Optical setups are typically built upon a foundation of optomechanical components like posts, post holders, and bases. There are different approaches to designing and building the foundation. Some result in optical setups that are more affected by vibrations and more likely to be misaligned when bumped. In addition, certain techniques used to assemble components can accidentally damage them.
Unfortunately, it is typically necessary to build the entire setup to observe the effects of different approaches, so evaluating the benefits and disadvantages of each can be difficult or time consuming. In addition, the existence of other approaches may not be obvious, since it can be easy to avoid thinking about components that are as familiar as posts, post holders, and bases. The techniques presented in this video are methods we have found useful and should provide a good starting point for working with optomech.
This demonstration shines a spotlight on these common building-block components and includes tips learned though long experience designing and working with them. The purpose and use of features that may have escaped notice, such as the relief cut on bases, the through hole in optical posts, and the benefits of washers are revealed. Guidelines for choosing post and post holder heights to increase mechanical stability are provided, as well as suggestions for avoiding damage to kinematic mounts when attaching a post. This video also demonstrates a potentially unexpected approach for mounting larger components, which uses two post holders, two posts, and a base.
Additional tips for avoiding unintended consequences and preserving the full adjustment height when bolting post holders to optical tables, bases, and breadboards are demonstrated in this Video Insight: • Tips for Bolting Post ...
00:00 - Introduction
00:24 - Two Sides of Mounting Bases
01:16 - Washers Prevent Damage
03:12 -Overlooked Post Features
04:09 - Tips for Safely Grasping Mounts
05:32 - Mounting Large Optomechanics I
06:43 - Post Holders are Better on Bases
07:43 - Post and Post Holder Heights
08:44 - Mounting Large Optomechanics II
Components used in this Demonstration Include:
- KMSS Compact Mirror Mount: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- KM100 Mirror Mount: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- LDM90 Laser Diode Mount: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- BA2 Mounting Base: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- Posts: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- Post Holders: www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- 8-32 Hardware Kit (M4 Kit also Available at this Link): www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- 1/4”-20 Hardware Kit (M6 Kit also Available at this Link): www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- Balldriver Caddy Kit (Metric Kit also Available at this Link): www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
For more photonics how-to videos, visit www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...