Features

• Compact USB 2.0 Platform
• Mechanically and Electrically Supports up to Six T-Cube Controllers
• Flexible Mix and Match Control of T-Cube Units
• Horizontal or Vertical Mounting to Optical Tables
• Reduced Cable Management - Single USB
  Communication and Power Cable
• USB Port for Connecting Multiple Controller Hubs
• Fully RoHS Compliant

Do More in Less Space with the T-Cube Controller Hub

As a further level of convenience when using T-Cube controllers and drivers, Thorlabs also offers the T-Cube Hub. This product has been designed specifically with multiple T-Cube operation in mind; it will simplify issues such as cable management, power supply routing, and multiple USB device communications. In addition, several different optical table mounting scenarios are possible as detailed under the Further Info tab. It is now possible to combine the electronic drivers with all of the other mechanical components required to build an automated optomechanical application, directly on the optical table.

The T-Cube Controller Hub comprises a slim base-plate type carrier [375 mm x 86 mm x 21.5 mm (14.75" x 3.4" x 0.85")] with electrical connections located on the upper surface. The Controller Hub contains a fully compliant USB 2.0 hub circuit and provides all communications and power distribution for up to six T-Cubes, using only a single power connection. The Controller Hub is shipped complete with power supply and horizontal mounting bracket.

The Hub vastly reduces the number of USB and power cables required when operating multiple T-Cubes. Furthermore, a USB output connector can be connected to the USB input on another unit, allowing multiple Controller Hubs to be connected together while still only using a single USB cable from the host control PC. A single PC can support up to 12 individual T-Cube controllers. As an added feature, the Controller Hub, when combined with devices that work in a closed loop such as the T-Cube apt Piezo Controller and the T-Cube apt Strain Gauge Reader, provides closed-loop control without the need for additional cabling.

The AP90, pictured to the left, can be used to mount the hub vertically or horizontally on its edge. For more mounting information, see the Further Info tab.

Thorlabs' T-Cube family of very compact, yet fully featured, electronics controllers cover a variety of functions for a wide range of custom photonics, optomechanical, and motion control applications. They feature controllers for a number of applications, including motor controllers, piezo drivers, autoalignment systems, laser sources quad detector systems, TEC controllers and shutter/flipper controllers.

As a further convenience, Thorlabs offers the T-Cube Controller Hub, which is compatible with our T-Cube Controllers. This product has been designed specifically with multiple T-Cube operation in mind in order to simplify issues such as cable management, power supply routing, multiple USB device communications, and different optical table mounting scenarios.

Above: TCH002 USB Hub with 6 T-Cubes in a Horizontal Configuration
Right: TCH002 USB Hub with 6 T-Cubes in a Vertical Configuration

The T-Cube Controller Hub comprises a slim base-plate type carrier [375 mm x 86 mm x 21.50 mm (14.75" x 3.40" x 0.85")] with electrical connections located on the upper surface to accept up to six T-Cubes. Mix and match any combination of T-Cube Controllers to build your own custom, multi-channel driver arrangement in an extremely compact footprint. Internally, the controller hub contains a fully compliant USB 2.0 hub circuit to provide communications for all six T-Cubes - a single USB connection to the Controller Hub is all that is required for PC control. The controller hub also provides power distribution for up to six T-Cubes. This USB and power routing capability vastly reduces the number of USB and power cables required when operating multiple T-Cubes.

Furthermore, a USB output connector can be connected to the USB input on another hub allowing multiple controller hubs to be connected together while still only requiring a single USB cable from the host control PC. Up to 12 individual T-Cube controllers can be supported on a single PC. The controller hub circuitry also provides a number of internal, flexible digital and analogue interconnect lines for deterministic multiple-cube synchronized operation. This is used to great effect, for example, when operating the Piezo Controller (TPZ001) and Strain Gauge Reader (TSG001) T-Cubes on the hub. They can be configured to operate as a coupled pair allowing closed-loop control of the wide number of Thorlabs piezo actuators. The hub also provides a rigid mechanical mounting platform for carrying the T-Cubes.

Mounting Options
An array of mounting holes drilled into the bottom of the TCH002 T-Cube Controller Hub enables it to be mounted in multiple configurations to both imperial and metric tables. The hub is shipped complete with mounting brackets that allow horizontal mounting; these brackets are both imperial and metric compatible and allow the hub to be mounted flat to the optical table, much like the individual T-Cubes.

TCH002 USB Hub - Shown Horizontally Mounted

Alternatively, an AP90 right angle bracket can be purchased and used to mount the hub on its edge (shown below left) or vertically (shown below right). The vertical configuration is particularly advantageous for saving room on the table surface.

Power Connector

The apt™ (Advanced Positioning Technology) family covers a wide range of motion controller products ranging from small, low powered single channel drivers (such as the T-Cubes) to high power, multi-channel, modular 19" rack nanopositioning systems (the apt™ Rack System).

All controllers in the apt™ family share a common software platform, the apt™ System Software. The software CD supplied with all controllers contains an installation of this system software, along with a wealth of support information in the form of handbooks, help files, tutorial videos, FAQs and other relevant information on using and programming these Thorlabs products.

By providing this common software platform, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the apt™ controllers in a single application while only having to learn one single set of software tools. In this way, it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the controllers, from the low powered single axis to the high powered multi-axis systems, and control all from a single, PC based, unified software interface.

The apt™ System Software allows two methods of usage - graphical user interface utilities (supplied) for direct interaction and control of the controllers out of the box, and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily progammed in the development language of choice.

Also found on the software CD are several software video tutorials. These videos can also be viewed online; see the Video Tutorials tab above to view the videos.

Click here to go direct to the Thorlabs Download Area to access the full APT software CD. Experiment with the software using the simulator mode - refer to the Tutorial Videos for the APTConfig utility to learn how to select simulator mode.

These videos illustrate some of the basics of using the APT System Software from both a non-programming and a programming point of view. There are videos that illustrate usage of the supplied APT utilities that allow immediate control of the APT controllers out of the box. There are also a number of videos that explain the basics of programming custom software applications using Visual Basic, LabView and Visual C++. Watch the videos now to see what we mean.

Click here to view the video tutorial

To further assist programmers, a guide to programming the APT software in LabView is also available.

Click here to view the LabView guide