Water-Cooled Breadboard
![](https://punchout.webdev02.thorlabs.com/Images/GuideImages/4918_MBCxxx_4.jpg)
- Cool or Heat Work Surface via Internal Water Channels (0 to 60 °C)
- Matte Black-Anodized Finish Reduces Reflections
- Through-Tapped Mounting Holes
MBC12
12" x 12"
Water-Cooled
Breadboard
MBC1824
18" x 24"
Water-Cooled
Breadboard
![](../../images/loading-red.gif)
Please Wait
Specification | Imperial Boards | Metric Boards |
---|---|---|
Breadboard Specifications | ||
Material | Aluminum Plate | |
Finish | Matte Black Anodized | |
Thickness | 0.5" | 12.7 mm |
Flatness | ±0.006" over 1 ft2 | ±0.15 mm over 0.3 m2 |
Hole Size and Spacing | 1/4"-20 Tapped Holes on 1" Centers |
M6 Tapped Holes on 25 mm Centers |
Distance from Edge to First Hole |
0.50" on All Sides | 12.5 mm on All Sides |
Number of Counterbored Holesa |
Four 1/4" Located at Corners - Inset 2" |
Four M6 Located at Corners - Inset 50 mm |
Water Channel Specifications | ||
Pressure Rating | 80 psi | |
Operating Temperature Range | 0 to 60 °C | |
Push-Fit Pipe Fitting Inner Diameter |
1/4" | 6 mm |
![ScienceDesk Accessories](https://punchout.webdev02.thorlabs.com/images/tabimages/Temperature_Controlled_Breadboard_A1-250.jpg)
Cutaway of the MBC1824 Breadboard Showing Water Channels, Fittings, and Plugs
Features
- Standard Metric and Imperial Hole Patterns
- Black-Anodized Surface with Low Reflectance
- Working Pressure: Rated up to 80 psi
- Operating Temperature Range: 0 to 60 °C
- Offset Mounting Counterbores Allow a Full, Uninterrupted, Threaded Hole Matrix
- Larger Breadboards Have a Fifth Centrally-Located Counterbore
- Imperial: At Least 18" Wide
- Metric: At Least 450 mm Wide
These breadboards are versions of our popular anodized aluminum breadboards that have been plumbed to accept a water supply. They feature a standard 1" (imperial) or 25 mm (metric) hole pattern and are ideal for applications involving sensors, detectors, lasers, LEDs, or other apparatuses that may require temperature stabilization. The boards can be used for cooling or heating, depending on requirements.
Each breadboard is fitted with 1/4" or 6 mm I.D. fittings for imperial and metric boards, respectively. These allow for easy connection to a water or coolant supply like our LK220 liquid chiller. 16' (5 m) of connection tubing is included with each breadboard and can be trimmed to suit your application. To do so, simply cut the tubing to the required length, trim the tubing edges flush, insert the tubing into the push-to-fit connectors, and connect the other end to your water supply/chiller unit.
Depending on the environmental temperature and humidity levels and the temperature of the board, condensation can form on the breadboard surface. Please see the table to the below right for guidelines on how this can be avoided.
Operating Temperature and Condensationa | |||
---|---|---|---|
Relative Air Humidity (RH%) |
Temperature Differenceb (ΔT ºC) |
Relative Air Humidity (RH%) |
Temperature Differenceb (ΔT ºC) |
95% | 1 ºC | 55% | 9 - 12 ºC |
90% | 2 ºC | 50% | 10 - 13 ºC |
85% | 2 - 3 ºC | 45% | 12 - 14 ºC |
80% | 3 - 4 ºC | 40% | 13 - 17 ºC |
75% | 4 - 5 ºC | 35% | 16 - 19 ºC |
70% | 5 - 6 ºC | 30% | 18 - 21 ºC |
65% | 6 - 8 ºC | 25% | 21 - 23 ºC |
60% | 7 - 9 ºC | 20% | 24 - 27 ºC |
Each breadboard features four or five mounting holes, offset from the array of 1/4"-20 (M6) threaded holes, which are counterbored to create an uninterrupted surface for any intended application. The four standard mounting holes are located at each corner of the breadboard, inset 2" from each edge (50 mm on metric). The larger imperial and metric breadboards have a fifth counterbored mounting hole at the center of each board (imperial boards 18" or wider, metric boards 450 mm or wider). Utilizing the center mounting hole increases the mounting options available, reduces stress at the corner mounting holes, and increases rigidity when heavy loads are placed on the boards. The mounting holes may be used to attach the breadboards to optical tables, other breadboards, mounting posts, brackets, or a variety of other surfaces or mounts.
