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30 and 60 mm Cage System Construction Rods![]()
ER4E ER2 ER1 For 30 mm and C2A Swivel Coupler ERSCB Cage Rod Adapter C3A Swivel Connector ER90C 30 mm ER90C ER90C ER90A Spacer Rod Right Angle Rods and Spacer ![]() Please Wait 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. This page offers cage assembly rods for our 30 and 60 mm Cage Systems. For cage rods to construct a 16 mm cage system, please see our SR construction rods page. Please see the Cage Overview tab for more details on this widely adopted construction standard. Cage Rod AdaptersThe ERSCB ER rod adapter allows for the end-to-end joining of two ER rods. It has an internal bore on one end that accepts Ø6 mm ER series rods. To join two rods, position the end of one rod inside the ERSCB, and lock it into place using the locking setscrew. Thread the other end of the ERSCB into the other rod (see photo at right). 3D Construction Using Cage SystemsThese assembly rods are essential components when configuring cage systems in complex, multi-dimensional structures. For 30 and 60 mm cage systems, the ER90C right angle rods offer a fixed 90° connection to a cage system (see photo to left). Using the ER90A spacer rod for 30 mm cage systems and the ER90L spacer rod for 60 mm cage systems will ensure center-to-center spacing. Alternatively, a cage cube can be used to create a rigid 90° connection. Our jointed cage rods can be configured to any arbitrary angle before being locked into place. The C3A single-jointed cage rods and C5A double-jointed cage rods are each pictured to the right. We also offer the S3A connector for 16 mm cage systems. When constructing complex optomechanical cage assemblies, it is sometimes necessary to couple one cage subsystem to another. Between the S1A cross coupler for 16 mm cages, the C1A cross coupler for 30 and 60 mm cage systems, and the C2A swivel coupler with 180° swing, virtually any configuration can be achieved. The SRSCA SR rod adapters and ERSCB ER rod adapters are also useful for 3D construction in 16 mm cage systems or 30 and 60 mm cage systems, respectively. They can be used to connect two internally threaded cage components with SR (SRSCA) or ER (ERSCB) rods, and allow components to be easily added or removed from setups without causing misalignment. In the application shown to the left, four ERSCB adapters are used with ER rods to connect a 30 mm cage cube to an ST1XY-S micrometer-driven, XY translation mount. The four cage rods are directly threaded into four holes in the cage cube. Since the other end of each cage rod is internally threaded, they cannot be directly threaded into the translation mount. Instead, the threaded side of the ERSCB adapter is connected to the ST1XY-S translation mount. Each cage rod slides into the other side of each adapter and is secured in place with the setscrew. Application IdeaThe cage assembly components offered here can be used to couple 16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm cage systems. The following tables correspond to either the imperial or metric item list for the setup below. Cage System OverviewThe 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 StandardsThorlabs 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 ThreadsThe 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.
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These 30 and 60 mm cage rods are made from stainless steel. The 4-40 threaded stud at each end of the cage rod can be removed, leaving a 4-40 tapped hole. This allows multiple cage rods to be connected end-to-end. As part of our sustainability initiatives to reduce packaging waste, we offer our most popular sizes in packs of four. ![]()
These graduated ER rods are identical to the 4" and 6" ER Rods above, but feature an engraved scale along the side. The rods have short tick marks every 1 mm, long tick marks every 5 mm, and a straight vertical line along the rod's entire length. The engraved rods simplify alignment issues, especially in complicated setups with multiple components and integrated cage systems. For custom lengths, please contact Technical Support. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge ST1XY-A translator with ERSCB adapters installed. This allows the translator to be mounted to other cage components with internal 4-40 threads.
