Products Home / Optical Tables, Breadboards, and Supports / Solid Aluminum Optical Breadboards / Liquid-Cooled Cold PlatesLiquid-Cooled Cold Plates
- Versatile Platform for Applications Requiring Temperature Stability
- Multiple Mounting Arrangements Possible
- 4-40, 6-32 (M4), 8-32 (M4), and 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes
- Embedded TH10K Thermistor
WCP2X2
2.00" x 2.00" Plates
WCP4X6
4.00" x 6.00" Plates
A variety of mounting options are possible with the WCP2x2(/M) and WCP4X6(/M) Cold Plates.
Please Wait
Features
- 4-40, 6-32 (M4), 8-32 (M4), and 1/4"-20 (M6) Tapped Holes
- Two Sizes Available:
- 2.00" x 2.00" (50.80 mm x 50.80 mm)
- 4.00" x 6.00" (101.60 mm x 152.40 mm)
- Embedded TH10K Thermistor
- Plumbed to Accept Liquid Coolant
- Multiple Mounting Arrangements Possible (See Mounting Options Tab)
- Additional Accessories Offered Below:
- Polyurethane Hoses
- In-Line Coupling Accessories
Thorlabs' Liquid Cooled Cold Plates provide a versatile platform for mounting optics, sensors, detectors, lasers, LEDs, or other apparatuses that require temperature stabilization. The top of each aluminum cold plate features a set of 1/4"-20 (M6), 8-32 (M4), 4-40, and 6-32 (M4) mounting holes for attaching our wide variety of optomechanical components. Our cage systems as well as our PM3 and PM4 Clamping Arms are compatible with the top surface of the plates. With additional 8-32 (M4) side and 8-32 (M4) or 1/4”-20 (M6) bottom mounting threads, the cold plates can be used to mount components in a variety of orientations and heights while also providing temperature stabilization. Additionally, there are side slots for use with CL6 Table Clamps. Please see the Mounting Options tab for more information. For detailed information on the types and locations of holes in these plates, please refer to the Specifications tab. The bottom of each cold plate also has a smooth surface where thermal conductive grease or adhesives may be applied when using the cold plate with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or a flat surface heater.
Each plate is fitted with fittings for 1/4" inner diameter hoses. These allow for easy connection to a water or coolant supply such as our LK220 liquid chiller. We also offer replacement polyurethane hoses in 5 m lengths with either 11/64" (4.37 mm) ID or 1/4" (6.35 mm) ID as well as coupling inserts and bodies appropriate for the replacement hose sizes.
A TH10K Thermistor is embedded into each cold plate. Users can interface with the thermistor via the 2.5 mm stereo jack on the side of the cold plate. For more information on connecting to the thermistor, please refer to the standard support documentation, which can be accessed by clicking on the red docs icon (
) below. Depending on the environmental temperature and humidity levels and the temperature of the board, condensation can form on the breadboard surface. Please see the Specifications tab for additional information.
For other cooled breadboard options, including temperature-controlled mini-series breadboards with internal thermoelectric cooling, see the Cooled BB Selection Guide tab.
| Cold Plate General Specifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item # | WCP2X2 | WCP2X2/M | WCP4X6 | WCP4X6/M | |
| Dimensions (W x L x H) | 2.00" x 2.00" x 0.87" | 50.80 mm x 50.80 mm x 22.00 mm | 4.00" x 6.00" x 0.87" | 101.6 mm x 152.4 mm x 22.00 mm | |
| Hole Patterns | Top | 4-40 (4 Places) 6-32 (4 Places) 8-32 (8 Places) 1/4"-20 (8 Places) |
4-40 (4 Places) M4 (12 Places) M6 (8 Places) |
4-40 (8 Places) 6-32 (8 Places) 8-32 (53 Places) 1/4"-20 (20 Places) |
4-40 (4 Places) M4 (61 Places) M6 (20 Places) |
| Side | 8-32 (2 Places) |
M4 (2 Places) |
8-32 (2 Places) |
M4 (2 Places) |
|
| Bottom | 8-32 (4 Places) |
M4 (4 Places) |
1/4"-20 (4 Places) |
M6 (4 Places) |
|
| Drawing |  |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Cage Compatibiliy | 30 mm Cage System | 30 mm Cage System 60 mm Cage System |
|||
| Material | Aluminum 6063 T5 | ||||
| Finish | Clear Anodized | ||||
| Flatness | ±0.006" (0.15 mm) Over the Entire Surface |
||||
| Operating Temperature Range | -15 °C to 60 °C | ||||
| Pressure Rating | 80 psi | ||||
| Push-Fit Pipe Fitting Inner Diameter | 1/4" (6 mm) | ||||
| TH10K Specificationsa,b | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Specifications | ||||
| Sensor Connector Type | 2.5 mm Stereo Jack | |||
| Thermistor Electrical Resistance | ||||
| Resistance at 25 °C (R25 °C) | 10 kΩ | |||
| Temperature Accuracy | ±1 °C at 25 °C | |||
| Dissipation Constant | 1.4 mW/°C | |||
| Time Constant | 15 s | |||
| Operating Range | -50 °C to 150 °C | |||
| Temperature Coefficient | -4.40 %/°C | |||
- For more information on connecting to the thermistor, please refer to the standard support documentation, which can be accessed by clicking on the red docs icon () below
- We also offer an Excel file which quickly calculates measured resistance for a given temperature or temperature for a measured resistance.
