Bench Plates - are these good value?

[dnar]

I am looking for an optical bench plate and found these. Does anyone have any comments on these? are they good value?

http://www.anchoroptics.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=333

Cheers,

Wayne.

[Robin]

Anchor Optics is a division of Edmund Optics. From the website:

"Anchor’s commercial optics are not as highly specified as Edmund’s line of optics; therefore, Anchor’s line is offered at a lower price point."

Edmund Optics' reputation for quality optics is well established and those bench plate prices look really good. Thanks for the heads up on this.

[dnar]

Anchor Optics is a division of Edmund Optics. From the website:

"Anchor’s commercial optics are not as highly specified as Edmund’s line of optics; therefore, Anchor’s line is offered at a lower price point."

Edmund Optics' reputation for quality optics is well established and those bench plate prices look really good. Thanks for the heads up on this.

No problem. Another question, are all bench plates imperial spacing (1")? Just curious being a metric type guy.

[LASERGUY]

Wayne,

I would also suggest checking out Thor Labs

http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage...ctGroup_ID=159

The prices seem rather comparable... I have been recently a fan of Thor Labs as everything I buy from them seem to be great quality and it looks like they are going head to head with Edmunds on pricing.

I have never recieved one bag thing from edmunds but I am sure there prices are inflated.

Regards,

LaserGuy---->I<

[dnar]

Thanks laserguy. Looks good.

[Solonar]

You could always make your own. Just finished mine, 24" x 12".

Cost was $34 for the 1/4" plate, $7 for the drills and about 20 hrs of my time( mostly in tapping the 288 1/4"-20 holes).

[LASERGUY]

You could always make your own. Just finished mine, 24" x 12".

Cost was $34 for the 1/4" plate, $7 for the drills and about 20 hrs of my time( mostly in tapping the 288 1/4"-20 holes).

^ Ouch! I think we all have tried that one time or another

The price of breadboards starts to seem more and more reasonable with every drill and tap...

[dnar]

^ Ouch! I think we all have tried that one time or another

The price of breadboards starts to seem more and more reasonable with every drill and tap...

Exactly my thinking...

In my last job we owned a CNC machine that could tap better and faster than any human...

[Solonar]

No doubt, but the $300 I saved will be put to use next year for a 300mW Laserwave green.

[300EVIL]

You could always make your own. Just finished mine, 24" x 12".

Cost was $34 for the 1/4" plate, $7 for the drills and about 20 hrs of my time( mostly in tapping the 288 1/4"-20 holes).

+1,,, I agree, Make your own base plate or find a better deal. Also, you guys need to invest $50 in an auto tapper for your drill press.