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Schematic of Threaded Stainless Steel Cell with Window, Viton^®* O-Rings, and End Caps

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Item #	Qty	Description
TMC510A	1	Empty Stainless Steel Cell with Threaded Ends, 100 mm Long, One Fill Tube
GC05	1	End Cap for Ø17.8 mm Threaded Stainless Steel Cells, Two Viton® O-Rings Included
SM05RC	1	Slip Ring for SM05 Lens Tubes, 8-32 Tap
KF25C025	1	KF25 Flange to Compression Fitting Adapter for Pipes with OD = 1/4", 6.0 mm, or 6.4 mm
TR2	1	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 2"
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Item #	Qty	Description
TMC510A	1	Empty Stainless Steel Cell with Threaded Ends, 100 mm Long, One Fill Tube
GC05	1	End Cap for Ø17.8 mm Threaded Stainless Steel Cells, Two Viton® O-Rings Included
SM05RC/M	1	Slip Ring for SM05 Lens Tubes, M4 Tap
KF25C025	1	KF25 Flange to Compression Fitting Adapter for Pipes with OD = 1/4", 6.0 mm, or 6.4 mm
TR50/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 50 mm
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The TMC510A cell can be post-mounted in our SM05RC slip ring.

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Item #	Qty	Description
TMC510C	1	Empty Stainless Steel Cell with Threaded Ends, 100 mm Long, Two Fill Tubes
GC05	2	End Cap for Ø17.8 mm Threaded Stainless Steel Cells, Two Viton® O-Rings Included
SM05TC	1	Clamp for SM05 Lens Tubes
KF25C025	2	KF25 Flange to Compression Fitting Adapter for Pipes with OD = 1/4", 6.0 mm, or 6.4 mm
KF25CR-F	2	Centering O-Ring Carrier for KF25 Flanges with Fluorocarbon O-Ring
KF25WNC	2	Wing Nut Clamp for KF25 Flanges
KF25P05	2	50 mm Straight Fitting with KF25 Vacuum Flanges
TR2	1	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 2"
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Item #	Qty	Description
TMC510C	1	Empty Stainless Steel Cell with Threaded Ends, 100 mm Long, Two Fill Tubes
GC05	2	End Cap for Ø17.8 mm Threaded Stainless Steel Cells, Two Viton® O-Rings Included
SM05TC	1	Clamp for SM05 Lens Tubes
KF25C025	2	KF25 Flange to Compression Fitting Adapter for Pipes with OD = 1/4", 6.0 mm, or 6.4 mm
KF25CR-F	2	Centering O-Ring Carrier for KF25 Flanges with Fluorocarbon O-Ring
KF25WNC	2	Wing Nut Clamp for KF25 Flanges
KF25P05	2	50 mm Straight Fitting with KF25 Vacuum Flanges
TR50/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 50 mm
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The spacing between the fill tubes on the TMC510C cell allows for KF25 flange connections on each tube.

Features

• 100 mm Long Stainless Steel Cells for Spectroscopy Applications
• Increased Thermal Conductivity Relative to Glass Cells Leads to More Uniform Heating
• Available with One Tube for Filling or Two Tubes for Flow
• Both Ends Include GL-16 Threading Allowing Installation of Interchangeable Ø1/2" Flat or Wedged Windows

These empty stainless steel cells feature external GL-16 threading at their ends, which allows users to secure Ø1/2" flat or wedged windows (3 mm thick) using a GC05 Threaded End Cap (sold separately), as depicted in the illustration to the right. Once windows are attached, the cell can be filled with atomic vapors or molecular compounds for spectroscopic analysis. A user-provided spectroscopy-grade light source can be matched with the transmission characteristics of the window material. The higher thermal conductivity of the metal cells compared to glass cells enables more uniform heating of samples. We also offer threaded glass cells and empty cells for a variety of spectroscopic applications as shown in the selection guide below.

These threaded stainless steel gas cells are available with either one or two fill tubes. A single fill tube is useful when sealing a cell, while two fill tubes can be used to maintain constant gas flow. The fill tubes have a 0.25" outer diameter and are compatible with Ø1/4" compression fittings, such as those found on our KF16C025 and KF25C025 KF-Flange Adapters. The spacing between the fill tubes on the TMC510C cell allows KF25 flanges to be mounted on each tube without interference as seen in the image to the right. The GC05 end caps have internal SM05 (0.535"-40) threading for compatibility with our Ø1/2" lens tubes and SM05-threaded alignment aids. The GC05 caps and GC05V O-rings limit the clear aperture of the optic to 0.36" (9.1 mm).

