Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optical Rails / 2" Dovetail Rails / Platforms for 2" Rails and Compact Quick-Connect StagesPlatforms for 2" Rails and Compact Quick-Connect Stages
- Contains Array of Tapped Holes, Counterbored Holes, and Slots
- Quickly Build Subassemblies for XRN Components
- Provides Coarse Translation Along Rail or Stage
XRN25-RC1
XRN25-RC2
XRN25-RC3
XRN25-RP1
XRN-R1
Application Idea
Rail carriers can quickly attach post assemblies to dovetailed components.
XRN25-RC4
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Features
- Inner Dovetail Compatible with 2" Dovetail Accessories
- See the Quick-Connect Stages Tab for Complete Line of Components
- Included Dovetail Clamp Screw has a Maximum Torque of 15 in•lbs
- Mount Subassemblies to XRN Components Without Access to Ends
- Slides Along Outer Male Dovetail Prior to Lockdown
- Variety of Form Factors Available
- Rail Carriers: Removable Plates with Additional Mounting Options
- Rail Plate: Deck Height Matches XR25 and XR50 Series Stages
- Rotation Adapter: Coarse Rotation Between Components
Thorlabs XRN Platforms are designed to mount components to our XRN Series 2" dovetails stages and rails. Once attached, these platforms enable optomechanical components to slide to any position along the length of a rail, or to attach to any other component with an XRN dovetail. The surfaces of these platforms are machined from cast tool and jig aluminum for minimal internal stress and improved stability. Their dovetail clamp screw makes them easy to place into any existing rail system without requiring access to the rail ends. These platforms are provided in three varieties: rail carriers, rail plates, and a rotation adapter.
Rail carriers feature a mating female dovetail on the bottom of the plate and a combination of mounting taps, counterbores, or slots on their exterior faces. The XRN25-RP1(/M) rail plate provides many of the same benefits as our rail carriers–a mating female dovetail on the bottom of the plate and mounting taps on the top–with a larger mounting surface and a deck height shared with all XRN linear and rotation stages. The XRN-R1(/M) rotation adapter is made up of a specialized rail carrier and a rotating platform that together share the deck height of the XRN stages and rail plate. The XRN-R1(/M) provides coarse rotational adjustment of its top plate. This top plate can be removed to reveal a Ø1/2" bore and flexure clamp, which can be purchased separately as the XRN-RB(/M). The XRN25-RC4(/M) rail carrier features a 3 mm 'crossed groove' design on the top plate that is ideal for use with our keyway accessories, which can be secured via AMA010(/M) cleats in 6-32 (M3) taps. Four 4-40 taps in 30 mm spacing also enable cage compatability.
Additional functionality is provided by a complete line of accessories that include multi-axis assembly kits, rail carriers, a rotation adapter, rails, and micrometer conversion kits. An adapter plate is also available for mounting these compact 25 mm stages with an integrated 2" dovetail onto 25 mm and 50 mm translation stages with a 3" dovetail. For more information about our dovetail rail construction components, please see the Quick-Connect Stages tab.
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Build Multi-Axis Configurations
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Z-axis assembly kits allow stages to be mounted in vertical orientations.
Quick-Connect Dovetails
Click to Enlarge
The female dovetails on the bottom of one stage mate with the male dovetails on another.
XR & XRN Dovetail Stages and Accessories
Our XR series manual stages feature quick-connect dovetails that allow for the construction of multi-axis systems without the need for additional hardware. The common dovetail feature with a single locking clamp makes it quick and simple to swap parts in and out while preserving excellent orthogonality.
Our selection of products with a quick-connect dovetail includes:
- Linear Translation Stages:
- Stackable 1-Axis Stages
- Pre-Assembled 2- and 3-Axis Configurations
- Rotational Stages:
- 360° Flat Rotation
- Tip/Tilt Goniometers
- Adapters:
- Z-Axis Assembly Kits
- Parallel and Perpendicular Mounting between 2" and 3" Dovetails
- Rail Accessories:
- Stationary Mounting Platforms
- Rail Component Positioners
- Base Plates and Rails
Most items are available in compact (2" dovetail) and full-size (3" dovetail) varieties. Adapters are available to interface between the two sizes. See the tables below for all available options.
