Z-Axis Translation Mounts

Overview
Cage Overview
Feedback

Thorlabs offers two Z-axis translation mounts that provide precise positioning of optical components along the optical axis. These mounts accept Ø1" (25.4 mm) optics directly or optics mounted inside lens tubes with external SM1 (1.035"-40) threading.

The SM1Z has four through holes for compatibility with our 30 mm cage systems. In contrast, the SM1ZP(/M) has 8-32 (M4) taps on the side and 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) taps on the bottom, allowing it to be post mounted on any Ø1/2" or Ø1" post.

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 below). 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.

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

Standard Cage System Measurements
Cage System	16 mm	30 mm	60 mm
Thread Series	SM05	SM1	SM2
Rod to Rod Spacing	16 mm (0.63")	30 mm (1.18")	60 mm (2.36")
Total Length	25 mm (0.98")	41 mm (1.60")	71.1 mm (2.8")

Cage Components
Cage Rods	16 mm	These rods are used to connect cage plates, optic mounts, and other components in the cage system. The SR Series Cage Rods are compatible with our 16 mm cage systems, while the 30 mm and 60 mm cage systems use ER Series Cage Rods.
	30 mm
	60 mm
Cage Plates	16 mm	These serve as the basic building blocks for a cage system. They may have SM-threaded central bores, smooth bores sized for industry standard optics or to accommodate the outer profile of our SM Series Lens Tubes, or specialized bores for other components such as our FiberPorts.
	30 mm
	60 mm
Optic Mounts	16 mm	Thorlabs offers fixed, kinematic, rotation, and translation mounts specifically designed for our Cage Systems.
	30 mm
	60 mm
Cage Cubes	16 mm	These cubes are useful for housing larger optical components, such as prisms or mirrors, or optics that need to sit at an angle to the beam path, such as beamsplitters. Our cage cubes are available empty or with pre-mounted optics.
	30 mm
	60 mm
Post and Breadboard Mounts and Adapters		Mounting options for cage systems can be found on our Cage System Construction pages. Cage Systems can be mounted either parallel or perpendicular to the table surface.
Size Adapters		Cage System Size Adapters can be used to integrate components from different cage system and threading standards.
Specialized Components		Thorlabs also produces specialized cage components, such as Filter Wheels, a HeNe Laser Mount, and a FiberPort Cage Plate Adapter, allowing a wide range of our products to be integrated into cage-mounted optical systems. Explore our Cage Systems Visual Navigation Guide to see the full range of Thorlabs' cage components.

Posted Comments:

Emma Deist (posted 2019-08-21 12:44:32.797)

It would be awesome if this featured a tapped 8-32 hole on the edge of the cage plate opposite the translation knob - this way it could be post-mounted and caged in at the same time. Thanks for your consideration.

YLohia (posted 2019-08-23 10:10:58.0)

Hello, thank you for your feedback! The post tap cannot be located right below the optic mount as that is the section that translates in the Z axis. The post tap will have to be located off to the side of the SM1Z bottom surface. I have posted this idea in our internal engineering forum for further consideration.

adam.wexler (posted 2018-10-04 12:22:09.48)

Please send me a quote for the SM1ZP/M with PIAK10 and piezo controller cube with power supply. (complete system) Thank you!

YLohia (posted 2018-10-04 08:58:01.0)

Customers based in the Netherlands can request quotes for stock items by emailing our German office's sales team at sales.de@thorlabs.com. One of our sales reps will reach out to you directly.

brad.clay (posted 2018-01-25 14:00:25.32)

Is it possible to replace the micrometer on the SM1Z with a PIAK10? Can this be accomplished in the field or would this be a special part?

tfrisch (posted 2018-01-26 02:39:41.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We have offered the SM1Z with a PIAK10 in the past, but I would not recommend modifying a unit in the field. I will reach out to you with a quote.

cbrideau (posted 2015-08-18 15:58:11.947)