| Operating Temperature and Condensationa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Relative Air Humidity (RH) |
Temperature Differenceb (ΔT) |
Relative Air Humidity (RH) |
Temperature Differenceb (ΔT) |
| 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 |
Table Clamp Arrangement
Thorlabs' liquid-cooled cold plates have slots on the sides of the plates for use with CL6 table clamps. This allows the plates to be in direct contact with the table, increasing the size of the heat sink, to help with cooling.
Click to Enlarge WCP4X6 Cold Plate Secured to Table with CL6 Table Clamps
Elevated Arrangement
A set of Ø1/2" Post Mounts can be used to elevate the cold plate off the work surface, using the four counterbored mounting holes on the bottom of the cold plate. Shown below, a WCP2X2 (left) or a WCP4X6 (right) cold plate is raised with four TR3 Optical Posts in PH2E Pedestal Post Holders via the 8-32 (M4) or 1/4"-20 (M6) mounting holes, respectively. The setup is secured to the breadboard with CF125 Clamping Forks.
Click to Enlarge WCP4X6 Cold Plate Elevated with Optical Posts on Table
Vertical Arrangement
Ø1/2" Post Mounts can be used to mount the cold plate vertically using the two 8-32 (M4) counterbored mounting holes on each side of the plates. Shown below, a WCP2X2 (left) or a WCP4X6 (right) cold plate is mounted vertically on TR3 Optical Posts in PH2E Pedestal Post Holders. The setup is secured to the breadboard with CF125 Clamping Forks.
Click to Enlarge WCP2X2 Cold Plate Vertically Oriented on Table
Click to Enlarge WCP4X6 Cold Plate Vertically Oriented on Table
Cage System Overview
The Cage Assembly System provides a convenient way to construct large optomechanical systems with an established line of precision-machined building blocks designed for high flexibility and accurate alignment.
16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm Cage System Standards
Thorlabs offers three standards defined by the center-to-center spacing of the cage assembly rods (see image below). The 16 mm cage, 30 mm cage, and 60 mm cage standards are designed to accommodate Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" optics, respectively. Specialized cage plates that allow smaller optics to be directly inserted into our larger cage systems are also available.
Standard Threads
The flexibility of our Cage Assembly System stems from well-defined mounting and thread standards designed to directly interface with a wide range of specialized products. The three most prevalent thread standards are our SM05 Series (0.535"-40 thread), SM1 Series (1.035"-40 thread), and SM2 Series (2.035"-40 thread), all of which were defined to house the industry's most common optic sizes. Essential building blocks, such as our popular lens tubes, directly interface to these standards.
