Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optomechanical Mounts / Fixed Optic Mounts / Fixed Compact Platform MountsFixed Compact Platform Mounts
- Mount Beamsplitter Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms
- Mount Cylindrical Components to Ø1/2" Optical Posts
V-Groove and Prism Clamp System
PCM Post Clamp and PCMV/PCMP Base Adapters Sold Separately
Application Idea
GRIN Fiber Collimator Mounted Using the PCM Post Clamp and PCMV V-Groove Base
BSH1
Mounts 1" Beamsplitters or Right-Angle Prisms
BSH2
Mounts 2" Beamsplitters or Right-Angle Prisms
BSH10
Mounts 10 mm Beamsplitters or
Right-Angle Prisms
Please Wait
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Right-Angle Prism Mounted Using the BSH1 Prism Mount
Features
- Five Prism Platform Mounts for Beamsplitter Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms
- PCM Clamp with PCMP Flat Adapter Holds Prisms or Beamsplitter Cubes
- Maximum Optic Height: 0.82" (20.8 mm)
- PCM Clamp with PCMV V-Groove Adapter Holds Cylindrical Objects
- Minimum Object Diameter: 0.02" (0.6 mm)
- Maximum Object Diameter: 0.52" (13.2 mm)
Thorlabs offers compact platform mounts for prisms, beamsplitter cubes, and cylindrical objects. Our BSH platform mounts are compatible with beamsplitter cubes, right-angle prisms, and prism mirrors and feature a bottom-located tap for post mounting. For additional mounting options, the BSH1(/M) and the BSH2(/M) feature two counterbores for mounting directly to a breadboard. The PCM Clamp for Ø1/2" posts is used in conjunction with either the PCMP Flat Base for prisms or the PCMV V-Groove Base for cylindrical objects.
| Posted Comments: | |
user
(posted 2020-10-19 13:18:13.957) Are these mounts (BSH1 or BSH 2) secure enough to hold a prism or beamsplitter cube sideways (e.g. mounted to a vertical breadboard)? llamb
(posted 2020-10-20 03:28:40.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. While the BSH- series mounts can hold a prism/beamsplitter sideways, the setup will pose a greater risk for the optic, so it is not recommended. A user may feel inclined to apply extra torque on the BSH- mount's locking screw in order to hold the optic more securely against gravity's pull, which can lead to stress-induced birefringance or even damage. baldwidp
(posted 2016-11-30 17:09:36.01) Make a 2" version to hold a 2" beamsplitter cube. tfrisch
(posted 2016-12-05 10:00:44.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have posted this in our internal engineering forum. user
(posted 2016-09-20 13:15:19.797) Please make a version of the BSH1 that can hold 1/2 inch beamsplitters. jlow
(posted 2016-09-21 04:50:32.0) Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: Thank you very much for your suggestions. We will look into making this as part of our stock item. cbrideau
(posted 2015-10-22 14:03:41.803) A version of this prism holder that replaces the front plate on a KMS kinematic mount would make for an excellent tip/tilt stage for the prism. besembeson
(posted 2015-10-28 10:02:01.0) Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Thanks for the feedback. This could be good for a more compact version of the KM100B and KM100PM (http://www.thorlabs.us/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1811) that are designed for such purposes. We will review this. |
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BSH1 Platform Used to Mount 1" Beamsplitter Cube to a Breadboard
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Each mount except the BSH10(/M) is engraved with an area for labeling for easy identification.
- Mount 10 mm, 1/2" (12.5 mm), 20 mm, 1" (25.0 mm), or 2" (50.0 mm) Beamsplitter Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms
- Compact, Low-Profile Design with Secure Clamping
- Tapped for Post Mounting
- BSH1(/M) and BSH2(/M) Feature Counterbores for Breadboard Mounting
Thorlabs' Prism Platform Mounts are designed to hold polarizing and non-polarizing beamsplitter cubes as well as right-angle prisms and prism mirrors. The BSH10(/M) and BSH05(/M) mounts feature a flexure clamping mechanism, and accept 10 mm or 1/2" cubes or right-angle prisms, respectively. The BSH20(/M), BSH1(/M), and BSH2(/M) accept 20 mm, 1", or 2" cubes or right-angle prisms, respectively. They feature a side-mounted clamping mechanism that uses rare-earth magnets and dowel pins for opening and alignment. Both types of clamping mechanisms can be actuated using a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key.
