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Optic Mounts for 30 mm Cage Cubes![]()
B6C Cube or Prism Clamp B5C1 Ø1" Optic Holder FFM1 Dichroic Filter Holder B6C Holding a Right-Angle Application Idea ![]() Please Wait
Features
These 30 mm-Cage-Cube-Compatible Optic Mounts are ideal for integrating prisms, beamsplitters, dichroic filters, and Ø1" optics into a 30 mm cage cube system. They are compatible with our selection of 30 mm Cage Cube Accessories. See the Application Ideas tab for an example of how to use our cage cubes and accessories to construct a beam combiner with a dichroic mirror as well as a variable attenuation beamsplitter with a polarizing beamsplitting cube. The FFM1 rectangular filter holder, Ø1" optic mounts, and PM3 clamping arm are designed to mount directly to any of our 30 mm cage cube platforms. The B6C cage cube clamp mounts directly to the top of a C4W or C6W 30 mm cage cube. This clamp works in conjunction with either a platform or B1C Blank Cover Plate mounted to the bottom of the cage cube. We also offer a dichroic cage cube with a built-in FFM1 mount. Combining Two BeamsOur cage system can be used to build an easily adjustable beam combiner. This setup is based on the use of an appropriate dichroic mirror for the wavelengths that need to be combined. One beam needs to be in the transmission band of the dichroic mirror, while the other needs to be in the reflection band. For this application the reflection band laser is 405 nm and the transmission band laser is 635 nm. The DMLP567 is an appropriate dichroic mirror for the two selected wavelengths. The dichroic mirror is mounted in a B5CT1 threaded Ø1" optic mount and attached to a B4C kinematic platform. The kinematic platform allows for positioning of the beam that is within the reflection band of the dichroic mirror. This assembly is placed within a C4W cage cube with ER cage rods attached to two adjacent faces. One set of cage rods holds a collimator for the reflection band's fiber coupled laser, while the other set of cage rods holds a collimator for the transmission band's fiber coupled laser. A more complex setup can be built to combine more than two beams by using multiple dichroic mirrors together. ![]() ![]() Variable Attenuation BeamsplitterIn normal operation, the variable beamsplitter/attenuator utilizes a half-wave plate to rotate the polarization of a previously linearly polarized beam of light. At the beamsplitter interface, p-polarized light will be transmitted, while s-polarized light will be reflected. By choosing the correct orientation with the half-wave plate, one can determine the amount of p-polarized and s-polarized light incident upon the interface (as shown in Figure 1 below). ![]() Figure 1. Normal Variable Beamsplitter Operation The variable attenuation beamsplitter is a common component in many large optical systems and can serve as the basic building block for various applications just as; beam sampling, beam combining, beam splitting, power balance, and reflection isolation. Due to the modular design of the 30 mm cage cube system, this device can be easily integrated into a larger cage cube system. A variable attenuation beamsplitter can function at any wavelength supported by the optics of the system. For this application the optics were chosen for a 670 nm variable beamsplitter. The polarization beamsplitting cube sits upon a B4CRP precision rotation platform and is held in place with a B6C cage cube clamp. The precision rotation platform allows for precise alignment of the polarization beamsplitting cube relative to the incident laser beam and also yields control over output beam alignment. This assembly is mounted within a C6W 30 mm cage cube with ER cage rods attached to hold a half-wave plate and rotation mount. The rotation mount is a CRM1P which is designed for integration into a 30 mm cage system. The precision control over the rotation is particularly useful when attempting to maximize or minimize a beam throughput. The zero-order mounted half-wave plate threads directly onto this rotation mount. 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.
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge FFM1 Dichroic Filter Holder shown mounted to a B3C Cube Platform mounted in a C6W Cube.
