Open Source Optical Rail from OpenBeam - Magnetic Base

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Summary This system turns an OpenBeam into an optical rail, which is a long, straight, sturdy rail onto which optical components such as light sources and lenses can be bolted down and easily shifted along the length of the rail. Commercial optical rails sell for $380 per meter or $115 per foot. Open beam costs just $12 per meter for high-quality black anodized material. This component is part of the Open-source Optics project, which aims to drastically reduce the cost of scientific optical hardware by the Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology Research Group. For similar projects, see the Open-Source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs. Instructions OpenSCAD code included for modifications. Print on your favorite open source 3D printer and clean up. You may need to flip the STL file and print from the easy side. You'll need an M3 screw, nut, and magnet. Insert the screw through the base and screw onto the OpenBeam with an M3 nut. Then press fit the magnet on top of it. Old steel desks work well as bases. If you don't have a metal base, you can convert an open-source optical rail into a regular optical rail by attaching two T-brackets. Next, add some mounts: see Simple 8mm rod holder and Complex side mount. You can purchase Open Beam at openbeamusa.com/Extrusions/. To get the magnets, visit rare-earth-magnets.com/. This project was developed by the Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology research group. This component is part of the Open-source Optics Library: Zhang C, Anzalone NC, Faria RP, Pearce JM (2013) Open-Source 3D-Printable Optics Equipment. PLoS ONE 8(3): e59840. This project is part of a larger effort to reduce the cost of scientific equipment using open-source hardware. Read more here. Thanks to Terence Tam for creating OpenBeam, which was brilliant work!