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I use a company called 80/20 that produce aluminum rails like Thor's XE25
series.  The 80/20 version are a bit stronger and latch together more
easily.

http://www.8020.net/

Check under 'T-Slot Framing'
The one you want is called '10 Series' where the '10' stands for 1.0 inches.
 They also have a heavier 15 series (1.5 inch thick) that I use for building
furniture like lab benches.
They will black anodize the aluminum for you at about an extra 10% cost,
which is what you will want for an optical bench.  They also sell a very
wide variety of cable clamps, hinges, and plastic panels that you can use.
 They also sell aluminum plate, which you can have black anodized as well.

Hope this helps!

Craig


On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Gary G. Li <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Greetings,
>
> I am designing an optical enclosure to work with a Zeiss 710 NLO
> Multiphoton Upright Microscope for a high sensitivity imaging
> application.  I think that a good solution is to use the XE25 Series
> construction rails and accessories, and blackout materials supplied by
> the Thorlabs, Inc.
>
> Could you please give me your advice?
>
> Gary G. Li, Ph.D.
> Microscopy Core Manager
> NIH/NIDA, Baltimore, MD 21224
>