Other Breadboard Options
Optical Breadboard Enclosures are available to protect sensitive equipment from dust, stray light, acoustic noise, and thermal variations. Enclosures are offered completely sealed or with sliding door access.
Thorlabs also offers solid aluminum breadboards with a 1" hole spacing and double hole density aluminum breadboards with 1/2" offset hole spacing, doubling the density of mounting holes. These are offered in sizes ranging from 4" x 24" to 8" x 36" (100 mm x 600 mm to 200 mm x 900 mm) with thicknesses of 0.5" (12.7 mm), making their slim profile ideal for compact work areas. The same double-hole-density pattern is also available on our circular breadboards.
For limited space applications, Thorlabs offers the MS12B and MS12B/M Mini-Series Breadboards. These breadboards feature increased tapped hole density and thinner breadboard thickness.
Item # | Dimensions (L x W x H) |
Unpackaged | Packaged Shipping | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mass (kg) |
Weight (lbs) |
Mass (kg)a |
Weight (lbs)a |
||
Imperial | |||||
MBC12 | 12" x 12" x 0.5" | 2.70 | 5.95 | 4.00 | 8.82 |
MBC1218 | 12" x 18" x 0.5" | 4.3 | 9.48 | 4.99 | 11.00 |
MBC2412 | 12" x 24" x 0.5" | 5.7 | 12.57 | 7.00 | 15.43 |
MBC1824 | 18" x 24" x 0.5" | 8.6 | 18.96 | 9.98 | 22.00 |
Item # | Dimensions (L x W x H) |
Unpackaged | Packaged Shipping | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mass (kg) |
Weight (lbs) |
Mass (kg)a |
Weight (lbs)a |
||
Metric | |||||
MBC3030/M | 300 mm x 300 mm x 12.7 mm | 2.70 | 5.95 | 4.00 | 8.82 |
MBC3045/M | 300 mm x 450 mm x 12.7 mm | 4.3 | 9.48 | 4.99 | 11.00 |
MBC6030/M | 300 mm x 600 mm x 12.7 mm | 5.7 | 12.57 | 7.00 | 15.43 |
MBC4560/M | 450 mm x 600 mm x 12.7 mm | 8.6 | 18.96 | 9.98 | 22.00 |
Breadboards | ![]() Nexus, Optimized Damping |
![]() Intrinsically Damped |
![]() Aluminum Honeycomb |
![]() Stainless Steel |
![]() Solid Aluminum |
![]() Optically Clear Acrylic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Construction | ||||||
Breadboard Thickness | 60 mm (2.4") 110 mm (4.3") |
58 mm (2.28") | 25 mm (0.98") 55 mm (2.2") |
12.7 mm (0.5") | 7.0 mm (0.28") 9.5 mm (0.375") 12.7 mm (0.5") 19.05 mm (0.75") |
12.7 mm (0.5") |
Working Surface | 430 Grade Stainless Steel or 304L Grade Nonmagnetic Steel Top Plate | 430 Grade Stainless Steel Top Plate | Aluminum | 416 Grade Stainless Steel | Solid Aluminum Anodized or Unanodized |
Acrylic |
Top Skin | 5 mm (0.20") | 5 mm (0.20") | 6 mm (0.24") | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Bottom Skin | 5 mm (0.20") | 3 mm (0.12") | 3 mm (0.12") | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Core Design | High-Density Plated Steel Honeycomb, 0.26 mm Thick | High-Density Plated Aluminum Honeycomb | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Side Panels | Rigid Steel Box Section | Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) | Black Laminated Aluminum Sides |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Ferromagnetism | Magnetic or Non-Magnetic Options | Magnetic | Non-Magnetic | Magnetic | Non-Magnetic | |
Sealed Holes | Sealed (25 mm Depth) or Non-Sealed Options | Non-Sealed | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Thread Options | 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes | 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes | 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes | 1/4"-20 (M6), 4-40 (M3), or 8-32 (M3) and 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes |
1/4-20" Tapped Holes | |
Spacing | 1" (25 mm) Centers | 1" (25 mm) Centers | 1" (25 mm) Centers | 1" (25 mm) Centers or 0.5" (12.7 mm) Centers |
0.5" (12.7 mm) Centers | |
Distance from Edge to First Holes |
0.5" (12.5 mm) on all Sides | 0.5" (12.5 mm) or 1.0" (25 mm) on all Sides |
0.5" (12.5 mm) on all Sides | 0.5" (12.5 mm) on all Sides | 1.0" (25.4 mm) on all Sides | |
Performancea | ||||||
Damping | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Stiffness | ![]() 60 mm (2.4") Thick |
![]() 58 mm (2.28") Thick |
![]() 25 mm (0.98") Thick |
![]() |
![]() 7.0 mm (0.28") Thick |
![]() 12.7 mm (0.5") Thick |
![]() 110 mm (4.3") Thick |
![]() 55 mm (2.2") Thick |
![]() |
Optical Breadboard Selection Guides
The selection guides below list every size offered for our honeycomb, solid aluminum, and acrylic breadboards. Simply locate the specific width and length needed and then select the type of breadboard. Expand each table by clicking the More [+] button within the header.