The BSH10(/M) has a 4-40 (M3) tap for compatibility with our Mini-Series Posts and our Ø12 mm Pedestal Posts with 4-40 (M3) Setscrews. The BSH05(/M), BSH20(/M), BSH1(/M), and BSH2(/M) offer an 8-32 (M4) tap for compatibility with our Ø1/2" or Ø1" posts with 8-32 (M4) studs. The BSH10(/M) and BSH05(/M) have a torque hole on the side, which allows a 5/64" balldriver or hex key to pass through and provide extra leverage when tightening the mount to the top of a post.
The BSH1(/M) and BSH2(/M) feature two #8 (M4) or 1/4" (M6) counterbores, respectively, for mounting to an optical table or breadboard. The BSH1(/M) is directly compatible with our Mini-Series breadboards with 8-32 (M4) tapped holes. The AE8E25E (AE4M6M) thread adapter allows the BSH1(/M) to be mounted onto breadboards that have 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped holes. The BSH2(/M) is directly compatible with both our Mini-Series and standard breadboards with 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped holes. Either platform mount can also be mounted using two optical posts to align the prism's optical axis over the breadboard taps.
Please note: To reduce the risk of damage and stress-induced birefringance, we recommend applying as little force as possible when mounting the prism. To help provide guidance on the amount of torque needed, a UV Fused Silica right-angle prism and N-BK7 beamsplitter cube were both tested. For the BSH10 and BSH05, we would not recommend exceeding a mounting torque of 1 lb-in (0.11 N•m) for right-angle prisms or 2.5 lb-in (0.28 N•m) for beamsplitter cubes. For the larger mounts, we would not recommend exceeding a mounting torque of 1.5 lb-in (0.17 N•m) for right-angle prisms or
5.0 lb-in (0.56 N•m) for beamsplitter cubes. We recommend using the TD24 Torque Driver with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex driver bit.
| Item # | Compatible Optics | Mounting Holes | Clamping Lip Heighta | Clamping Screw Hex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSH10(/M) | 10.0 mm Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms | One 4-40 (M3) Tap | 0.063" (1.6 mm) | 5/64" (2.0 mm) |
| BSH05(/M) | 0.50" or 12.5 mm Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms | One 8-32 (M4) Tap | 0.075" (1.9 mm) | |
| BSH20(/M) | 20.0 mm Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms | One 8-32 (M4) Tap | 0.075" (1.9 mm) | |
| BSH1(/M) | 1.00" or 25.0 mm Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms | One 8-32 (M4) Tap Two #8 (M4) Counterbores |
0.075" (1.9 mm) | |
| BSH2(/M) | 2.00" or 50.0 mm Cubes and Right-Angle Prisms | One 8-32 (M4) Tap Two #1/4 (M6) Counterbores |
0.1" (2.5 mm) |
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PCM Clamp and PCMP Base Used to Mount a Prism
- Mount Prisms or Cylindrical Objects to 1/4"-20 (M6) End of our Ø1/2" Optical Posts
- PCM(/M) Ø1/2" Post Clamp Secures Objects Mounted on Base Adapters
- PCMP(/M) Flat Adapter Holds Prisms or Beamsplitter Cubes
- Maximum Optic Height: 0.82" (20.8 mm)
- PCMV(/M) V-Groove Adapter Holds Cylindrical Objects
- Minimum Object Diameter: 0.02" (0.6 mm)
- Maximum Object Diameter: 0.52" (13.2 mm)
Thorlabs' Compact V-Groove and Platform Mount is ideal for mounting prisms up to 0.82" (20.8 mm) tall or cylindrical objects from 0.02" (0.6 mm) to 0.52" (13.2 mm) in diameter onto a Ø1/2" Optical Post. Its thin 0.65" (16.5 mm) profile allows the mount to easily fit into a space-constrained setup, where a larger mount, such as the KM100B Kinematic Platform Mount, could not. Please note that a complete post clamp mount will require a PCM(/M) Ø1/2" Post Clamp and either a PCMP(/M) Flat or PCMV(/M) V-Groove Base Adapter, all of which are sold separately.
The PCMP(/M) and PCMV(/M) Base Adapters thread onto the 1/4"-20 (M6) end of a Ø1/2" post to provide a stable mounting surface for prisms or cylindrical objects, respectively. To secure the mounted component, the PCM(/M) Post Clamp fits over the post and includes a PM3 or PM3/M Clamping Arm with nylon-tipped setscrew that can be adjusted using a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. The post clamp is locked in place on the Ø1/2" post using a side-located thumbscrew that can also be secured using a 3/16" (5 mm) hex key. See the photo to the right for a mounting example.
Compact Platform Mounts