An example of the standard cage plate measurements determining cage system compatibility.
| Standard Cage System Measurements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cage System | 16 mm | 30 mm | 60 mm |
| Thread Series | SM05 | SM1 | SM2 |
| Rod to Rod Spacing | 16 mm (0.63") | 30 mm (1.18") | 60 mm (2.36") |
| Total Length | 25 mm (0.98") | 41 mm (1.60") | 71.1 mm (2.80") |
| Cage Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cage Rods | 16 mm | These rods are used to connect cage plates, optic mounts, and other components in the cage system. The SR Series Cage Rods are compatible with our 16 mm cage systems, while the 30 mm and 60 mm cage systems use ER Series Cage Rods. |
| 30 mm | ||
| 60 mm | ||
| Cage Plates | 16 mm | These serve as the basic building blocks for a cage system. They may have SM-threaded central bores, smooth bores sized for industry standard optics or to accommodate the outer profile of our SM Series Lens Tubes, or specialized bores for other components such as our FiberPorts. |
| 30 mm | ||
| 60 mm | ||
| Optic Mounts | 16 mm | Thorlabs offers fixed, kinematic, rotation, and translation mounts specifically designed for our Cage Systems. |
| 30 mm | ||
| 60 mm | ||
| Cage Cubes | 16 mm | These cubes are useful for housing larger optical components, such as prisms or mirrors, or optics that need to sit at an angle to the beam path, such as beamsplitters. Our cage cubes are available empty or with pre-mounted optics. |
| 30 mm | ||
| 60 mm | ||
| Replacement Setscrews | Replacement setscrews are offered for our 16 mm (SS4B013, SS4B025, and SS4B038) and 30 mm (SS4MS5 and SS4MS4) cage systems products. | |
| Post and Breadboard Mounts and Adapters | Mounting options for cage systems can be found on our Cage System Construction pages. Cage Systems can be mounted either parallel or perpendicular to the table surface. | |
| Size Adapters | Cage System Size Adapters can be used to integrate components from different cage system and threading standards. | |
| Specialized Components | Thorlabs also produces specialized cage components, such as Filter Wheels, a HeNe Laser Mount, and a FiberPort Cage Plate Adapter, allowing a wide range of our products to be integrated into cage-mounted optical systems. Explore our Cage Systems Visual Navigation Guide to see the full range of Thorlabs' cage components. | |
| Posted Comments: | |
Sébastien MONTANT
(posted 2024-10-01 09:11:39.08) How to connect and use (measurement platform) the embedded TH10K thermistor ?
do you have an idea for connecting 2 WCP2X2 plates to use them to block a square optic between ?
best regards
Sebastien mgarodia
(posted 2024-10-09 01:46:30.0) A 2.5 mm stereo jack on the WCP2X2 side allows the user to interface with the TH10K thermistor embedded in the cold plate to measure resistance (please click on the red “icon” in front of the WCP2X2 to view the pin assignment diagram in the manual). From this, temperature can be calculated. For a quick calculation, please download the Excel file in corner "a" of the TH10K specification sheet in the following link: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=305&pn=TH10K. The hole pattern on the surface of the WCP2X2 is ideal for connecting to our standard optomechanics to mount optics. We will contact you directly to discuss the selection of the optomechanics. |
| Cooled Breadboard Selection Guide | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Water-Cooled Breadboards | Liquid-Cooled Cold Plates | Temperature-Controlled Mini-Series Breadboard | |
| Representative Photos (Click to Enlarge) |  |
 |
 |
| Tapped Holes | 1/4"-20 (Imperial) M6 (Metric) |
1/4"-20, 8-32, 6-32, and 4-40 (Imperial) M6, M4, and 4-40 (Metric) |
1/4"-20 and 8-32 (Imperial) M6 and M4 (Metric) |
| Available Sizes (L x W x H) |
12" x 12" x 1/2" to 18" x 24" x 1/2" (Imperial) 300 x 300 x 12.7 mm to 450 x 600 x 12.7 mm (Metric) |
2" x 2" x 0.87" or 4" x 6" x 0.87" (Imperial) 50.8 x 50.8 x 22 mm or 101.6 x 152.4 x 22 mm (Metric) |
4" x 5" x 2.46" (Imperial) 101.6 x 127.0 x 62.5 mm (Metric) |
| Cooling | External Water or CDTX Coolant | External Water or CDTX Coolant | Internal Thermoelectric Cooler with Temperature Settable from 5 °C to 45 °C |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 °C to 60 °C | -15 °C to 60 °C | 0 °C to 45 °C |
| Temperature Readout | None | TH10K Thermistor Readout Via 2.5 mm Stereo Jack | Automatic Temperature Control with TH10K Thermistor Readout to Software GUI Via USB |
| Mounting Options | 1/4" or 6 mm Counterbored Through Holes | Threaded Mounting Holes for Posts on Bottom and Sides, and Side Slots for Clamping to Table | Threaded Mounting Holes for Posts on Bottom and Sides, and Rubber Feet on Bottom |
Zoom- Plumbed to Accept Liquid Coolant
- Imperial and Metric Hole Patterns
- Available in 2.00" x 2.00" (50.80 mm x 50.80 mm) or 4.00" x 6.00" (101.60 mm x 152.40 mm) Versions
- Side Slots for CL6 Table Clamps
These Liquid-Cooled Cold Plates are plumbed to accept a liquid coolant and provide a mounting surface for applications that require temperature stabalization. The hole pattern (see Specifications tab for details) is ideal for connecting to our standard optomechanics for use with applications involving optics, sensors, detectors, lasers, LEDs, or other apparatuses that may require temperature stabilization. The 6-32 mounting holes are 0.21" deep, and are designed to be used with our PM3 or PM4 Clamping Arms. The larger plates, 4.00" x 6.00" (101.60 mm x 152.40 mm), have 8-32 (M4) holes spaced 1/2" (12.50 mm) apart, and 1/4"-20 (M6) holes spaced 1" (25.40 mm) apart.