The FFM1 Cage-Compatible Rectangular Filter Holder is specifically designed to hold the rectangular filters. The two included 4-40 (M3) cap screws can be used to secure the holder to Thorlabs' 30 mm Cage Cube Platforms or Rotating Platforms. If used with a C4W Cage Cube, the mount enables the filter to be placed at a 45o angle with respect to the cube's face and provides a Ø1" clear aperture, which maximizes the usable area of the filter for this configuration. If used with the C6W Cage Cube, you will only be able to use the top ER rod clearance holes (the bottom ones will be blocked by the platform) and the maximum filter height that can be accommodated is 0.98" (25 mm). Note that the FFM1 Holder is not compatible with our C6WA Platform Adapter. Rectangular filters up to 3 mm thick can be held using two spring-loaded clamping arms designed to avoid scratching of a filter's interference coating; simply apply a horizontal force to the spring-loaded clamps, seat the optic into the channel created, and release the clamps, which leaves the optic wedged between a stop and a clamp at each end. If desired, the FFM1 can be mounted directly to a Mini-Series Post using the included cap screws. To mount the filter holder to our Ø1/2" Posts, which feature 8-32 (M4) threading, you'll need an MSA8 thread adapter (MSA4/M for metric Ø1/2" posts). We also offer the CM1-DCH, which is a dichroic filter mount in our compact 1.5" CM1 cage cube. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge B5C1 Mount with Ø1" Optic Mounted on B3CR Platform in a C6W Cage Cube ![]() Click to Enlarge Coated Side of Optics Aligns to Engraved Witness Lines
The B5C1 Optic Mount uses a setscrew to hold Ø1" optics on our 30 mm Cage Cube Platforms and Rotatable Platforms. The nylon-tipped setscrew that holds the optic in place has a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex. The mount is attached to imperial cage cube platforms using a 4-40 button head screw (1/16" hex) and washer and to metric cage cube platforms using an M3 screw (2 mm hex) and washer (all mounting hardware included). When used in a C4W or C6W cage cube, the mount can center the optic within the cube. This is particularly important when mounting a mirror in the cube. Witness lines are engraved on the sides of the mount for aid in alignment. These witness lines mark the position of the optic's front surface when inserted into the mount with the front face directed towards the screw's mounting slot. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge B5CT2 Mount with Ø1" Optic Mounted on B4CRP Platform in a C6W Cage Cube ![]() Click to Enlarge Coated Side of Optics Aligns to Engraved Witness Lines
The B5CT1 and B5CT2 SM1-threaded Optic Mounts hold Ø1" optics on our 30 mm Cage Cube Platforms and Rotatable Platforms. The B5CT1 and B5CT2 Mounts hold optics up to 0.13" (3.4 mm) or 0.25" (6.3 mm) thick, respectively, using an SM1RR retaining ring (included). The deeper design of the LB5CT2 mount reduces the clear aperture when used with transmissive optics such as beamsplitters, making it ideal for mounting mirrors. Each mount is attached to imperial cage cube platforms using a 4-40 button head screw (1/16" hex) and washer and to metric cage cube platforms using an M3 screw (2 mm) and washer (all mounting hardware included). When used in a C4W or C6W cage cube, the mount can center the optic within the cube. This is particularly important when mounting a mirror in the cube. Witness lines are engraved on the sides of the mount for aid in alignment. These witness lines mark the position of the optic's front surface when inserted into the mount with the front face directed towards the screw's mounting slot. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Exploded view of a cage system showing a right-angle prism clamped by the B6C.
The B6C cage cube clamp, designed for use with our 30 mm cage cubes, features a 1/4"-20 clamp adjuster with a Delrin swivel tip that helps to protect the clamped optic from marring. The clamping mechanism is adjusted with a 1/8” hex socket and designed for use with rectangular objects and other objects with parallel top and bottom surfaces. The clamp of the B6C threads down from its top and pushes down on the object being clamped. Because of this top-down clamping system, the B6C must be used in conjunction with a B1C blank cover plate, platforms, or rotational platforms (see image to the right). The table above lists the minimum and maximum object thickness that this clamp can hold. For systems that require light tightness, the B6C features an O-ring that, when used with the B1C blank Cover Plate and a 30 mm cage cube, forms a light-tight cage cube. *Delrin® is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc.
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge The B3CR has 6-32 taps for use with the PM3 to hold a right-angle prism.
Thorlabs' PM3(/M) arms feature a cap screw-activated flexure mechanism to secure the clamping arm to the post, while a nylon-tipped setscrew secures the optic. A Ø0.09" (Ø2.3 mm) hole located near the top of the post allows for its initial tightening with a 5/64" (2 mm) balldriver or hex key. The PM3(/M) arm offers 0.97" (24.6 mm) of vertical travel. The PM3/M metric clamping arm is compatible with the metric versions of both our 30 mm platforms and rotating platforms. The PM3 imperial clamping arm is compatible with the imperial versions of our 30 mm cage rotating platforms (see image to the right). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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