Housings for Customizable Electronics

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The ET1 housing is shown here with its outer shell removed (top). A blank label is included on the back side (bottom).

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ET1 Housing with an RC Circuit Made from Standard Electronic Elements (Not Included)

• Ø0.63" × 2.61" In-Line BNC Feedthrough Housing
• Compatible with Off-the-Shelf Electronic Elements
• Accepts 10 mm x 15 mm PCB
• Male and Female BNC Connectors
• Blank Area to Label Custom Circuits

The ET1 tube housing is an in-line (feedthrough) BNC structure with a male BNC connector on one side and a female BNC connector on the other side (as shown in the image to the right). The 2-56 screw in the base provides a convenient connection to ground, and the compact design can easily house a small number of standard electronic elements (e.g., resistors, capacitors, etc.). The Application Idea at the top of the page shows the ET1 with a simple RC filter using standard circuit elements.

The ET1 electronic housing can hold a small (10 mm × 15 mm) form factor PCB that, using surface mounted elements, allows for the inclusion of many electronic elements. For example, Thorlabs' low- and high-pass filters (which were the basis for the ET1) house 5th and 6th order elliptical filters composed of anywhere from 8 to 15 electronic elements. The back side of the enclosure includes a blank label for identifying custom circuits. For detailed dimensions, click on the Docs icon () below. 

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The slotted body of the EEA14 housing is shown here with the EEAPCB1 Customizable PCB (shown with electrical elements, not included) partially inserted into it.

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Back View of the EEA14's Slotted Female BNC Connector

• 1.00" x 1.25" x 2.51" Extruded Housings
• Slotted Construction for a 0.99" x 2.30" PCB
• Two Connector Types:
  • EEA14: Two Female BNC Connectors
  • EEA17: Two Female SMA Connectors
• Blank Area to Label Custom Circuits

These Extruded Electronics Housings are empty 1.00" x 1.25" x 2.51" enclosures with nickel-plated ends. The EEA14 has two female BNC connectors and the EEA17 has two female SMA connectors. The housings have slots inside to accept a PCB with a thickness between 0.060" and 0.070". See the table below for compatible PCB sizes for the enclosures. For detailed dimensions of each enclosure, click on the blue icon () in the table. These enclosures are ideal for housing a wide variety of electronic devices that can be built with surface-mounted elements, such as Thorlabs' EEAPCB1 Customizable Printed Circuit Board (shown in the image to the right), which gives users the ability to create their own RCL circuits.

The end plates of these housings are easily removable and are held in place with 4-40 round-head Phillips screws. The front side of the enclosures includes a blank label for identifying custom circuits. Note that these housings are made from extruded bar stock, and as such, some minor cosmetic defects in the finished products are to be expected.

Item #	Connectors	Housing Dimensionsa	Compatible PCB Dimensions		Compatible Items
			Horizontal Orientation	Vertical Orientation	Printed Circuit Boards	Side Clamps
EEA14	Two BNC Femaleb		0.99" x 2.30" (25.1 mm x 58.4 mm)	0.75" x 2.30" (19.0 mm x 58.4 mm)	EEAPB1 EEAPCB1	ECM100 ECM125 EPS125
EEA17	Two SMA Female

• Click on the blue icon () to view a mechanical drawing.
• These connectors feature a 75 Ω impedance. If mated to a 50 Ω BNC connector, they will introduce an impedance mismatch that may degrade performance.

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Each electronics housing has a blank area for writing labels to identify custom circuits.

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EEB3311 Housing with End Plate Removed

• Seven Sizes Available
• Slotted Construction for Use with Printed Circuit Boards
• Each Housing Includes Blank End Plates
• Blank Area to Label Custom Circuits
• Extra End Plates Available Below

These extruded electronics housings are empty enclosures with nickel-plated ends. For detailed dimensions of each enclosure, click on the blue icon () in the table below. The housings have slots inside to accept a PCB with thickness between 0.060" and 0.065". See the table below for compatible PCB sizes for each enclosure. The front side of each enclosure includes a blank label area for identifying custom circuits. Note that these housings are made from extruded bar stock, and as such, some minor cosmetic defects in the finished products are to be expected.

Each housing has two blank end plates with a Ø0.05" pilot bore through hole (EEA11) or dimple (all other housings) for custom connectors. Note that the dimple may be on the inner side of the end plate when the enclosure is shipped. We recommend using a step drill bit to machine a hole in the end plate; a standard, single-size drill bit may cause deformation in the plate. The end plates are easily removable and are held in place with 4-40 (EEA11) or M3 (all other housings) Phillips pan head screws.

Extra blank end plates or end plates with BNC or SMA connectors are available separately below. Extra M3 screws, compatible with all housings except the EEA11, are also available below.

