Parametric Optical Breadboard

We all love our friends at ThorLabs, but sometimes you just need a quick part and you don't have the cash or time to wait for one to arrive with your order of Lab Snacks.

This is the first in a series of 3D printing optimized optomechanics I will be releasing on Printables. The Parametric 3D Printable Breadboard! Use it to quickly create custom sizes or screw them down to a sturdy table to create your own optical table on the cheap.

Print this out of PLA for ease of printing and excellent rigidity. I recommend at least three perimeters and minimal infill. I use 10% Adaptive Cubic, but infill type isn't critical here.

No support is needed! Print with the nut pockets facing up and the first layer stress reducing rings facing down. This is the orientation of the uploaded STEP files and exports from the OnShape document.

As with all large prints, it is recommended that you ensure your build plate is well cleaned before you start the print and run bed leveling.

To maintain the best flatness, let your build plate cool before removal. After the print is complete, insert standard M6 nuts for the ISO version and 1/4-20 nuts for the ANSI versions. These are designed as interference fits and may require some force to push into their pockets. Use a bolt threaded into the nut to gain leverage and lock the screws in. The nuts are also removable by inserting a bolt and applying a sharp tap to pop it out.

A set of 10x10 and 10x5 ANSI (1 Inch 1/4-20) and ISO (25mm M6) type boards are included here as .STEP files. Each type includes M6, M4, and M3 sized counterbored holes for mounting the board to your optical table, other breadboards, or even a wooden table. The 10x10 is the largest that will fit in the common 256x256 build plates of Bambu and the 10x5 will fit well on Prusa MK4 sized bed slingers.

Note that I'm in Japan and primarily test each component with metric hardware. As such, while the system supports both ANSI and ISO hardware, the tolerances will be more optimized for metric.

Need a custom size? Configure and export your own from OnShape: Configurable OnShape Document.

If you do download from the OnShape documents, please download one of the files or drop a like here on Printables. That way this project can be found by others :).

Configurable Options:

• Number of Holes in X Axis

• Number of Holes in Y Axis

• Spacing Between Holes

  • 25 mm for ISO,

  • 25.4mm or 1 Inch for ANSI

• Nut Type

  • M6 for ISO

  • 1/4-20 for ANSI

• Plate Mating Hole Type for connecting the board to other boards, substrates, or optical tables.

  • M6 or 1/4-20 Sized

  • M4 or 8-32 Sized

  • M3 or 4-40 Sized

Included Clip Points to rigidly connect multiple breadboards together using Multibuild inspired dual clips. These may be optionally disabled if you do not want them. I recommend keeping them on just in case you want to use them in the future.

If you find the system useful, please share it with your colleagues. If it makes your lab easier or cheaper to setup, perhaps Buy Me a Coffee so I can continue to develop the system and keep it free and openly available under the Open Community License (OCL) with the General Attribution (GAtt) Plugin.