I would love to see a version of this for SM05 in the 16mm cage system. SM05 is often a better form-factor for fiber coupling, and a small Z-translator would be handy for collimation/focusing.

besembeson (posted 2015-09-25 11:43:07.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Thanks for the feedback, which will be reviewed.

user (posted 2015-03-13 10:41:32.65)

What is the weight of the SM1Z?

myanakas (posted 2015-03-13 03:19:37.0)

Response from Mike at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback. The weight of the SM1Z Is approximately 0.10 kg (0.22 lbs). This can be found in the Auto CAD PDF drawing, which can be found by clicking on the red "Docs" icon next to the part number. Within this drawing the approximate weight field is in the bottom right corner.

leonhard.neuhaus (posted 2014-09-01 14:17:51.283)

Can I use a motorized actuator for this stage? If so, which one? Will this stage work in a cryogenic 4K environment?

cdaly (posted 2014-09-04 09:50:35.0)

Response from Chris at Thorlabs: There is not a motorized actuator which can be mounted in the SM1Z at this time. For motorized Z-axis translation, the CT1 cage translation stage can be used with a Z812B DC servo actuator. I'm afraid neither one of these stages nor the actuator would be able to be used down at 4 Kelvin though.

zolotavin (posted 2014-03-25 00:16:27.517)

We are planning to mount a heavy optical objective in the vertical position. Is there a preferred orientation of the stage (knob up or down)? Thank you, Pavlo

cdaly (posted 2014-03-25 11:43:00.0)

Response from Chris at Thorlabs: While I can't recommend putting too heavy a load on this mount, if you must, definitely position the stage knob down.

martin.dury (posted 2013-03-08 05:38:47.767)

I would like to use one of these on a system that comprises of both your 30 mm and 60 mm cage system. Unfortunately, the adjustment knob gets in the way of the 60 mm cage system, so that I cannot use it. It would be great if you could design this so that the adjustment is in a more central position, then this could be used on set uss that comprise of both your 30 mm and 60 mm cage system.

jlow (posted 2013-04-01 12:03:00.0)

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: Thank you very much for your feedback. This would require us to totally redesign the current SM1Z. We will look into the possibility of doing this. I will get in contact with you directly to discuss about your application.

syim (posted 2013-03-06 15:19:52.387)

I would like to use the SM1Z on the horizontal plane. In that case, can I load somewhat heavy optics such as a microscope objective on the SM1Z? Please, advise me. Thank you.

cdaly (posted 2013-03-07 10:53:00.0)

Response from Chris at Thorlabs: Thank you for using our feedback. A microscope objective should not be an issue for this stage in the vertical configuration. It can handle the weight of this easily.

jlow (posted 2013-01-14 14:00:00.0)

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: Thank you very much for your suggestion on improving this product. We will look into the possibility of implementing a post mountable solution

h.bernien (posted 2013-01-03 09:57:32.597)

regarding the SM1Z translation stage: It would be a great feature if this stage also had a M4 thread (for example on the top side) so that it can be mounted directly on a post. This would be a very nice additional feature.

todd.hastings (posted 2012-06-14 11:04:50.0)

Can the standard actuator be replaced with a motorized actuator? If so, what barrel size is appropriate?

jjurado (posted 2011-04-14 16:04:00.0)

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to last poster: Thank you very much for contacting us. It is certainly feasible to modify the current design of the SM1Z in order to integrate a smaller actuator. Please contact us at techsupport@thorlabs.com for discussing the requirements of your application.

user (posted 2011-04-14 07:11:35.0)

can sm1Z have a smaller actuator. Maybe adjustable with an allen key?

