Mini-Series Post Holders

• 360° Swiveling Base with #4 (M3) Slot
• Precision-Machined Square Relief Cut Provides Stable Two-Line Contact
• Knurled Aluminum Thumbscrew with 3/32" Hex Firmly Holds Post

Thorlabs' MSH post holders feature a swiveling base with a counterbored slot for 4-40 (M3) cap screws. This slot is compatible with our MS12B (MS12B/M) breadboard, and the base's swivel design enables easy access to surrounding mounting holes. To use the minimum height of a post, these post holders have a through hole that allows the post to rest on the breadboard.

• 360° Swiveling Base with 1/4”-20 (M6) Slot
• Precision-Machined Square Relief Cut Provides Stable Two-Line Contact
• Knurled Aluminum Thumbscrew with 3/32" Hex Firmly Holds Post

Thorlabs' MSL post holders feature a swiveling base with a slot for 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws. This slot is compatible with our MSB Mini-Series Breadboards as well as our standard 1/4"-20 (M6) optical tables and breadboards, and the base's swivel design enables easy access to surrounding mounting holes. To use the minimum height of a post, these post holders have a through hole that allows the post to rest on the breadboard.

• Pedestal-Style Base for Use with Clamping Forks
• Bottom-Located Internal Threads Attach to MBA1 (Available Below)
• Precision-Machined Relief Cut Provides Stable Two-Line Contact
• 360° Rotating Flexure Clamp with 5/64" (2.0 mm) Hex for Securing Post

Thorlabs’ MPH post holders are designed to be as compact as possible to accommodate tight setups. The diameter of the post holder allows for two posts to be mounted in contact with each other using adjacent holes on an imperial or a metric Mini-Series breadboard with 1/2" or 12.5 mm spacing (see photo to the far right). To use the minimum height of a post, these post holders have a through hole that allows the post to rest on the breadboard.

These post holders feature a flexure clamp with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex for securing our Ø6 mm posts. The flexure clamp rotates 360° so that the locking screw can be easily accessed in any orientation or moved out of the way when mounting two posts side-by-side. The vertical translation of the post locks before the rotation of the flexure clamp locks, making it possible to fine-tune the rotation after locking the height. Once the locking screw is fully tightened, the flexure clamp will no longer rotate.

Each post holder has a pedestal base allowing them to be secured to an optical table or breadboard with our Mini-Series clamping forks (sold below). The clamping forks provide either a #4 (M3), #8 (M4), or 1/4" (M6) mounting slot. Alternatively, we offer the MBA1 (sold below), ideal for saving space in compact systems, which screws directly into the bottom of the post holder and provides a #8 (M4) mounting slot ideal for use with Mini-Series breadboards. 

• External Threads Attach to Pedestal-Base Mini-Series Post Holders
• #8 (M4) Mounting Slot for Use with Mini-Series Breadboards
• Ø6 mm Through Hole Allows Post to Bottom Out

The MBA1 post holder base is designed to be used with the MPH Pedestal-Base Mini-Series post holders sold above. It screws directly onto the bottom of the MPH and features an #8 (M4) mounting slot that is 0.70" (17.7 mm) long for the post holder, making it the ideal solution for mounting MPH post holders on our Mini-Series breadboards. To use the minimum height of a post, this post holder bases have a through hole that allows the post to rest on the breadboard.

• 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 or our pedestal-base post holders (sold above). 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.