| Linear Translation Stages | |||||
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| Items | Compact 25 mm Stages | Compact 9 mm Vertical Stage | Full-Size 25 mm Stages | Full-Size 50 mm Stages | 14 mm Vertical Stage |
| Motion | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | Z (Vertical) | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | Z (Vertical) |
| Quick-Connect Dovetail | 2" Dovetail | 3" Dovetail | |||
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| Rotation and Goniometric Stages | |||
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| Items | Compact Rotation Stage | Compact Goniometric Stages | Full-Size Rotation Stage |
| Motion | 360° Rotation | ±8° Tip/Tilt About Fixed Point Above Stage | 360° Rotation |
| Quick-Connect Dovetail | 2" Dovetail | 3" Dovetail | |
| Additional Features | |
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| Stage Adapters | ||
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| Z-Axis Assembly Kits |  |
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| Compact Z-Axis Assembly Kits, 2" Dovetails |
Full-Size Z-Axis Assembly Kits, 3" Dovetails |
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| Parallel Mounting Adapters |
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| Parallel Mounting Adapter, Male 2" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail |
Parallel Mounting Adapter, Male 3" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail |
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| Perpendicular Mounting Adapter |
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| Perpendicular Mounting Adapter Male 2" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail | ||
| Dovetail Accessories | ||
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| Mounting Platforms |  |
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| 2" Mounting Platforms | 3" Mounting Platforms | |
| Rail Positioners |  |
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| 2" Rail Positioners | 3" Rail Positioners | |
| Dovetail Bases | |||
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| Base Plates |  |
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| 2" Dovetail Base Plate | 3" Dovetail Base Plate with Rotational Adjustment | ||
| Rails / Extended Bases |
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| 2" Dovetail Rails | 3" Dovetail Rails | ||
Click to Enlarge
View of XRN25-RC3 Showing Steel Ball and Clamping Arm
XRN25-RC2 rail carriers mounted on an XRN25C stage.
- Each Provides Additional Coarse Translation and Mounting Features
- XRN25-RC1, XRN25-RC2, and XRN25-RC4 Include Integrated Steel Pads for use with the XRN25-RC3 Hard Stop
- XRN25-RC4 Carrier Includes Two Perpendicular 3 mm Alignment Grooves for Keyway Accessories
- XRN25-RC3 Carrier Includes Integrated Steel Balls for Use as a Hard Stop
- Female Dovetail For Quick Installation on Stage's Top Plate
- Included Dovetail Clamp Screw has Maximum Torque of 15 in•lbs
Thorlabs offers three rail carriers that are directly compatible with our XRN series stages. Each rail carrier provides coarse translation in addition to the fine translation supplied by the stage's micrometer, as well as expanding the stages' threading options for optomechanical assemblies. The XRN25-RC4(/M) carrier contains two perpendicular 3 mm grooves for compatibility with our keyway accessories. These accessories can be secured via AMA010(/M) cleats in 6-32 (M3) taps. Four 4-40 Taps in 30 mm spacing also enable cage compatibility on the XRN25-RC4(/M) carrier. Additionally, eleven 6-32 (M4) taps on the plate can be used to secure our clamping arms. For more information on hole patterns, see the diagrams below.
A female dovetail allows each rail carrier to slide onto an XRN25 series stage and connect to the stage's male dovetail. The position of the carrier can then be locked into place using a clamping arm (3/16" [5 mm] hex) located on one end of the carrier. This simple procedure allows the user to seamlessly swap and install different carriers on an XRN25 stage in a matter of seconds.
| Item # | XRN25-RC1(/M) | XRN25-RC2(/M) | XRN25-RC4(/M) | XRN25-RC3(/M) |
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| Mounting Features | #8 (M4) Counterbores (x6) 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) Taps (x7) |
1/4" (M6) Counterbore (x1) 1/4" (M6) Counterbored Slot (x1) 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) Taps (x8) |
4-40 Taps (x4) 6-32 (M3) Taps (x17) 6-32 (M4) Taps) (x11) 8-32 (M4) Tap (x1) 3 mm Alignment Groove |
1/4" (M6) Counterbored Slot (x1) 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) Taps (x4) |
| Hole Pattern |  |
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| Additional Features | Steel Contact Pads for Use with XRN25-RC3 Carrier | Steel Contact Pads for Use with XRN25-RC3 Carrier 6-32 (M4) Taps for Clamping Arms |
Steel Ball on Two Sides for Use as Hard Stop |
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Zoom
Click to Enlarge
Height and Width of XRN25-RP1(/M) Matches XRN Series Stages
- Same Height and Width Dimensions as XRN Series Stages
- Fourteen 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) Holes for Mounting, 0.30" (7.6 mm) Deep
- Compatible with 2" Mating Dovetail
- Included Dovetail Clamp Screw has a Maximum Torque of 15 in•lbs
The XRN25-RP1(/M) rail plate enables components to be mounted at the same deck height as the XRN series stages. The matching deck heights allow for transitioning between rail plates and stages without adjusting the Z-axis of the mounted components. The top of the XRN25-RP1(/M) features fourteen 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) tapped blind holes that are 0.30" (7.6 mm) deep. This rail plate's included dovetail clamp screw secures the plate to a 2" dovetail rail and has a maximum torque of 15 in•lbs. Additionally, the 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) counterbore slots located on the sides of the plates allow direct mounting to an optical table or breadboard.