Each aluminum plate is fitted with fittings for 1/4" inner diameter hoses. These allow for easy connection to a water or coolant supply such as our LK220 liquid chiller. To connect a cold plate to a tubing system, the included 2" long tubing must be secured to the cold plate via the barbed fitting on the side of the plate. To do so, first connect the two PU hoses to the barbed fitting on the side of the cold plate. Then, hold the ring locks open with a pair of needle-nose pliers while placing it over the hose. When the ring locks are over the barbed fitting, release the pressure from the pliers, locking the tube in place. Repeat this procedure for the other fitting. Connect the open end of the hose to our Valved In-Line Coupling Inserts (sold separately below), and connect the heating/cooling system to the In-Line Coupling Accessories so that the cold plate can be linked to the system. If additional tubing lengh is needed, we offer two additional sizes of polyurethane hoses. All accessories can withstand pressure up to 120 psi.
Zoom- 5 m Long Polyurethane Hoses
- Two Hose Sizes Available:
- 1/4" Outer Diameter and 11/64" Inner Diameter
- 3/8" Outer Diameter and 1/4" Inner Diameter
These 5 m Long Polyurethane (PU) Hoses can withstand up to 120 psi of pressure and can be used in temperatures from -15 to 60 °C. The hoses can be trimmed to suit any application. To do so, simply cut the tubing to the required length, trim the tubing edges flush, insert the tubing into the connectors, and connect the other end to your coolant supply/chiller unit. These hoses are intended to be used alongside the in-line coupling accessories sold below. The inserts and bodies sold below can be used to convert from 1/4" ID to 11/64" ID.
These hoses allow for easy connection to a water or coolant supply. Both hoses are compatible with our Liquid-Cooled Cold Plates. The HPU9 1/4" ID hose can directly connect to the liquid-cooled plates, while the fittings sold below can be used to adapt to the HPU6 11/64" ID hose. The HPU6 polyurethane hose is also directly compatible with our Water-Cooled Breadboards and Liquid-Cooled HHL Laser Mount.
Zoom
Click to Enlarge
QVM6 with Nut Detached
Click to Enlarge
QVF6 with Nut Detatched
- RoHS Compliant Materials:
- Natural White Acetal
- Stainless Steel Valve Spring
- Barrel Nickel Plated Brass Nut
- BUNA-N Seals
These Valved In-Line Coupling Inserts and Bodies can withstand pressures up to 120 psi, in temperatures from -40 to 82 °C (-40 to 180 °F). The inserts have male connection ports, while the bodies have female connectors with a self-lock structure for secure connection. Inserts and bodies are intended to be used in pairs, as any coupling insert can mate with any coupling body. The QVF6 coupling body and QVM6 coupling insert can support HPU6 tubing with a 11/64" inner diameter (ID) and 1/4" outer diameter (OD), while the QVF9 coupling insert and QVM9 coupling body can support HPU9 tubing with a 1/4" ID and 3/8" OD.
These coupling accessories are directly compatible with our Liquid-Cooled Cold Plates. Additionally, they can be used with the LK220 Liquid Chiller, Spatial Light Modulators, or our Liquid-Cooled HHL Laser Mount, which all come with compatible CPC® valved quick-connect coupling inserts.
Liquid-Cooled Cold Plates