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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.

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.