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>>Optomechanical Components >>Cage Systems >>16 mm Cage Components >>16 mm Cage Plates >>Cage Plates for 16 mm Cage SystemsCage Plates for 16 mm Cage Systems
- Compatible with 16 mm Cage Systems
- Designed for Use with SR Construction Rods
- Side-Located Setscrews to Secure Plate to Rods
SP02
Internal SM05 Thread
SP01
Blank Plate
SCPA1
Alignment Plate
SSP05
Slip Plate Positioner
QRC05A
Quick-Release
Optic Mount
SP03
Ø16 mm Clear Aperture
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| Alternative Size Options |
|---|
| 16 mm Cage Plates |
| 30 mm Cage Plates |
| 60 mm Cage Plates |
The Cage Assembly System provides a convenient way to construct large optomechanical systems using an established line of precision-machined building blocks that were designed for high flexibility and accurate alignment. See the Cage Overview tab for a full definition of this widely adapted construction standard.
The 16 mm cage plates are a family of construction blocks ideally suited for assembling optical systems based upon Ø1/2" optical components. Each cage plate contains four corner-located, Ø4 mm through-holes with a center-to-center spacing of 16 mm. These holes are machined for a precision slip fit with mating cage rods and provide side-accessible locking screws that fasten the plate to their mating assembly rods for positioning.
Cage System Compatibility: Thorlabs offers 16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm cage systems designed for Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" optical components, respectively. The parts on this page are compatible with our 16 mm cage system and utilize Ø4 mm SR cage rods.
An example of the standard cage
plate measurements determining
cage system compatibility.
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 to right). 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. All locking setscrews used in these cage plates are standard 4-40 setscrews, which use a 0.05" hex key.
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.
| 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: | |
Poster:cdaly Posted Date:2013-06-14 09:49:58.523 Response from Chris at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback. Have you considered using the SRSCA to connect the rods? It can be threaded into the end of one rod, while the other will slide in and be held with a set screw, just as it would with the CP02T. Four of these would allow you to combine two cage systems. They can be found here: http://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=SRSCA Poster:ar687 Posted Date:2013-06-13 08:24:37.333 For the 30-mm cage system the product CP02T is a cage-plate with two retaining screws. This is extremely useful for joining two cages, especially if both are connected to a beamsplitter or mirror mount cube. With the 16-mm system, such an option does not exist, making it very awkward to join two cages. A 16-mm cage plate with two retaining screws per rod would be very useful.
Andrew Ramsay, |
Zoom- Primary Mounting Components for use with SR Cage Rods
- Contains 4 Corner-Located Through-Holes
- 4-40 or M3 Tapped Holes Allow for Mounting to our Mini Series posts
- Connects to SC6W Cubes
- Black-Anodized Aluminum
The SP Series of cage plates for 16 mm systems are ideally suited for assembling optical systems that are based upon Ø1/2" optical components. Each cage plate contains four through-holes, which are located at the corners. These holes are machined for a precision slip fit with SR cage rods and are fastened using locking 4-40 setscrews (tighten with a 0.05" hex key, Item # HK050) located on the side of the plate.
Zoom- Four Through-Holes for Ø4 mm Cage Rods
- SM05 (0.535"-40) Thread with Retaining Ring for Securing an Optic or SM05 Lens Tubes
- 4-40 or M3 Tapped Holes Allow Mounting to Mini Series Posts
- Connects to SC6W Using the Provided 3-48 Cap Screws
This SM05-Threaded Cage Plate is designed for use with our compact 16 mm cage assembly system. It features four through-holes that accept Ø4 mm SR Series cage rods. Each cage rod through hole is accompanied by a side-located locking 4-40 setscrew, which can be secured using a 0.05" hex key (Item # HK050). In addition, 3-48 cap screws are included for bolting it onto the SC6W six-way cage cube. One SM05RR retaining ring is included.
Zoom- Four 4 mm Through-Holes Accept SR Cage Rods to Integrate Plate Within a cage System
- Includes a 4-40 Nylon-Tipped Setscrew at the Side for Clamping
- Connects to SC6W Using the Provided 3-48 Cap Screws
The SP03 has a 16 mm clear aperture for mounting of optical element into our compact, 16mm cage system. Each cage rod through hole is accompanied by a side-located locking 4-40 setscrew, which can be secured using a 0.05" hex key (Item # HK050). A 4-40 and an M3 tapped mounting hole are featured on opposite sides. This plate is designed to hold prism mounts and beamsplitter mounts.
Zoom- Compatible with 16 mm Cage Systems
- Unique Dovetail Design Provides Smooth Release and Clamping Action
- One-Handed Operation for Removal and Repositioning of an Optic
- Accepts Ø1/2" (12.7 mm) Optics Up to 0.12" (3 mm) Thick
- SM05 Internal Thread Directly Compatible With Our SM05-Series Components
The QRC05A cage mount is equipped with a unique spring-loaded dovetail design used to engage cage rods for positioning. By simply squeezing the dovetails together via the cupped actuator levers, the dovetail mechanism disengages the cage rods, allowing the mount to be either quickly repositioned or completely removed from a cage assembly. This convenient one-handed mechanism does not require any additional tools to actuate the clamping mechanism.
Zoom- Quick Drop-In Visual Beam Alignment Tool
- Small Through-Hole Aligned at Center of 16 mm Cage Assembly
The SCPA1 alignment plate provides a convenient tool for aligning 16 mm cage-based optical systems. This drop-in plate locates a Ø1mm through-hole at the exact center of a cage assembly, providing a convenient visual target to assist in beam alignment.
Zoom- ±1.0 mm (±0.04") of Manual Adjustment
- SM05 (0.535"-40) Internal Thread
- Holds Ø1/2" Optics Mounted in Ø1/2" Lens Tubes
- 0.635" (16 mm) Clearance Hole
- Two M3 Screws for Lockable Design
The 16 mm Slip Plate Positioner is designed to provide coarse XY positioning of optical components within our cage assembly system. This design provides manual adjustment only and is best utilized in conjunction with an alignment laser to monitor centricity. The movable carriage is internally SM05-threaded and compatible with our Ø1/2" lens tubes, which can be used to hold Ø1/2" optics. Each cage rod through hole is accompanied by a side-located locking 4-40 setscrew, which can be secured using a 0.05" hex key (Item # HK050).
| Item # | Travel | Slip Plate Thickness | Back Plate Thickness | Maximum Optic Thickness | Optics Mounting | Post Mountinga | SR Cage Rod Attachment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSP05 | ±0.04" (±1 mm) |
0.20" (5.1 mm) | 0.25" (6.4 mm) | 0.15" (3.8 mm) | SM05 (0.535"-40) Thread | 4-40 and M3 Tapped Holes | 4 Through Holes with Side-Located Locking Screws |
 Cage Plates |
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