Item #	Housing Dimensionsa	Compatible PCB Dimensions		Compatible Items
		Horizontal Orientation	Vertical Orientation	Printed Circuit Boards	End Plates	Side Clamps	Screws
EEA11		0.99" x 2.30" (25.1 mm x 58.4 mm)	0.75" x 2.30" (19.0 mm x 58.4 mm)	EEAPB1 EEAPCB1	N/Ab	ECM100 ECM125 EPS125	N/A
EEB3311		2.00" x 3.32" (50.8 mm x 84.3 mm)	0.75" x 3.32" (19.0 mm x 84.3 mm)	EEB33PCB1	EEBFPF1 End Plate, FC/PC Fiber Bulkhead EEBFPF2 End Plate, 2 FC/PC Fiber Bulkheads EEBFPA1 End Plate, FC/APC Fiber Bulkhead EEBFPA2 End Plate, 2 FC/APC Fiber Bulkheads EEBFPS1 End Plate, SMA Fiber Bulkhead EEBFPS2 End Plate, 2 SMA Fiber Bulkheads EEBEP Blank End Plate EEBEP10 Blank End Plates, 10 Pack EEBEPBNC End Plate, BNC Connector EEBEPSMA End Plate, SMA Connector	ECM100 ECM225 EPS225	M3BHTF25 (Sold Below)
EEB4011		2.00" x 3.99" (50.8 mm x 101.3 mm)	0.75" x 3.99" (19.0 mm x 101.3 mm)	EEB40PCB1
EEC3011		1.50" x 2.99" (38.1 mm x 76.0 mm)	1.00" x 2.99" (25.4 mm x 76.0 mm)	N/A	EECEP Blank End Plate EECEP10 Blank End Plates, 10 Pack EECEPBNC End Plate, BNC Connector EECEPSMA End Plate, SMA Connector	ECM125 ECM175 EPS125 EPS175
EEC4011		1.50" x 3.99" (38.1 mm x 101.3 mm)	1.00" x 3.99" (25.4 mm x 101.3 mm)
EED3011		2.00" x 2.99" (50.8 mm x 76.0 mm)	1.50" x 2.99" (38.1 mm x 76.0 mm)		EEDEP Blank End Plate EEDEP10 Blank End Plates, 10 Pack EEDEPBNC End Plate, BNC Connector EEDEPSMA End Plate, SMA Connector	ECM175 ECM225 EPS175 EPS225
EED4011		2.00" x 3.99" (50.8 mm x 101.3 mm)	1.50" x 3.99" (38.1 mm x 101.3 mm)

• Click on the blue icon () to view a mechanical drawing.
• We do not provide extra end plates for the EEA11. However, the EEA14 Housing (sold above) includes end plates with female BNC connectors, while the EEA17 Housing (sold above) includes end plates with female SMA connectors.

• End Plates with FC/PC, FC/APC, or SMA Bulkheads Available
• Available with One or Two Bulkheads
• Offset Connectors for Compatibility with Internal Components

Extra end plates with 2.2 mm wide-key FC/PC, 2.0 mm narrow-key FC/APC, or SMA905 fiber bulkheads are available for many of the housings sold above. See the table to the right for compatible housings.

These end plates are shipped pre-assembled and are available with either one or two bulkheads. The FC/PC and FC/APC versions have an insertion loss* of <0.5 dB when measured at 635 nm with FC-terminated SM600 fibers. The SMA end plate has a typical insertion loss of <1.5 dB when used with a pair of Ø200 µm core multimode fibers. The connectors for these end plates are offset above center to accomedate a PCB or mounted fiber coupler installed in the housing.

Four screws are included with each end plate for mounting to a compatible housing. Extra M3 Phillips pan head screws are available below in packs of 25. These screws are compatible with all of the housings sold above except the ET1, EEA11, EEA14, and EEA17.

*Please Note: When PM fiber is used, the insertion loss will increase to >1.0 dB. The insertion loss for the FC/PC mating sleeve is only valid when using a FC/PC connector while the FC/APC mating sleeve will maintain the stated insertion loss with any FC connector.

• Three Sizes Available
• BNC or SMA Electrical Connectors
• Compatibility with Six of Our Housings

Extra end plates with BNC or SMA connectors are available for many of the housings sold above. See the table to the right for compatible housings.

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Assembly of EEBEPBNC End Plate

These endplates have a pre-drilled hole for their respective connector type. The components require some assembly when shipped, as shown in the photo to the right. Both the BNC and SMA connectors included with these items are female connectors. For electrical specifications of the connectors, click on the red Docs icon () next to the item # below.

Extra M3 Phillips pan head screws are available below in packs of 25. These screws are compatible with all of the housings sold above except the ET1, EEA11, EEA14, and EEA17.

• Use to Cap or Make Custom End Plates
• Ø0.05" Pilot Bore Dimple for Making Custom Connectors
• Three Sizes Provide Compatibility for Six of Our Housings

Extra blank end plates are available for many of the housing sold above. See the table to the right for compatible housings.

These end plates have a Ø0.05" pilot bore dimple for custom connectors. We recommend using a step drill bit to machine a hole in the end plate; a standard, single-size drill bit may cause deformation in the plate. Blank end plates are also available in packs of 10.

Extra M3 Phillips pan head screws are available below in packs of 25. These screws are compatible with all of the housings sold above except the ET1, EEA11, EEA14, and EEA17.

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EEC3011 Mounted using an ECM125 on a Ø1/2" Post

These anodized aluminum clamps provide secure mounting for the rectangular electronics housings sold above. Four sizes of clamps are available, and each is designed to fit on one side of the housing; see the table below for compatibility. The clamp can snap onto the side of the appropriate housing and the flexure lock can be tightened using the 2 mm (5/64") hex locking screw on the side.

Each clamp has a #8 (M4) counterbore on the bottom; the ECM225 has three of these counterbores. The counterbores allow the clamps to be mounted on a Ø1/2" post or any surface with an 8-32 (M4) tap. The clamp must be mounted via the counterbore before the electronics housing is attached, as the counterbore will not be accessible once the housing is secured in the clamp.

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EEC3011 Mounted on EED4011 using Two EPS175 Double-Sided Clamps

These ABS plastic clamps provide secure mounting for the rectangular electronics housings sold above. Three sizes of clamps are available, and each is designed to attach two housings with a common side width; see the table below for compatibility. The clamp easily snaps onto the side of the appropriate housing. To remove the clamp, slide it along the edge of the housing until it comes off at the corner.

These clamps are sold in pairs.

Extra M3 Phillips pan head screws are available in packs of 25. These screws are compatible with all of the housings sold above except the ET1, EEA11, EEA14, and EEA17. They are used to secure an end plate to a compatible housing using the four corner holes. They are operated using a Phillips head screwdriver.