Each metal gas cell is made from 316L stainless steel, a rugged material known for its resistance to caustic chemicals. All gas cells on this page can hold a vacuum below 10^-7 Torr and withstand pressures up to 5 psi when properly assembled. Each cell is ultrasonically cleaned post-production. Since the cells are not vacuum sealed when shipped, we recommend a similar cleaning process be followed before a cell is used in a vacuum setup. The vacuum bakeout temperature for these cells with GC05 end caps should not exceed 200 °C.

These cells are commonly used in absorption spectroscopy; refer to the Application tab for a general overview of how the cells can be used in this applicaton. We also offer compact and Herriott multipass cells for gas absorption spectroscopy applications, as well as filled and sealed vapor and acetylene reference cells.

Mounting Options
The outer diameter of the threaded stainless steel cells matches the outer diameter of our SM05 lens tubes, allowing for the use of our lens tube mounting options. The TMC510A cell with the end cap removed can slide into a post-mounted SM05RC slip ring. The SM05TC lens clamp can be used to mount the TMC510A and TMC510C cells without removal of the end caps. For integration into cage systems, the TMC510A can be secured in an SM1A60 adapter and attached to any of our 30 mm or 60 mm cage plates that have internal SM1 threads. The cells can also be mounted in our V-Clamp Mounts, which are available in standard, kinematic, or Ø1.5" post-compatible versions. Please check that the cell diameter is supported by the mount. VBC1(/M) or VBC2(/M) band clamps can also be used to mount the stainless steel cells as shown in the image at the top of the page.

*Viton^® is a registered trademark of DuPont.

Single-Pass Cells Selection Guide
Empty Glass Cells with Borosilicate Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Textured Antireflective Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Angled Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Brewster Windows	Empty Alumina Cell with Sapphire Windows	Threaded Empty Glass Cells	Threaded Empty Stainless Steel Cells	Vapor Reference Cells	Acetylene Reference Cells	Glass Cell Heaters

Absorption Spectroscopy

The reference substance pumped into the gas cell is associated with a unique absorption spectrum that serves as its fingerprint. The contents of a reference cell can be determined via a linear absorption measurement (as depicted by the simplified schematic below). By scanning a tunable diode laser over a wavelength range and detecting light absorption with a photodetector, a series of peaks will be recorded, which is characteristic of the vapor inside the cell. Please note that we also offer pre-filled and sealed acetylene reference cells, as well as vapor reference cells with quartz or borosilicate substrates.

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Disassembled view of a KF25
flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.

Creating a Vacuum Seal with a KF Flange

Thorlabs' empty gas cells can be used with our KF16 or KF25 Flanged Components and Accessories in order to manage gas flow in and out of the cell. Gas cells terminated with one or two Ø1/4" (Ø6.35 mm) fill tubes can be inserted into a KF16C025 or KF25C025 flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.

To input the gas cell into a KF16 or KF25 Vacuum System, follow the instructions below.

1. Select a KF16 or KF25 flange-to-compression-fitting adapter that is compatible with the fill tube diameter of the gas cell.
2. Coat a cleaned and inspected KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring in vacuum grease and place it on a base post or pipe.
3. Place the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter on top of the KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring and secure them with the KF16WNC or  KF25WNC Wing Nut Clamp.
4. Loosen and remove the knurled locking knob, O-ring, and seal ring of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter so its mating surface can be inspected and the included O-ring can be coated in vacuum grease. This will create a vacuum seal when the cell is inserted into the system.
5. Slide the open end of the gas cell tube through the top (side with the Thorlabs engraving) of the knurled locking knob, seal ring (with the counterbore seat for the O-ring facing the adapter body), and O-ring (in that order) of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.
6. Slide the gas tube into the flange adapter body and then slide the O-ring, seal ring, and knurled locking knob down the tube onto the flange adapter body. Tighten the knurled locking knob by hand.

It is not recommended to insert the gas tube into a fully assembled KF flange-to-compression-fitting adapter. The sharp edges of the tube may damage the O-ring, thus causing the seal to fail.