Our ERSCB Adapters enable any cage assembly to be easily separated when adding or removing components. This adapter has an internal bore on one end that accepts a Ø6 mm ER series rod with its setscrew removed. The 8-32 locking setscrew with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex must be tightened to hold the ER rod in place. On the other side of the adapter, there is an externally 4-40 threaded stud that can be threaded into the end of another ER series rod or 4-40 internally-threaded cage component. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge C1A Couplers with ER Rods ![]() Click to Enlarge ER90B Bracket with Two ER Rods
These couplers can be used to join multiple 30 mm and 60 mm cage structures at 90°. The C1A Cross Coupler clamps down onto the cage rods using the included 5/64" hex caphead screws. The ER90B Bracket has one double-bored Ø6 mm hole and 4-40 taps on the top and bottom. An ER rod can be inserted into the hole and fixed in place using a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key or directly threaded into the taps. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge A Ø6 mm Post Mounted Perpendicularly to a Ø1/2" Post Using the RA90TR Clamp ![]() Click to Enlarge A Ø6 mm Post Mounted to a Ø1/2" Post With Continuous 360° Rotation Using the MSWCA Clamp
Thorlabs’ Ø1/2" to Ø6 mm angle post clamps are used to integrate Ø1/2" posts into mini-series constructions or cage system assemblies. These clamps are available as a fixed right-angle, for perpendicular mounting, or with continuous 360° angle adjustment. Individual locking mechanisms for each post, as well as the rotation angle, allow for independent adjustment of each component. The MSWCA(/M) clamp allows a Ø6 mm cage rod or mini-series post to be mounted to a Ø1/2" post with 360° continuous adjustment. The clamp features witness lines marked every 45°, as well as a 3/16" (5 mm) hex thumbscrew to secure the swivel angle. Two additional 3/16" (5 mm) hex thumbscrews are used to secure the posts into place. The center-to-center distance between the two posts is 0.62" (15.7 mm). The RA90TR(/M) clamp allows a Ø6 mm cage rod or mini-series post to be mounted perpendicularly to a Ø1/2" post. The design combines a highly stable clamp flexure lock for holding the Ø6 mm post that is secured using a 5/64" (2 mm) balldriver. A 3/16" (5mm) thumbscrew locking mechanism is used for attaching the clamp to the Ø1/2" post. The center-to-center distance between the two posts is 1/2" (12.7 mm). ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge C2A Swivel Coupler on ER Rod
The C2A swivel coupler enables the connection of cage assemblies at arbitrary angles. They are constructed from stainless steel, adhere to close tolerances, and provide an extremely rigid structure. ![]()
These jointed cage assembly rods allow users to introduce angular or translational offsets into a 30 mm or 60 mm cage system. Each consists of two or three Ø6 mm cage assembly rods with one or two pivot joints, respectively. Each joint is capable of swinging 90° in either direction and can be locked using a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. The C3A and C4A jointed cage rods allow cage assemblies to be connected at a range of angles up to ±90° from the system normal. The C3A consists of two rods of equal length (1.85" each), while the C4A has one 1.85" long rod and one shorter, 0.52" long rod for setups with strict spatial requirements. The C5A double-jointed cage rod features a 2.85" long central rod, with a pivot joint and a shorter, 0.52" long rod on each end. This allows two cage plates to be mounted parallel to but off-axis from one another, as shown in the image to the far right. ![]()
Insert the ER90C right-angle rod between two ER rods to form a "T" connection point. To form a complete 90° cage assembly a ER90A or ER90L spacer rod should be used for 30 mm or 60 mm cage systems, respectively. The spacer rod is placed between two ER90C right-angle rods to maintain the proper center-to-center spacing of the cage system (see image at right). Alternatively, a 30 mm or 60 mm cage cube can be used to create the rigid right-angle connection. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge ERCPS Cage Plate Stops snap onto cage rods without any disassembly of the cage system. ![]() Click to Enlarge ERCPS Cage Rod Stops can mark the position of cage components.
ERCPS Cage Plate Stops mark the position of a cage plate, allowing it to be reliably moved and repositioned in a cage system. These clamps are 0.14" (3.6 mm) thick and are compatible with our Ø6 mm cage rods for 30 mm and 60 mm cage systems. Utilizing a flexure design, the clamps are secured in place using a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. They can be easily clamped onto the middle of a cage rod without removing other components. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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