Thorlabs also offers several unique breadboard solutions. For applications requiring temperature control, we offer anodized aluminum water cooled breadboards in several sizes, in addition to a temperature-controlled mini-series breadboard for small-scale operations. Our anodized aluminum large-area translation stages and rotating breadboards offer hand-operated positioning control, while our manual and motorized translating mounting platforms are ideal for use in microscopy applications.
Imperial Optical Breadboard Size Options | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Width | Length | Honeycomb | Stainless Steel | Solid Aluminuma | Acrylic, Transparent | ||||||
Nexus (60 mm Thick)b |
Nexus (110 mm Thick)b |
Intrinsically Damped (58 mm Thick) |
Aluminum (25 mm Thick) |
Aluminum (55 mm Thick) |
Standard | Double Density | High Density |
Metric Optical Breadboard Size Options | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Width | Length | Honeycomb | Stainless Steel | Solid Aluminuma | ||||||
Nexus (60 mm Thick)b |
Nexus (110 mm Thick)b |
Intrinsically Damped (58 mm Thick) |
Aluminum (25 mm Thick) |
Aluminum (55 mm Thick) |
Standard | Double Density | High Density |
50 mm | 75 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MSB5075/M |
75 mm | 100 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MSB7510/M |
75 mm | 150 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MSB7515/M |
100 mm | 100 mm | - | - | - | - | - | MB10S/M | - | - | - |
100 mm | 150 mm | - | - | - | - | - | MB1015S/M | MB1015/M MB1015U/M |
M45B1015/Mc | MSB1015/M |
100 mm | 300 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1030/M | - | - |
100 mm | 600 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1060/M | - |
100 mm | 900 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1090/M | - |
Ø149 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MBR150U/M | - | |
Ø150 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MBR150/M | - | |
150 mm | 150 mm | - | - | - | - | - | MB15S/M | MB1515/M MB1515U/M |
M45B1515/Mc | MSB15/M |
150 mm | 300 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1530F/M | MB1530/M M45B1530/Mc |
- |
150 mm | 450 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1545/M | - | - |
150 mm | 600 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1560/M | - | - |
150 mm | 900 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB1590/M | - | - |
150 mm | 1200 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB15120/M | - | - |
180 mm | 230 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MSB1823/M MSBU1823/M |
200 mm | 200 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB2020/M MB2020U/M |
- | - |
200 mm | 250 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB2025/M | - | - |
200 mm | 600 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB2060/M | - |
200 mm | 900 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB2090/M | - |
250 mm | 300 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB2530/M MB2530U/M |
- | - |
Ø300 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | MBR300/M MBR300U/M |
- | |
300 mm | 300 mm | B3030Ad B3030Ld |
- | - | PBG3030Ae | - | - | MB3030/M MB3030U/M |
MB3030D/M | MS12B/M MSB30/M |
300 mm | 450 mm | B3045Ad B3045Ld |
- | B3045AX | PBG3045Ae | - | - | MB3045/M MB3045A/Mf MB3045U/M |
- | MSB3045/M |
300 mm | 600 mm | B3060Ad B3060L |
- | B3060AXd | PBG3060A | PBG52502d | - | MB3060/M MB3060U/M |
- | - |
300 mm | 900 mm | B3090Ad B3090Ld |
- | - | PBG3090Ae | PBG52503d | - | MB3090/M | - | - |
