When working with optics, one has to think ahead to what the final setup will ultimately look like. The threaded holes in optical benches are standardized to 1" apart from each other, so don't be shy to count holes to estimate placement of optical pieces. Remember that right angles are your friend, so whenever possible, always work parallel/perpendicular with respect to these holes. Doing so makes it easier to 'eyeball' straight beam paths, for example.
If ever tasked with setting up from scratch, don't worry, there are pictures provided that display the experimental setup in its final form. Simply analyze these pictures, and make adjustments to fit the specifics of the bench at hand.
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