Mini-Series Optical Posts

Precision Ground Stainless Steel Posts
4-40 (M3) Tapped Hole in Base and Removable Setscrew in Top
Ideal for Miniature and OEM-Level Optomechanical Assemblies

MS3R

MS2R

MS1.5R

MS1R

MS05R

AE4E25E

4-40 Internal and 1/4"-20 External Threads

AP8E4E

8-32 and 4-40 Threads

Front

MSR2 Iris Diaphagm Mounted on a Mini-Series Post in a Mini-Series Post Holder

MSA8

4-40 Internal and
8-32 External Threads

Back

MSA6/M

M3 Internal and
M6 External Threads

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Overview
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Features

Designed for Use in Limited Spaces and OEM Applications
Essential Building Blocks for Small Assemblies
Posts Feature Top- and Bottom-Located 4-40 (M3) Tapped Holes
Adapters Available for 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) Compatibility
Compatible with Our Mini-Series Components and Accessories

Thorlabs' Mini-Series Posts are designed to facilitate the integration of our Mini-Series components and accessories into optomechanical setups within a limited space. These posts are designed for compact and OEM-level optomechanical assemblies. Each post includes a 4-40 (M3) setscrew and features top- and bottom-located 4-40 (M3) tapped holes. For compatibility with our standard optomechanical components, we offer post thread adapters to convert among 8-32, 4-40, and 1/4"-20 imperial thread types as well as the M3, M4, and M6 metric thread types. In addition, we offer the HW-KIT5(/M) 4-40 (M3) screw kit, available below, as well as 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) screw kits for the hardware needed to assemble Mini-Series and standard optomechanical components.

Our Mini-Series Post Holders, which are directly compatible with our Mini-Series Breadboards, can be used to mount our Mini-Series posts while allowing for height adjustment. Alternatively, we also offer Mini-Series Pedestal Posts and Clamping Forks. Both types of posts are designed to support our Mini-Series Kinematic Mirror Mounts, Cylindrical Collimator Mount, and Iris Diaphragm.

Posted Comments:

swaush (posted 2017-03-28 11:20:43.713)

Can we use cage system rods instead of mini posts? They seem to have the same measures and threads.

tfrisch (posted 2017-03-29 11:43:24.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. You can use cage rods as mini series posts, yes.

cbrideau (posted 2016-08-31 20:25:18.813)

It would be nice to see a version with captive screws like the CF125C. The 4-40 screws are hard to position and handle because they are so tiny.

tfrisch (posted 2016-09-01 02:00:26.0)

Hello, thank you for suggesting this. I've posted it in our internal engineering forum.

user (posted 2012-02-23 00:56:56.0)

Hi guys. What applications use these mini series posts and mounts? Trying to decide between these and the (less expensive) standard 1/2-in. Post system...also, do you have adapters if I want to use them on a full size breadboard with 1/4-20 holes? Thanks, Lev.

acable (posted 2009-08-12 10:39:58.0)

The socket in the thumbscrew for the MSRA90 is a bit to sloppy, this causes the wrench to bind in the socket.

acable (posted 2007-11-04 09:36:41.0)

Since this is a "new standard", please consider doing a better job in the main portion of the presentation of pointing out what the new standard actually is, i.e. the post size and threads.

Mini-Series Ø6 mm Posts

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Available in Lengths from 0.5" to 3"
Tapped 4-40 (M3) Hole and 4-40 (M3) Setscrew
Designed to Mount Mini-Series Components and Accessories

These Mini-Series Ø6 mm posts, which have a 4-40 (M3) setscrew in one end and a 4-40 (M3) tapped hole in the other end, are manufactured using nonmagnetic 303 series stainless steel.

Mini-Series Thread Adapters

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These 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

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

4-40 and M3 Hardware Kits

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Ideal for our Mini-Series Breadboards and Optic Mounts
We also Offer Individual Cap Screws and Setscrews

HW-KIT5 4-40 Hardware Kit
Item	Approx. Qty.	Item	Approx. Qty.
4-40 Cap Screw, 3/16" Long (SH4S019)	165	4-40 Nut	200
4-40 Cap Screw, 1/4" Long (SH4S025)	135	#4 Washer	350
4-40 Cap Screw, 5/16" Long (SH4S031)	135	3/32" Hex Key for 4-40 Cap Screws	10
4-40 Cap Screw, 3/8" Long (SH4S038)	125	0.050" Hex Key for 4-40 Setscrews (HK050)	10
4-40 Setscrew, 1/4" Long (SS4S025)	190	-	-

HW-KIT5/M M3 x 0.5 Hardware Kit
Item	Approx. Qty.	Item	Approx. Qty.
M3 x 0.5 Cap Screw, 5 mm Long (SH3M5)	165	M3 x 0.5 Nut	220
M3 x 0.5 Cap Screw, 6 mm Long (SH3M06)	150	M3 Washer	220
M3 x 0.5 Cap Screw, 8 mm Long (SH3M8)	125	2.5 mm Hex Key for M3 Cap Screws	10
M3 x 0.5 Cap Screw, 10 mm Long (SH3M10)	125	1.5 mm Hex Key for M3 Setscrews	10
M3 x 0.5 Setscrew, 6 mm Long (SS3M6)	195	-	-

View All »Matching Part Numbers

Mini-Series Optical Posts

Features

Mini-Series Ø6 mm Posts

Mini-Series Thread Adapters

4-40 and M3 Hardware Kits