300 mm | 1200 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB30120/M | - | - |
350 mm | 1150 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB35115/M | - | - |
350 mm | 1425 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB35142/M | - | - |
450 mm | 450 mm | B4545Ad B4545Ld |
- | - | PBG4545A | - | - | MB4545/M | - | - |
450 mm | 600 mm | B4560Ad B4560Ld |
- | B4560AXd | PBG4560Ae | PBG52522d | - | MB4560/M MB4560A/Mf MB4560U/M |
- | - |
450 mm | 750 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB4575/M | - | - |
450 mm | 900 mm | - | - | - | - | - | - | MB4590/M | - | - |
600 mm | 600 mm | B6060Ad B6060L |
- | B6060AXd | PBG6060Ae | PBG52505d | - | MB6060/M | - | |
600 mm | 900 mm | B6090A B6090L B6090ANd B6090Z |
B6090Bd B6090Nd |
B6090AX | PBG6090Ae | PBG52506d | - | MB6090/M | - | - |
600 mm | 1200 mm | B60120A B60120L |
B60120Bd B60120Nd |
B60120AX | PBG60120Ae | - | - | MB60120/M | - | - |
600 mm | 1500 mm | - | B60150Bd B60150Nd |
- | - | PBG52508d | - | - | - | - |
750 mm | 750 mm | B7575A B7575L |
- | - | - | - | - | MB7575/M | - | - |
750 mm | 900 mm | B7590A B7590L B7590ANd B7590Z |
B7590Bd B7590Nd |
B7590AX | PBG7590Ae | PBG52510d | - | - | - | - |
750 mm | 1200 mm | B75120A B75120L B75120ANd B75120Z |
B75120B B75120Nd |
B75120AX | PBG75120Ae | PBG52511 | - | - | - | - |
750 mm | 1500 mm | - | B75150B B75150N |
B75150AX | - | - | - | - | - | - |
900 mm | 900 mm | B9090A B9090L |
B9090Bd B9090Nd |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
900 mm | 1200 mm | B90120A B90120L B90120AN B90120Z |
B90120B B90120N |
B90120AX | PBG90120Ae | PBG52513 | - | - | - | - |
900 mm | 1500 mm | - | B90150B B90150N |
B90150AX | - | PBG52514 | - | - | - | - |
900 mm | 1800 mm | - | B90180B B90180N |
B90180AX | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1200 mm | 1500 mm | - | B120150Bd B120150Nd |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1200 mm | 1800 mm | - | B120180B B120180Nd |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1250 mm | 1800 mm | - | - | - | - | PBG52521 | - | - | - | - |
Posted Comments: | |
jens.kiessling
 (posted 2016-04-29 08:44:22.3) Dear Thorlabs team,
which cooling liquid do you recommend for these breadboards? Where can we get it in Germany? Distilled water is getting dark very fast when used in these breadboards, possibly corrosion? msoulby
 (posted 2016-04-29 08:44:05.0) Response from Mike at Thorlabs: The water could be becoming coloured due to residue left from the machining process so it may be worth flushing the breadboard before using again. We do not have an special requirements for the water used in the water cooled breadboards as aluminium is typically resistant to corrosion, however non-chlorinated water would be best. makarov
 (posted 2014-08-18 17:11:40.337) What's the thread behind the water connectors, and what is the bore diameter of the channels? We are thinking of using it with different connectors. msoulby
 (posted 2014-08-22 05:21:01.0) Response from Mike at Thorlabs: The tapped thread size is 1/8 BSPT with a thread depth of 13.0mm bdada
 (posted 2011-12-07 12:44:00.0) Response from Buki at Thorlabs:
We are looking into your request for a larger water cooled breadboard and will contact you directly with more information. Please contact TechSupport@thorlabs.com if you have any questions. johannes.kaschke
 (posted 2011-12-07 05:48:31.0) Would it be possible to get a custom made 300mm x 600mm version? user
 (posted 2010-07-30 12:06:45.0) Wow. That is Cool. Nice work guys. |