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Ø1/2" Post Holders![]()
Standard and Vacuum-Compatible Post Holders Magnets in Pedestal Post Holders Provide Holding Force Before Lockdown CF175 Pedestal Post Holders Thumbscrews PH2E PH6E PH4E PH3E PH2E PH1.5E PH1E PH082E BE1 Pedestal Adapter PH6 PH4 PH3V PH2 PH1.5V PH1 TS25HV TS25H Post Holder Secured by Clamping Fork Related Items ![]() Please Wait ![]() Post Holders Have an Extra Wide Relief Cut for Two-Line Contact with Ø1/2" Posts Features
Thorlabs' Ø1/2" optical post holders are the ideal solution for mounting optical components when a specific height for a setup has not been determined. These post holders come in several styles: standard, vacuum compatible, and pedestal. Standard Post Holders Vacuum-Compatible Post Holders Pedestal Post Holders In addition to the post holder options presented here, Thorlabs also offers swivel post holders, which have an attached swivel base, and other specialty post holders.
Insights into DesignScroll down to read about a feature included in our optical post holders to enhance stability.
Click here for more insights into lab practices and equipment.
Post Holders: Rectangular Channel in the Inner Bore![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 2: Top view. The three contact locations between the post and post holder, highlighted in red, prevent the post from translating or rotating around the X or Y axes. Friction resists the post's translation and rotation around the Z axis. ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 1: A channel with sharp edges is machined into the inner bore of Thorlabs' post holders. ![]() Figure 3: A broach, such as the one illustrated above, has a row of teeth, the next taller than the previous. With the teeth in contact with the material, a machine pulls the broach across the surface. Each tooth removes a small amount of material, and the depth of the channel created by the broach equals the overall difference in tooth height. All of Thorlabs' post holders include a channel, with straight parallel edges, running the length of the inner bore (Figure 1). Tightening the setscrew pushes the post against the two edges of the channel (Figure 2). Since the edges of the channel are separated by a wide distance, approximately half the inner diameter of the post holder, the seating of the post against the channel's edges is stable and repeatable. Contact with the two edges of the channel eliminates four of the post's six degrees of freedom, since the edges block the post from translating along or rotating around either the Y or Z axis. In addition, the friction between the side of the post and the edges of the channel resists the post's movement along and around the X axis, which are the post's two remaining degrees of freedom. Without the channel in the inner bore, there would be a single line of contact between the post and post holder. The position of the post would not be stable, since the post would be free to rotate around the Z axis and shift along the Y axis. Even if this instability resulted in submicron-scale unwanted shifts in each component's position in an optical setup, the cumulative effect could have a significant negative impact on system performance. In addition, more frequent realignment of the system could be required. Broaching The smooth, straight edges of the channel are achieved using a machining process called broaching. A broach (Figure 3) resembles a saw whose teeth increase in height along its length. As the broach is pulled along a surface, each tooth removes a small amount of material. The total depth of the channel cut by the broach equals to the overall difference in tooth height (H2 - H1). Compared with other approaches for creating channels, broaching is preferred due to its ability to provide straight profiles while being compatible with high-volume production. Date of Last Edit: Dec. 11, 2019
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Standard Post Holders Include a Spring-Loaded Thumbscrew that Holds Posts in Place Before Tightening
These standard post holders are designed with a wide, square relief cut that provides two lines of contact for highly stable post mounting. A spring-loaded plunger within the aluminum thumbscrew holds a steel post firmly within the post holder prior to final tightening. This design allows one-handed positioning of post-mounted devices. Thorlabs' imperial and metric post holders are equipped with our 3/16" (TS25H) and 5 mm (TS6H/M) spring-loaded hex-locking thumbscrews, respectively (also available separately below). These thumbscrews should not be tightened beyond the maximum torque of 28 in·lbs (3.2 N·m). The post holders are compatible with our entire line of table bases and the BE1(/M) and BE1R(/M) base adapters (sold separately below). Popular post holders are also available in packages of five for ease of ordering. ![]()
These vacuum-compatible post holders are constructed from 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum and are designed with a wide, square relief cut that provides two lines of contact for highly stable post mounting. They are compatible with our vacuum-compatible post holder bases. ![]() Click to Enlarge These post holders are packaged inside a double vacuum bag. Our vacuum-compatible post holders are chemically cleaned and prepared for vacuum applications before packaging. They are compatible directly out of the packaging with vacuum environments down to 10-6 Torr. With additional cleaning and processing, they can be used at even lower pressures, only limited by the outgassing rate of the aluminum, epoxy, and grease (see the table to the right). The material properties of the 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum and the cleaning methods that are completed by the end user should be used to determine the appropriateness of these products and materials in a specific vacuum system operating at pressures under 10-6 Torr. Our vacuum-compatible post holders are packaged in double airtight bags for cleanroom and vacuum chamber applications. The imperial and metric post holders are equipped with our 3/16" (TS25HV) and 5 mm (TS6HV/M) vacuum-compatible hex-locking thumbscrews, respectively (also available separately below). Please note that we do not recommend using an L wrench hex key to tighten the thumbscrews included with these post holders, as this may break off the screw head. The recommended maximum torque is 28 in·lbs (3.2 N·m). We also offer additional vacuum-compatible Ø1/2" post system components. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Pedestal Post Holders Include a Spring-Loaded Thumbscrew that Holds Posts in Place Before Tightening
