Tunable Lenses in 16 mm or 30 mm Cage Plates

TLens®* Tunable Lens Has Variable Focus from 20 cm to Infinity
Compatible with Thorlabs’ Piezo Controllers
Mounted in 16 or 30 mm Cage Plates

VL19C

Tunable Lens Mounted in 30 mm Cage Plate with SM1 Threading and 8-32 Taps

VL19S

Tunable Lens Mounted in 16 mm Cage Plate with SM05 Threading and 4-40 Taps

VL19S/M

Tunable Lens Mounted in 16 mm Cage Plate with SM05 Threading and M3 x 0.5 Taps

VL19C/M

Tunable Lens Mounted in 30 mm Cage Plate with SM1 Threading and M4 x 0.7 Taps

*TLens® is a registered trademark of poLight ASA.

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Manual Translation Stages

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Overview
Specs
Graphs
Feedback

Features

Focal Range: 20 cm to Infinity
Available in Two Cage Mount Options:
- 16 mm Cage Plate with SM05 (0.535"-40) Threading and 4-40 (M3 x 0.5) Taps for Mounting on Our Ø6 mm Mini-Series Posts
- 30 mm Cage Plate with SM1 (1.035"-40) Threading and 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) Taps for Mounting on Our Ø1/2" Posts
Response Time: <1 ms to Reach 63.2% of Final Asymptotic Value
Ø1.9 mm Clear Aperture
Ultra-Low Power Consumption: <1 mW
Compatible with Thorlabs' Piezo Controllers that Cover the Full Voltage Range of 0 - 50 V
Average Transmission: 95% (Typical) from 400 - 650 nm
Transmitted Wavefront Error: <50 nm

These Tunable Lenses mounted in cage plates provide 95% (typical) average transmission from 400 - 650 nm and allow the user to adjust their focal lengths from 20 cm to infinity, making them ideal for custom and experimental optics setups such as confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography. The lenses have a MEMS-based design featuring TLens®* technology; designed to replicate the functions of the human eye, these tunable lenses provide fast focus with <1 ms response time with a constant field of view, no magnetic interference, and low power consumption of <1 mW. To control the piezoelectric actuators used to set the lens focal length, a male SMC connector on the top of the housing allows the lens to be connected to a Thorlabs piezo controller with one of our SMC Cables (not included). Any of our Piezo Controllers that can operate at least up to 50 V can be used to control these tunable lenses, such as our KPZ101 K-Cube Piezo Controller and our MDT694B Single Channel, Open-Loop Piezo Controller. Care should be taken not to exceed any of the absolute maximum ratings for these devices (see Specs tab for more information).

The VL19S(/M) tunable lens features three 4-40 (M3 x 0.5) tapped holes on the sides for post mounting via our Ø6 mm Mini-Series Posts and has four Ø0.16" (4.0 mm) through holes that fit our SR series cage rods, each secured with a 4-40 locking screw that can be loosened with a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. It also features four through holes that accept 3-48 cap screws for mounting to a 16 mm cage cube. The VL19C(/M) tunable lens features three 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) tapped holes for post mounting via our Ø1/2" Posts and has four Ø0.24" (6.0 mm) through holes for our ER series cage rods, each secured with an M4 x 0.7 locking screw that can be loosened with a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. For improved imaging capabilites and correction for spherical aberrations when coupling to a microscope or fiber, the VL19S(/M) and VL19C(/M) tunable lenses also have M8 x 0.50 (0.12" depth for Item #s VL19S(/M), 0.11" depth for Item #s VL19C(/M)) internal threads on one side for mounting aspheric lenses such as our Molded Glass Aspheric Lenses.

*TLens® is a registered trademark of poLight ASA.

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View Imperial Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
VL19C	1	Ø1.9 mm Aperture Tunable Lens, 30 mm Cage Mount, SM1 Threading, 8-32 Taps
PAA101	1	Drive Cable for Piezoelectric Actuators, SMC Connectors, 1.5 m Long
KPZ101	1	K-Cube Piezo Controller (Power Supply Sold Separately)
TPS002	1	±15 V/5 V Power Supply Unit with Mini-DIN Connectors for up to Two K- or T-Cubes
CXY1A	1	30 mm Cage System, XY Translating Lens Mount for Ø1" Optics
KAD11F	1	SM1-Threaded Kinematic Pitch/Yaw Adapter for Ø11 mm Cylindrical Components
CPS635R	1	Collimated Laser Diode Module, 635 nm, 1.2 mW, Round Beam, Ø11 mm Housing
VRC2SM1	1	SM1-Threaded Visible and IR Alignment Disk (400 - 640 nm, 800 - 1700 nm)
CBB1	1	30 mm Cage System U-Bench, 1/4"-20 and 8-32 Tapped Holes
MB624	1	Aluminum Breadboard 6" x 24" x 1/2", 1/4"-20 Taps
TR3	3	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 3"
UPH3	3	Ø1/2" Universal Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Locking Thumbscrew, L = 3"
SP15	1	30 mm to 16 mm Cage Adapter Plate, 8-32 Tap
CP33	3	SM1-Threaded 30 mm Cage Plate, 0.35" Thick, 2 Retaining Rings, 8-32 Tap
SR05	4	Compact Cage Assembly Rod, 1/2" Long, Ø4 mm
ER3	4	Cage Assembly Rod, 3" Long, Ø6 mm
ER18	4	Cage Assembly Rod, 18" Long, Ø6 mm