Z-Axis Translation Mount, 30 mm Cage Compatible

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SM1Z Mount Used in the KT310 Spatial Filter System

Compatible with 30 mm Cage Systems
Mount Ø1" Optics up to 0.28" (7.1 mm) Thick
Flexure Design Provides 2.0 mm (0.079") of Travel
Actuator Knob Graduated in 1 µm Increments
SM1-Threaded (1.035"-40) Bore is Compatible with Our SM1 Lens Tubes

Thorlabs' SM1Z Translation Mount offers repeatable Z-Axis travel within a 30 mm cage system. It includes two SM1RR retaining rings for holding a Ø1" (25.4 mm) optic up to 0.28" (7.1 mm) thick. This allows for compensation of focusing errors in applications such as fiber alignment or spatial filtering within a cage system, as shown in the image to the right, or for applications that require fine adjustment along the optical axis.

The lens carriage is internally SM1 (1.035"-40) threaded and is translated using the precision micrometer actuator, which is graduated in 1 µm increments. The micrometer can be actuated using the knurled knob or a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. Coarse movement is achieved by sliding the SM1Z along the rods of a 30 mm cage assembly. Once positioned, four 4-40 setscrews apply locking force to the cage rods, firmly holding the mount in place. The threaded carriage allows for thicker optics to be mounted to the SM1ZP using our SM1 lens tubes.

Additionally, the SM1Z mount is a component of the KT310 Spatial Filter System, as shown in the photo to the right. In this application, the SM1Z is used to hold an aspheric lens that focuses laser light into a pinhole.

For cage assemblies requiring a longer translation range along the optical axis, Thorlabs offers the CT1 stage capable of a full 1/2" (13 mm) of travel.

Item #	Optic Size Accommodated	Maximum Optic Thickness	Travel	Travel per Revolution	Optic Mounting	Mounting
SM1Z	Ø1"	0.28" (7.1 mm)	2.0 mm (0.079")	50 μm/rev	2 SM1RR Retaining Rings SM1 (1.035"-40) Thread	Through Holes with Side-Located Locking Screws for 30 mm Cage System

Z-Axis Translation Mount, Post Mountable

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8-32 Tap Being Used to Mount the SM1ZP from Side on
a Ø1/2" Post

Click to Enlarge
1/4"-20 Mounting Tap Being Used to Mount the SM1ZP from Bottom on a Ø1" Post

Post-Mountable via 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) Taps
Mount Ø1" Optics up to 0.28" (7.1 mm) Thick
Flexure Design Provides 2.0 mm (0.079") of Travel
Actuator Knob Graduated in 1 µm Increments
SM1-Threaded (1.035"-40) Bore is Compatible with Our SM1 Lens Tubes

Thorlabs' SM1ZP(/M) Translation Mount offers repeatable, flexure-actuated, Z-axis travel. It includes two SM1RR retaining rings for holding a Ø1" (25.4 mm) optic up to 0.28" (7.1 mm) thick. This allows for compensation of focusing errors in applications such as fiber alignment or spatial filtering.

The lens carriage is internally SM1 (1.035"-40) threaded and is translated using the precision micrometer actuator, which is graduated in 1 µm increments. The micrometer can be actuated using the knurled knob or a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. This threaded carriage allows for thicker optics to be mounted to the SM1ZP using our SM1 lens tubes, as shown in the image to the right. When mounted from the bottom, the center of the lens carriage is 2.00" (50.0 mm for SM1ZP/M) from the top of the post, while when mounted on its side, it is 0.68" (17.1 mm) from the top of the post.

The mount contains three 8-32 (M4) taps and two 1/4"-20 (M6) taps on its base as well as two 8-32 (M4) taps on its side for mounting onto any Ø1/2", Ø1", or Ø1.5" Post, as shown in the images above.

Item #	Optic Size Accommodated	Maximum Optic Thickness	Travel	Travel per Revolution	Optic Mounting	Mounting
SM1ZP(/M)	Ø1"	0.28" (7.1 mm)	2.00 ± 0.07 mm (0.079" ± 0.003")	50 μm/rev	2 SM1RR Retaining Rings SM1 (1.035"-40) Thread	Side: Two 8-32 (M4) Taps Bottom: Three 8-32 (M4) and Two 1/4"-20 (M6) Taps