Thorlabs' pedestal-style post holders combine the versatility of our standard post holders with the small footprint of the pedestal and fork design. The post holder can be locked down to an optical breadboard using a CF series clamping fork (see below). The fork can be swiveled 360° to pick the most convenient mounting hole. To further enhance this mounting system, magnets have been added to allow temporary positioning of the post holder prior to lockdown. The through hole design allows the maximum range of post height adjustment. Thorlabs' imperial and metric Pedestal-Style Post Holders are equipped with our 3/16" (TS25H) and 5 mm (TS6H/M) spring-loaded-hex locking thumbscrews, respectively (available below). These thumbscrews should not be tightened beyond the maximum torque of 28 in·lbs (3.2 N·m). To order these pedestal post holders without magnets, please contact Tech Support. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge The BE1R has a magnet in the base for stability in temporary setups. ![]() Click to Enlarge Ø1/2" Post Holder Mounted to an Optical Table Using a CF125 Clamping Fork and BE1 Base Adapter ![]() Click to Enlarge Several Slot Lengths Available
Pedestal Base Adapters The BE1(/M) base adapter is available in a pack of five for ease of ordering. Clamping Forks 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 have 0.38" (9.5 mm) long counterbored slots, the CF125 and CF125C(/M) forks have 1.24" (31.5 mm) long counterbored slots, the CF175 and CF175C forks have 1.75" (44.4 mm) long counterbored slots, and the CF175C/M fork has a 1.76" (44.8 mm) long counterbored slot. 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). ![]()
Our 360° swivel base adapter fits standard Ø1/2" post holders with 1/4"-20 (M6) mounting holes and minimizes the amount of time it takes to assemble an optical system. In addition, the swivel design is ideal for applications that require a large number of components to be packed into a small area. When our Ø1/2" post holders are used with this adapter, the combination is nearly that of our very popular Universal Post Holders. This anodized aluminum adapter has the benefit of compatibility with any of our existing Ø1/2" post holders but does not offer the same height flexibility of the swiveling post holders, which allow the post to be lowered all the way to the table. For ease of ordering, these base adapters are also available in packs of five. ![]()
![]() Click to Enlarge Exploded View of the TS25H Thumbscrew ![]() TS25H Drawing These hex-locking, anodized aluminum thumbscrews have spring-loaded, completely retractable Delrin®* tips that provide sufficient force on a post to hold it in place as final positional adjustments are being made. They can then be locked into place using a 3/16" (for the TS25H) or 5 mm (for the TS6H/M) balldriver to prevent any further movement of the post. The hex size is also engraved on the face of the thumbscrew, thereby enabling easy identification in the lab. The TS25H has 1/4"-20 threads while the TS6H/M has M6 x 1.0 threads for compatibility with our imperial and metric Ø1/2" post holders, respectively. The recommended maximum torque is 28 in·lbs (3.2 N·m). Please note that we do not recommend using an L wrench to tighten the thumbscrew, as this may break off the screw head. If a thumbscrew without a spring-loaded tip is preferred, we recommend our vacuum-compatible thumbscrews, sold below. Alternatively, the tips can be removed from these thumbscrews by unthreading the setscrew in the front of the thumbscrew with a 1/16" (1.5 mm) balldriver. The spring and tip can then be removed from the thumbscrew, in the order shown in the image to the right. However, the resulting contact face of the thumbscrew will have a center hole, unlike the contact face of our vacuum-compatible thumbscrews. For ease of ordering, these thumbscrews are available individually or in packages of five. *Delrin® is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc. ![]()
![]() TS25HV Drawing These hex-locking thumbscrews are constructed from 2024-T3 aluminum and chemically cleaned and prepared for vacuum applications before packaging. They are compatible directly out of the packaging with vacuum environments down to 10-6 Torr. With additional cleaning and processing, they can be used at even lower pressures, only limited by the outgassing rate of the aluminum, which is 7.6 x 10-9 Torr-Liters/s/cm2. The material properties of the 2024-T3 aluminum and the cleaning methods that are completed by the end user should be used to determine the appropriateness of these products and materials in a specific vacuum system operating at pressures under 10-6 Torr. These unanodized thumbscrews are packaged in double airtight bags for cleanroom and vacuum chamber applications. The thumbscrews may be adjusted using our selection of balldrivers. The TS25HV has 1/4"-20 threads while the TS6HV/M has M6 x 1.0 threads for compatibility with our imperial or metric Vacuum-Compatible Ø1/2" Post Holders, respectively. We also offer additional vacuum-compatible Ø1/2" post system components. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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