be used within a 1/4" (M6) counterbore. It is made of stainless steel and enables a wide variety of 8-32 threaded optomechanical components, such as our LMR Fixed Optic Mounts, to be directly mounted on an XT66 mounting platform without a post or post holder, as shown to the right. Please note that these adapter rings cannot be used with the XT66D2 or XT66D3 Slotted Dovetails or the XT66RC Counterbored Pivot Platform because there is insufficient depth in the counterbore to accommodate both the adapter ring and a cap screw. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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