Vacuum-Compatible 1/4"-100 Adjusters

Features

• 100 TPI Fine Adjustment
• Adjusters Feature a 5/64" (2.0 mm) Hex Socket
• All Adjusters Usable at 10^-6 Torr (Knobs Down to 10^-5 Torr) Directly Out of the Packaging
• Compatible with Lower Pressures with Additional User Processing
• Removable Adjustment Knobs Allow for Adjustment without Hex Key
• Threaded Bushings, Lock Nuts, and Locking Collar for Adjuster Integration
• Barrel Adapter for Integration with Linear Translation Stages

Thorlabs offers vacuum-compatible versions of our 1/4"-100 adjusters which are fabricated from specially selected grades of stainless steel for vacuum and cleanroom use. They exceed class 3 standards and each screw is individually tested with a master gauge set that ensures the interoperability of our adjuster screws and threaded bushings. Adjusters are available in 0.50" increments from 0.50" up to 2.00" long and are packaged in double airtight bags for cleanroom and vacuum applications. A variety of 1/4"-100 threaded bushings, lock nuts, locking collars and barrel adapter are available to simplify the integration of fine adjusters in your application.

Vacuum Compatibility Information
Our vacuum-compatible adjusters and knobs are chemically cleaned and prepared for vacuum applications before packaging. Directly out of the packaging, they are compatible with vacuum environments down to 10^-6 Torr or 10^-5 Torr, respectively. With additional cleaning and processing, they can be used at even lower pressures, only limited by the outgassing rate of the stainless steel. The material properties of the stainless steel and the cleaning methods completed by the end user should be used to determine the appropriateness of these products and materials in a specific vacuum system.

We also offer other optomechanical components which may be used in vacuum applications. All of our Polaris^® Mirror Mounts are vacuum compatible. We also offer Unanodized Aluminum or Passivated Stainless Steel Breadboards, which may be used in vacuum applications after undergoing cleaning and processing by the end user.

Integrating Fine Adjustment Screws Into Optomechanical Systems

The assembly process begins by producing the appropriately sized mating hole for the threaded bushing. The recommended bore diameters can be found with the product information for each bushing sold below. Given the close fit between the threaded bushing and the mating adjuster screw, we caution against using a press fit to assemble these products. For our own production needs, we use a permanent anaerobic adhesive that provides excellent long-term performance. Locking bushings with nuts do not require adhesive as they are held in place by the locking nut.

We recommend using EPO-TEK^®* 353ND epoxy, Item # 353NDPK, or equivalent. In order to ensure maximum strength between the bonded parts, we strongly urge the user to carefully follow the instructions provided by EPO-TEK.

When assembling, apply a small amount of the EPO-TEK epoxy to the threaded bushing only. Rotate the bushing as it is installed to ensure a uniform distribution of the epoxy. After insertion, remove any excess epoxy from around the part and allow to properly cure per epoxy instructions.

As shown in the figure to the right, the flange on the mating bushing is designed to support the axial load of the screw and bushing assembly.

^*EPO-TEK is a registered trademark of Epoxy Technology, Inc.

Drilling and Tapping

While we recommend using our fine adjusters with the appropriately matched threaded bushing (sold below), it is also possible to incorporate them directly into a part or material by creating a threaded hole. For the adjusters on this page, the diameter of the pilot bore should be 0.240" +0.002" / -0.001". The hole can then be tapped with a TAP14100 tap. For fine pitch threads, it is especially important to tightly tolerance the pilot bore because of the shallow thread depth. For more information, see our taps and drill bit kit page.