Features

• Ideal for Collimating High-Power Laser Diodes
• Complete Package Shipped Assembled (Laser and Aspheric Lens Not Included)
• Compatible With Our Extensive Line of Ø1" Lens Tubes
• Broad Selection of Collimation Optics

These convenient kits provide all the basic components required to quickly assemble and collimate a laser diode. Both kits are assembled using cage rods and cage plates along with specialized components for various laser diode packages. Cage plates are assembled on the cage rods, which offer coarse positional adjustment and excellent center-to-center alignment of the laser diode and collimating optic.

Fine adjustment of an aspheric collimating lens relative to the laser diode package can be accomplished by rotating the S1TM09 collimation lens adapter, which is machined with SM1 series (1.035"-40) external threads to match the threaded bore of the CP02 cage plate.

Use our Spanner Wrenches to conveniently mount aspheric lenses in our adapters and to mount the adapters in our various lens tubes and cage systems.

Thorlabs offers an extensive line of laser diodes and aspheric lenses. See the Related Products at the top of this page for more details.

LDH3-P1: TO3 Collimation Package

The LDH3-P1 collimation package can be used with T03 laser packages in two ways. If the laser output power is low and no heat sinking is required, the laser can be mounted directly to the CP04 mounting plate (see above). For higher-power lasers or where better temperature regulation is required, the LDH3 can be mounted directly onto any heat-sink that is designed to accept TO3 laser packages. Parts include CP02, CP04, ER1.5, and S1TM09.

LDH9-P1: Ø5.6mm to Ø9mm Collimation Package

The LDH9-P1 collimation package is designed for use with small Ø5.6mm to Ø9mm laser packages. As pictured at the top-right, a laser diode is mounted within the S1LM9 which is, in turn, mounted within a CP02. A mounted aspheric lens is threaded into the S1TM09 which is then threaded into a second CP02. The whole system is center-aligned via precision Cage Assembly Rods, allowing for manual positioning along the beam's propagation axis. Parts include CP02 (×2), ER1.5, S1TM09, and S1LM9.

An example of the standard cage
plate measurements determining
cage system compatibility.

Cage System Overview

The Cage Assembly System provides a convenient way to construct large optomechanical systems with an established line of precision-machined building blocks designed for high flexibility and accurate alignment.

16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm Cage System Standards

Thorlabs offers three standards defined by the center-to-center spacing of the cage assembly rods (see image to right). The 16 mm cage, 30 mm cage, and 60 mm cage standards are designed to accomodate Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" optics, respectively. Specialized cage plates that allow smaller optics to be directly inserted into our larger cage systems are also available.

Standard Threads

The flexibility of our Cage Assembly System stems from well-defined mounting and thread standards designed to directly interface with a wide range of specialized products. The three most prevalent thread standards are our SM05 Series (0.535"-40 thread), SM1 Series (1.035"-40 thread), and SM2 Series (2.035"-40 thread), all of which were defined to house the industry's most common optic sizes. Essential building blocks, such as our popular lens tubes, directly interface to these standards.