Zoom
Click to Enlarge
The XRN-RB used as a rail carrier for a Ø1/2" Post.
Click to EnlargeTwo XRN25C Stages rotated at an arbitrary angle using the XRN-R1 Rotation Adapter.
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Side Located Locking Screws for Clamping Adapter (left) and Locking Rotation (right)
- 360° Coarse Rotation Adjustment
- Top Plate with 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) and 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) Tapped Holes
- Base Plate with Ø1/2" Bore and Flexure Clamp
- Purchase Complete Adapter or Separate Base Plate
- Compatible with 2" Mating Dovetail Stages
- Included Dovetail Clamp Screw has a Maximum Torque of 15 in•lbs
The XRN-R1(/M) Rotation Adapter allows users to mount any two 2" (50.8 mm) dovetail components together on a rotational axis perpendicular to their mounting surfaces. This allows a full 360° range of coarse rotation. The removable top plate features five 1/4"-20 (M6) and four 8-32 (M4) tapped holes in addition to the 2" male dovetails on all edges. Rotation is achieved by loosening the right-most locking screw on the base plate (also sold separately as the XRN-RB) using a 3/16" (5.0 mm) hex key. The adapter is clamped in place to a 2" dovetail with the left-most locking screw using a 3/16" (5.0 mm) hex key. These screws can be seen in the image above.
If the XRN-R1 is used to mount a stage vertically, that stage should not be rotated where the spring tension is working against gravity. Rotation in this configuration should be limited to 180°. In addition, note that the XRN-R1 is a two-piece solution where the top plate is not permanently retained in the base, and therefore care should be taken when loosening the rotation locking screw in a vertical orientation.
The XRN-RB(/M) Adapter Base Plate can be purchased separately. This flexure clamp allows the rotation adapter base plate to double as a rail carrier for components with a 1/2" (12.7 mm) diameter, as seen in the image above and to the right. Additionally, with the use of the AD12BA, components with a 12 mm diameter, such as our Ø12 mm optical posts, can also be used.
Zoom- XRN-A1 Adapter Enables Perpendicular Mounting of 2" Dovetail Components onto 3" Dovetail Components
- XRN-A2 Adapter Enables Parallel Mounting of 2" Dovetail Components onto 3" Dovetail Components
- Adapters Add 0.275" (7.0 mm) to the Overall Stacked Height of Components
These adapters enable mounting of quick-connect, crossed-roller bearing stages or accessories with a female 2" dovetail to components with a male 3" dovetail, as illustrated in the photos below. The XRN-A1 adapter enables perpendicular mounting while the XRN-A2 enables parallel mounting. The mounting configuration in the second photo below allows translation along a rail to be parallel to the direction of translation of a mounted stage.
To assemble, first loosen the dovetail locking screw on the end of the top stage or accessory. Position the adapter on the bottom stage or rail, as illustrated in the photos below, then align the top component on the adapter. Lastly, tighten the dovetail locking screw (maximum torque: 15 in•lbs) on the end of the top component until the entire assembly is secure. Please note that the deep-set screws in the sides of the adapter are not user adjustable.
| Mounting Adapter Compatibility | |||
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| Item # | Orientation | Top Component | Bottom Component |
| XRN-A1 | Perpendicular | XRN25 Series XRNV1 Series XRNR1 Series XRNG1 Series |
XR25 Series XR50 Series XRV1 Series XRR1 Series |
| XRN-A2 | Parallel | ||
2" Mounting Platforms