50 mm Optical Construction Rails


  • Build Enclosures and Other Rigid Mechanical Assemblies
  • Anodized Rail Lengths: 20" - 80" and 0.5 m - 2 m
  • 2.8 m Long Raw Extrusions

50.0 mm

50.0 mm

1/4"-20 (M6) Taps
(4 Places, Both Ends)

Channel Accepts T-Nuts,
Rail Joiners, or Enclosure Panels

XE50R

Raw Aluminum,
2.8 m Long, No Taps

Metric Indicator
(Both Ends)

XE5075L20

Anodized Aluminum,
20" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps

XE50L05/M

Black Anodized,
0.5 m Long, M6 Taps

XE50 Series Rail

Related Items


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50 mm & 75 mm Construction Rail Accessories
50 mm Rails 75 mm Rails Nuts and Screws Mounts Feet Rail Joiners Channel Cover
50 mm Rails 75 mm Rails T-Nuts and
Screws
Right-Angle
Mounting
Mounting Feet Rail Joiners Channel Insert
Custom Rails

Features

  • 50 mm Square Construction Rails
  • 50 mm x 75 mm Hybrid Construction Rails
  • Anodized Rails Available from Stock:
    • 20", 40", or 80" Long Rails with Imperial Taps
    • 0.5 m, 1 m, or 2 m Long Rails with Metric Taps
  • 2.8 m Raw Extrusions Available from Stock
  • Rail Channels Accommodate Mechanical Components
  • Contact Tech Support for Custom Rail Lengths

With a 50 mm x 50 mm profile, Thorlabs' XE50 Construction Rails are strong and lightweight options for building three-dimensional mechanical structures. They consist of extruded lengths of aluminum that feature channels on all four sides, as shown in the image at the top of the page. These channels make the rails mechanically compatible with other optomechanical components. For instance, by inserting T-Nuts into the channels, any 8-32 (M4) or 1/4"-20 (M6) optomechanical component can be fastened to the rail sides. Our 50 mm x 75 mm hybrid rails are sturdier and offer an additional channel on two sides, similar to our 75 mm rails.

Our 50 mm square and 50 mm x 75 mm hybrid rails are offered in pre-cut 20", 40", and 80" lengths (0.5 m, 1 m, and 2 m) and are finished with a durable, black anodized coating. We also offer 2.8 m long, raw, unanodized aluminum rails without taps for customer machining. Please contact Tech Support for custom rail lengths. For material properties including mass per meter, cross-sectional area, and second moment of area, please refer to the Engineering Specs tab.

Thorlabs' accessories for assemblies made of 50 mm rails include brackets, T-nuts, low-profile channel screws, rail joiners, and a channel cover / panel holder.

Physical Properties of 25, 50, & 75 mm Rails
Rail Size 25 mm x 25 mm 50 mm x 50 mm 50 mm x 75 mm 75 mm x 75 mm
Rail Cross Section XE25 Rail Profile XE50 Rail Profile XE5075 Rail Profile XE75 Rail Profile
Mass/Length 0.811 kg/m 2.227 kg/m 2.959 kg/m 3.690 kg/m
Cross-Sectional Area 3.13 cm2 8.25 cm2 10.96 cm2 13.67 cm2
Second
Moment of Areaa
X-Axis 1.68 cm4 23.9 cm4 33.9 cm4 96.4 cm4
Y-Axis 1.68 cm4 24.2 cm4 70.0 cm4 97.1 cm4
Aluminum Alloy 6000 Series 6063-T6
  • The second moment of area, also known as the area moment of inertia, of a beam is a physical property that represents the beam's ability to resist bending under load. This property takes into account the distribution of material and its distance from the specified axis.

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50 mm Square Construction Rails

XE50L Engineering Drawing
Click for Details

Mechanical Drawing
  • 50 mm x 50 mm Profile with Eight Channels
  • Black Anodized Finish
  • Four 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) Tapped Holes on Both Ends
  • Contact Tech Support for Custom Rail Lengths

Our 50 mm rails have rail channels on all four sides for use in one-, two-, or three-dimensional constructions. These channels feature 6.5 mm openings and accept T-nuts, rail joiners, enclosure panels, and channel covers. Each rail end is tapped with four 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) holes for compatibility with standard optomechanics. The rail length tolerance is ±0.006" (±150 µm).

As shown in the family image at the top of the page, metric rails are denoted by a small hole on one end of the extrusion.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Imperial Price Available
XE50L20 Support Documentation
XE50L2050 mm Square Construction Rail, 20" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$79.92
Today
XE50L40 Support Documentation
XE50L4050 mm Square Construction Rail, 40" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$103.53
Lead Time
XE50L80 Support Documentation
XE50L8050 mm Square Construction Rail, 80" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$157.25
Lead Time
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Metric Price Available
XE50L05/M Support Documentation
XE50L05/M50 mm Square Construction Rail, 0.5 m Long, M6 Taps
$79.92
Today
XE50L1/M Support Documentation
XE50L1/M50 mm Square Construction Rail, 1 m Long, M6 Taps
$103.53
Today
XE50L2/M Support Documentation
XE50L2/M50 mm Square Construction Rail, 2 m Long, M6 Taps
$157.25
Today
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50 mm x 75 mm Construction Rails

XE5075L Engineering Drawing
Click for Details

Mechanical Drawing
  • 50 mm x 75 mm Profile with Ten Channels
  • Black Anodized Finish
  • Six 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) Tapped Holes on Both Ends
  • Contact Tech Support for Custom Rail Lengths

Our 50 mm x 75 mm rails have rail channels on all four sides for use in one-, two-, or three-dimensional constructions. These channels feature 6.5 mm openings and accept T-nuts, rail joiners, enclosure panels, and channel covers. Each rail end is tapped with six 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) holes for compatibility with standard optomechanics. The rail length tolerance is ±0.006" (±150 µm).

As shown in the family image at the top of the page, metric rails are denoted by a small hole on each end of the extrusion.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Imperial Price Available
XE5075L20 Support Documentation
XE5075L2050 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 20" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$89.28
Today
XE5075L40 Support Documentation
XE5075L4050 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 40" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$127.16
Lead Time
XE5075L80 Support Documentation
XE5075L8050 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 80" Long, 1/4"-20 Taps
$200.21
Today
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Metric Price Available
XE5075L05/M Support Documentation
XE5075L05/M50 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 0.5 m Long, M6 Taps
$89.28
Today
XE5075L1/M Support Documentation
XE5075L1/M50 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 1 m Long, M6 Taps
$127.16
Today
XE5075L2/M Support Documentation
XE5075L2/M50 mm x 75 mm Construction Rail, 2 m Long, M6 Taps
$200.21
Lead Time
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Construction Rails with 50 mm Sides, Raw Extrusion

  • Unanodized Extrusions for Custom Applications
  • 50 mm Square or 50 mm x 75 mm Profiles
  • 2.8 m (9.2') Length
  • End Holes are Not Tapped
  • Contact Tech Support for Custom Rail Lengths

These rails are unanodized, rough-cut extrusions for customers who prefer to machine and finish their own rails. The end holes of each extrusion can be 1/4"-20 or M6 tapped without additional machining by the user. Their aluminum construction makes it easy to machine in your own machine shop.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
XE50R Support Documentation
XE50RRaw, Unanodized 50 mm Square Rail Extrusion, 2.8 m (9.2') Long
$107.19
Today
XE5075R Support Documentation
XE5075RRaw, Unanodized 50 mm x 75 mm Rail Extrusion, 2.8 m (9.2') Long
$136.22
Today