View Metric Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
VL19C/M	1	Ø1.9 mm Aperture Tunable Lens, 30 mm Cage Mount, SM1 Threading, M4 x 0.7 Taps
PAA101	1	Drive Cable for Piezoelectric Actuators, SMC Connectors, 1.5 m Long
KPZ101	1	K-Cube Piezo Controller (Power Supply Sold Separately)
TPS002	1	±15 V/5 V Power Supply Unit with Mini-DIN Connectors for up to Two K- or T-Cubes
CXY1A	1	30 mm Cage System, XY Translating Lens Mount for Ø1" Optics
KAD11F	1	SM1-Threaded Kinematic Pitch/Yaw Adapter for Ø11 mm Cylindrical Components
CPS635R	1	Collimated Laser Diode Module, 635 nm, 1.2 mW, Round Beam, Ø11 mm Housing
VRC2SM1	1	SM1-Threaded Visible and IR Alignment Disk (400 - 640 nm, 800 - 1700 nm)
CBB1/M	1	30 mm Cage System U-Bench, M6 x 1.0 and M4 x 0.7 Tapped Holes
MB1560/M	1	Aluminum Breadboard, 150 mm x 600 mm x 12.7 mm, M6 Taps
TR75/M	3	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 75 mm
UPH75/M	3	Ø12.7 mm Universal Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Locking Thumbscrew, L = 75 mm
SP15/M	1	30 mm to 16 mm Cage Adapter Plate, M4 Tap
CP33/M	3	SM1-Threaded 30 mm Cage Plate, 0.35" Thick, 2 Retaining Rings, M4 Tap
SR05	4	Compact Cage Assembly Rod, 1/2" Long, Ø4 mm
ER3	4	Cage Assembly Rod, 3" Long, Ø6 mm
ER18	4	Cage Assembly Rod, 18" Long, Ø6 mm

Click to Enlarge TLens out of Focus

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A VL19C Tunable Lens is mounted in a 30 mm cage system, with its focal length controlled by a KPZ101 K-Cube Piezo Controller (left). The middle image shows the beam spot on the target with 0 V applied to the actuator, resulting in a focused beam. The image on the right shows the beam spot on the target with 50 V applied to the actuator, resulting in a collimated beam.

Item #	VL19S(/M)	VL19C(/M)
Typical Mechanical Specifications
Cage Size	16 mm	30 mm
Inner Bore	SM05 Threaded	SM1 Threaded
TLens® Dimensions (L x W x T)	4.9 mm x 4.4 mm x 0.545 mm
Assembly Dimensions (L x W x T)	40.3 mm x 25.4 mm x 10.2 mm	54.3 mm x 40.6 mm x 10.2 mm
Flatness	<0.030 mm
TLens® Weight	15 mg
Assembly Weight	14 g	30 g
Input Connector Type	SMC Male
Drawings^a
Typical Optical Specifications
Focal Range	Infinity to 20 cm
Clear Aperture - Sensor Side^b	Ø1.90 mm
Clear Aperture - Object Side^b	Ø2.25 mm
Transmitted Wavefront Error (RMS)^c	30 nm
Average Transmittance (Between 400 and 650 nm)	95%
Typical Actuator Specifications
Minimum Optical Power	-4 m^-1
Maximum Optical Power	9 m^-1
Hysteresis^c	1 m^-1
Maximum Response Time^d	1 ms
Equivalent Capacitance @ 0 V	25 nF
Operating Conditions
Operating Voltage (Between Top and Bottom Electrode)	0 V - 50 V
Duty Cycle Over Lifetime-Operating Voltage Cycle	10%
Minimum Operating Voltage Cycles	10⁶
Operating Temperature	-20 °C - 85 °C
Relative Humidity	<85%
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Storage Temperature	-40 °C - 85 °C
Applied Voltage (Between Top and Bottom Electrode)	-15 V - 60 V
Applied Current	<1 mA

Click the blue info icons for drawings.
The sensor side is the side with the Thorlabs logo and part number, the object side is the opposite.
Over Operating Range from -1 dpt to 5 dpt
The Time for the System to Reach 1-1/e ≈ 63.2% of its Final (Asymptotic) Value

Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The plot above shows example optical power versus voltage curves for an unmounted tunable lens at room temperature. The solid curve illustrates a scan between infinity and the minimum focal length. The optical power response is shown for both increasing and for decreasing voltage. The dotted curve shows the optical power vs. voltage for an extended voltage range.

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Click for Raw Data
The plot above shows the typical transmittance of a tunable lens. The blue shaded region indicates the specified 400 - 650 nm wavelength range for optimum performance.

Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The curves above show the typical thermal behavior of an unmounted tunable lens operating at room temperature (25 °C), -20 °C, and 80 °C. Any stress that may affect the lens' thermal behavior is negligible in our cage plate mounts.

Posted Comments:

Zeyang Li (posted 2024-04-01 23:53:50.73)

Do you have products with higher transmission at 780nm? The current one only transmits about 80% at 780nm.

jdelia (posted 2024-04-03 08:12:39.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We unfortunately do not have a tunable lens with higher transmission at 780 nm as our current selection is optimized for 400 - 650 nm. That said, I could certainly forward your feedback to our design engineers via our internal suggestion forum for future consideration as a catalog item.

Tunable Lenses in 16 mm or 30 mm Cage Plates

Features

Cage-Mounted Tunable Lenses