Products HomeMicroscope Filter Cubes
- Thorlabs and OEM Fluorescence Filter Cubes
- Compatible with Select Thorlabs' Cerna®, Olympus, and Nikon Microscopes
- Drop-In Compatibility and Hassle-Free Optic Exchange
- Filter Pre-Mounting Available
TLV-U-MF2
Thorlabs Cube for Olympus
AX, BX2, and IX2 Microscopes
MDFM-QFXL
OEM Cube for Nikon E200-1000 and TE200 Microscopes
TLV-TE2000
Thorlabs Cube for Nikon TE2000 and Eclipse Ti Microscopes
Application Idea
Thorlabs' TLV-TE2000 Filter Cube
with MDF-YFP Filter Set
Please Wait
Click to Enlarge
Thorlabs’ filter cubes (top) retain the dichroic beamsplitter using a spring plate that applies force evenly, putting less stress on the optic compared to OEM cubes (bottom). The spring plate is also premounted on the cube, simplifying the assembly process.
Click to Enlarge
Thorlabs' filter cubes feature labels for identifying installed filters.
Features
- Drop-in Filter Cubes for Select Thorlabs' Cerna®, Nikon, and Olympus Microscopes
- Advantages of Thorlabs-Manufactured Cubes Over OEM Cubes:
- Reduced Dichroic Mirror/Beamsplitter Distortion for Improved Image Quality
- Simplified Hassle-Free Optic Mounting
- Easily Mount Fluorescence Imaging Filter Sets: Emission Filter, Excitation Filter, and Dichroic Mirror
- Filter Cubes with Pre-Installed Filters Available
We offer Thorlabs and OEM Drop-In Filter Cubes for select Cerna, Olympus, and Nikon fluorescence microscopes. Each filter cube holds one Fluorescence Filter Set, which includes an excitation filter, emission filter, and dichroic mirror/beamsplitter. Optics can be mounted, aligned, and swapped out easily, following the videos and assembly instructions below. Please see the compatibility tables below to determine the correct filter cube for your application.
Compared to OEM filter cubes, Thorlabs' filter cube design features improved dichroic mirror retention for lower optic distortion, simplified optic mounting (see photo to the right), and three engraved labels for writing information about installed filters (see photo above).
These drop-in filter cubes are offered as empty mounts. The filter cubes are compatible with excitation filters (Ø25 mm, up to 5 mm thick), emission filters (Ø25 mm, up to 3.5 mm thick), and dichroic mirrors (maximum sizes vary, please see below for details) which are commonly used in applications targeting specific fluorophores. Select filter sets are available pre-installed into Thorlabs' filter cubes here. For other filters and custom requests, please contact Technical Support.
Note: Thorlabs does not guarantee compatibility with other industry-standard microscopes not mentioned on this webpage.
| Posted Comments: | |
Min Beom Lee
(posted 2021-05-20 15:18:07.817) What is a model name of filter cube for Zeiss microscope (Axio Imager Z2 or Z1) YLohia
(posted 2021-05-20 10:33:43.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately, these filter cubes are not directly compatible with Zeiss microscopes. We will consider offering versions of these compatible with Zeiss in the future. Michael Isselstein
(posted 2020-03-09 17:15:40.787) For your "customer inspired" section:
It would sometimes be useful for some applications to be able to buy Filter Cubes that hold thicker Dichroics (2-3mm) YLohia
(posted 2020-03-09 02:43:45.0) Hello Michael, thank you for your feedback. I have posted your suggestion on our internal engineering forum for further consideration as a future product. hj wang
(posted 2019-10-17 15:59:00.583) Is tlv-te2000 compatible with eclipse 80i microscopes? YLohia
(posted 2019-10-17 10:15:18.0) Yes, the TLV-TE2000 is indeed compatible with the Nikon Eclipse 80i microscope. This information can be found in the Overview tab, under the "Compatible Microscopes" column of the specs table. user
(posted 2019-08-05 13:53:58.94) We do not think this does not happen "The TLV-U-MF2 is not compatible with the WFA2001" But we would like to confirm. YLohia
(posted 2019-08-05 04:09:08.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We could not find a reference to the statement, "The TLV-U-MF2 is not compatible with the WFA2001" on our website or documentation. That being said, this cube is not compatible with the WFA2001. Please contact your local Thorlabs Tech Support branch if you have further questions. Ryan Wu
(posted 2019-04-17 09:16:29.927) Are there any Thorlabs adaptors to mount MDFM-TE2000 or MDFM-QFXL to 30-mm cage system? YLohia
(posted 2019-04-17 10:56:04.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. These cubes are designed to be interfaced with industry microscope and not intended to be used with our cage system. Is there any particular reason the DFM1 (filter cube designed for our cage system) wouldn't work for you? wenzel.jakob
(posted 2018-03-27 09:43:17.953) Can the Thorlabs-built filter cubes (e.g. TLV-TE2000) accommodate 25.4mm filters? (The use of SM1 retaining rings seems to suggest this, but I am not sure..) tcampbell
(posted 2018-03-28 08:46:56.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Yes, our filter cubes have SM1 threading and are compatible with Ø25.4 mm (Ø1.00") optics as well as Ø25.0 mm optics. We will update the presentation to make this clearer. Keep in mind that the optic thickness should be no greater than 5 mm or 3.5 mm, depending on the side of the cube. aklossek
(posted 2017-10-20 16:11:38.51) Dear ladies and gentlemen,
can you please confirm that the filter cube TLV-U-FF is operating in the Olympus IX83 microscope.
Kind regards
André Klossek nbayconich
(posted 2017-10-25 03:26:08.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The TLV-U-FF should be compatible with all of Olympus's IX3 series inverted microscopes. If the TLV-U-FF does not fit properly in your IX83 we can accept a return. I will contact you directly with more information. user
(posted 2013-11-12 16:14:13.657) Is it possible to buy any of the filter cube components separately? Some of the emission filter holders for my Nikon (TE2000) filter cubes are broken, and I do not need the whole cube, just the emission filter holder bit. tcohen
(posted 2013-11-21 11:39:48.0) Response from Tim at Thorlabs: Yes, we can supply the individual components. I see you did not leave an email address for us to provide a quote, so please contact us at Techsupport@thorlabs.com if you would like to pursue this option. jjurado
(posted 2011-07-14 10:53:00.0) Response from Javier at Thorlabs to Elisabeth.Liebler-Tenorio: Although we currently do not offer filter cubes specifically designed for Leica microscopes, we will look into adding these to our current line. In the meantime, I will contact you directly to help you find a solution for your application. Elisabeth.Liebler-Tenorio
(posted 2011-07-13 13:51:56.0) Can you offer also filter cubes for a Leica DM RBE microscope. Size of cubes "L", cubes A4, L5, N3 and Y5? jjurado
(posted 2011-05-27 10:13:00.0) Response from Javier at Thorlabs to anonymous poster: Thank you for your reply. Please contact us at techsupport@thorlabs.com to discuss the details of your application. Perhaps we can devise a solution for adapting these cubes to our cage system. user
(posted 2011-05-27 00:28:43.0) Youre missing the point. I have lots of preloaded Oly, etc filtercubes in microscope turrets and stored on the shelf. It would be nice to pop these into a tabletop adapter rather than taking the filtercube apart, extracting the filters, and then taking a Thor cage/cube assembly apart and then remounting them and reinstalling them in a Thor tabletop setup. A filtercube-ready adaptor would be much much more convenient. jjurado
(posted 2011-05-05 11:17:00.0) Response from Javier at Thorlabs to last poster: Thank you very much for your feedback. We actually offer a variety of components that allow for mounting dichroic filters (26-43 mm long) and 1" diameter excitation/emission filters onto an optical table. Please visit the link below and review the descriptions for part numbers FFM1, B5C, and C4W. These components can easily be mounted onto an optical table via an 8-32 threaded post.
http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3929
Please contact us at techsupport@thorlabs.com if you have any further questions or comments. user
(posted 2011-05-04 16:55:22.0) How about a tabletop mount for these cubes? |
Zoom
- Simplified Assembly and Improved Filter Retention Compared to OEM Cubes
- Compatible with Olympus and Nikon Microscopes (See Table Below)
- Durable Aluminum Filter Cube Body
- Designed for Use with Thorlabs' and Third-Party Fluorescence Filter Sets
- Side Labels for Marking Installed Filters
Thorlabs' filter cubes feature a spring plate retention mechanism for the dichroic mirror that results in lower optic stress for improved imaging. Our design also offers an all-aluminum cube body, simplified optic mounting, and three labels for writing information about installed filters. Each cube is also engraved with the item number. Refer to the table below to view which filter cubes are compatible with which microscope. These cubes are also available with pre-installed imaging filter sets.
Each filter cube holds one set of fluorescence filters: an excitation filter, an emission filter, and a dichroic mirror; see table below for compatible sizes. Optics can be mounted, aligned, and swapped out easily as illustrated in the video to the right. For detailed assembly instructions, please refer to the assembly manuals in the table below.
The excitation and emission filters are mounted using the included SM1RR Retaining Rings and an SM1 spanner wrench, such as the SPW606 (sold separately). The use of SM1RR retaining rings across all filter cubes makes it easier to replace lost or damaged rings. The filter cube bodies may be disassembled for optic installation or removal using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.
Note that the OEM filter cubes sold below utilize plastic in their construction, while these filter cubes have aluminum bodies. When mixed in a filter cube turret, it is important to balance the weight. To ensure longevity of a motorized filter cube turret and prevent unnecessary wear, please place matching filter cubes opposing each other to maintain balance.
| Item # | Microscope Manufacturer |
Compatible Microscopes | Compatible Exitation Filter Size |
Compatible Emission Filter Size |
Maximum Compatible Dichroic Mirror Size |
Assembly Manual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLV-U-MF2 | Olympus | AX, BX2, and IX2 Series | Ø25 mm or Ø1", Up to 5 mm thick |
Ø25 mm or Ø1", Up to 3.5 mm thick |
25.2 mm x 36.0 mm x 1.1 mm | TLV-U-MF2 Manual |
| TLV-U-FF | Olympus | BX3 and IX3 Series | TLV-U-FF Manual | |||
| TLV-TE2000 | Nikon | TE2000, 50i, 55i, 80i, 90i, Eclipse Ti, and Epi-Fluor Illuminator Scopes |
TLV-TE2000 Manual |
Please contact Tech Support with questions regarding other cube compatibility, mounting, and filter options. Thorlabs does not guarantee compatibility with other industry-standard microscopes not mentioned on this wepage.
ZoomInstallation of Filters into the MDFM-MF2 Cube
- OEM Filter Cubes from Olympus and Nikon
- Interchangeable with Thorlabs Microscopy Cubes (Sold Above)
- Designed for Use with Thorlabs' and Third-Party Fluorescence Filter Sets
These OEM Filter Cubes are manufactured by Olympus and Nikon. Each filter cube holds one set of fluorescence filters: an excitation filter (Ø25 mm, up to 5 mm thick), an emission filter (Ø25 mm, up to 3.5 mm thick), and a dichroic mirror (up to 25.2 mm x 36.0 mm x 1.0 mm). Optics can be mounted, aligned, and swapped out easily as illustrated in the video to the right. Each filter cube body may be disassembled for optic installation or removal using a Phillips head screwdriver. For detailed assembly instructions, please refer to the assembly manuals in the table below.
Thorlabs' Filter Cubes (sold above) are interchangeable with these OEM cubes and offer a number of design improvements, including simplified mounting and reduced dichroic mirror stress for improved imaging.
Note that these OEM filter cubes utilize plastic in their construction, while Thorlabs' filter cubes (sold above) have aluminum bodies. When mixed in a filter cube turret, it is important to balance the weight. To ensure longevity of a motorized filter cube turret and prevent unnecessary wear, please place matching filter cubes opposing each other to maintain balance.
| Item # | Manufacturer Part # |
Microscope Manufacturer |
Compatible Microscopes | Compatible Exitation Filter Size |
Compatible Emission Filter Size |
Maximum Compatible Dichroic Mirror Size |
Assembly Manual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDFM-MF2 | Olympus U-MF2 | Olympus | AX, BX2, and IX2 series | Ø25 mm or Ø1", Up to 5 mm thick |
Ø25 mm or Ø1", Up to 3.5 mm thick |
25.2 mm x 36.0 mm x 1.0 mm | MDFM-MF2 Manual |
| Thorlabs | Cerna® Epi-Fluorescence Microscopes with WFA2001 or WFA2002 Epi-Illuminator Module |
||||||
| MDFM-QFXL | Nikon Quadfluor | Nikon | E200, E400, E600, E800, E1000, TS100, TS100F, TE200, TE300, ME600L, L150A Scopes |
MDFM-QFXL Manual | |||
| MDFM-TE2000 | Nikon TE2000 | Nikon | TE2000, 50i, 55i, 80i, 90i, Eclipse Ti, and Epi-Fluor Illuminator Scopes |
MDFM-TE2000 Manual |
Please contact Tech Support with questions regarding other cube compatibility, mounting, and filter options. Thorlabs does not guarantee compatibility with other industry-standard microscopes not mentioned on this wepage.
Microscopy Filter Cubes