Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optomechanical Mounts / Optical Mirror Mounts / Polaris® Mirror Mounts / Polaris® Kinematic Mirror Mounts with Piezoelectric AdjustersPolaris® Kinematic Mirror Mounts with Piezoelectric Adjusters
- Designed for Long-Term Stability
- Minimal Temperature-Dependent Hysteresis
- Sapphire Adjuster Seats Prevent Wear Over Time
- Each Actuator Contains Internal Piezo Element for Fine Adjustment
POLARIS-K05P2
Ø1/2" Mirror Mount
POLARIS-K1S3P
Ø1" Mirror Mount,
3 Adjusters
POLARIS-K2S2P
Ø2" Mirror Mount
Please Wait
| Key Specificationsa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item # Suffix | -K05P2 | -K1S2P -K1S3P |
-K2S2P |
| Optic Size | Ø1/2" | Ø1" | Ø2" |
| Optic Thickness (Min) | 0.08" (2 mm) | 0.14" (3.5 mm) | |
| Mechanical Angular Range | ±5° | ±4° | ±3.4° |
| Piezoelectric Angular Range | >490 µrad | >500 µrad | >280 µrad |
| Adjusters | Manually Adjustable 100 TPI Screws with Integrated Piezoelectric Elements |
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| Piezo Control Voltage | 0 to 150 V | ||
| Piezo Connectors | Male SMB (SMB-to-BNC Cables Included) |
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| Beam Deviation after Temperature Cyclingb |
<6 µrad | <1 µrad | <2 µrad |
| Mounting | Two #8 (M4) Counterbores | Four #8 (M4) Counterbores |
|
| Compatible Piezo Controllers |
MDT693B Three-Axis Benchtop Controller MDT694B Single-Axis Benchtop Controllerc KPZ101 Single-Axis K-Cube Controllerc,d |
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Features
- Machined from Heat-Treated Stainless Steel with Low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)
- Fully Integrated Piezoelectric Elements Provide Step Sizes Down to 0.5 µrad
- Matched Actuator and Back Plate Provide Smooth Manual Kinematic Adjustment
- Hardened Stainless Steel Ball Contacts with Sapphire Seats for Durability and Smooth Movement
- Passivated Stainless Steel Surface Ideal for Vacuum and High-Power Laser Cavity Applications
- Extensive Testing Guarantees Less than 6 μrad Deviation After 15 °C Temperature Cycling (See Test Data Tab)
- Custom Mount Configurations are Available by Contacting Tech Support
The Polaris® Kinematic Mirror Mounts with Piezoelectric Adjusters are the ultimate solution for applications requiring stringent, actively monitored, long-term alignment stability. We recommend driving the piezo actuators using our benchtop or Kinesis® K-Cube™ piezo controllers.
A replacement piezoelectric adjuster for the Ø1" and Ø2" mounts is also available separately below.
Optic Retention
These Polaris mounts use either a monolithic flexure arm or a flexure spring and setscrew combination to hold the optic. These designs provide high holding force and pointing stability with minimal optic distortion. For more details, see the Test Data tab.
Polaris optic bores are precision machined to achieve a fit that will provide optimum beam pointing stability performance over changing environmental conditions such as temperature changes, transportation shock, and vibration. These mounts are not designed to be used with optics that have an outer diameter tolerance greater than +0/-0.1 mm, such as metric mirror sizes (Ø12.5 mm, Ø25 mm, or Ø50 mm). To order a mount designed for metric optics, please contact Tech Support.
Design
Machined from heat-treated stainless steel, Polaris mounts utilize precision-matched adjusters with ball contacts and sapphire seats to provide smooth kinematic adjustment. As shown on the Test Data tab, these mounts have undergone extensive testing to ensure high-quality performance. The Polaris design addresses all of the common causes of beam misalignment; please refer to the Design Features tab for more information.
Our design incorporates high-adjustment-sensitivity piezoelectric stacks directly into the hardened stainless steel adjusters, enabling smooth coarse and fine movements along each axis. When used in an external feedback loop, as illustrated on the Applications tab, these mounts combine the exceptional thermal stability of our standard Polaris kinematic mirror mounts with the ability to actively correct the beam pointing. Like all Polaris mounts, they are machined from heat-treated stainless steel, utilize precision-matched adjusters, and incorporate ball contacts and sapphire seats at all contact points.
Each Polaris piezo mount utilizes snap-on SMB connectors. This model is specifically designed to minimize cable twisting as the mount is actuated. Furthermore, the design of SMB cables prevents incidental movement of the mirror when the cord is attached. Please note that the piezo actuators do not include a strain gauge.
Post Mounting
The Polaris mirror mounts are equipped with #8 (M4) counterbores for post mounting. Select mounts also include Ø2 mm alignment pin holes around the mounting counterbore, allowing for precision alignments when paired with our posts for Polaris mirror mounts. See the Usage Tips tab for more recommendations about mounting configurations.
Vacuum Compatibility
All Polaris mounts on this page are designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications. See the Specs tab and the Design Features tab for details.
| Item # | POLARIS-K05P2 | POLARIS-K2S2P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optic Specifications | ||||
| Optic Sizesa | Ø1/2" | Ø1" | Ø2" | |
| Optic Thickness (Min) | 0.08" (2 mm) | 0.14" (3.5 mm) | 0.14" (3.5 mm) | |
| Optic Mounting Torque (Recommended) | 6 to 10 oz-in for 6 mm Thick Optics | 5 to 7 oz-in for 6 mm Thick Optics | 4 to 6 oz-in for 12 mm Thick Optics | |
| Beam Deviation after Temperature Cyclingb | <6 µrad | <1 µrad | <2 µrad | |
| Adjuster Specifications | ||||
| Number of Adjusters | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Angular Range | Mechanical: ±5° Piezo: >490 µrad |
Mechanical: ±4° Piezo: >500 µrad |
Mechanical: ±3.4° Piezo: >280 µrad |
|
| Angular Resolution | Mechanical: ~14 mrad/rev Piezo: ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V Stepc |
Mechanical: ~7.7 mrad/rev Piezo: ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V Stepc |
Mechanical: ~4.75 mrad/rev Piezo: ~0.18 µrad for a 0.1 V Stepc |
|
| Adjusters | Manually Adjustable 100 TPI Screws with Integrated Piezoelectric Elements and Matched Actuator/Body Pairs |
|||
| Piezo Control Voltage | 0 to 150 V | |||
| Piezo Connectors | Male SMB (One SMB-to-BNC Cable Included for Each Adjuster) |
|||
| Compatible Piezo Controllers | MDT693B Three-Axis Benchtop Controller MDT694B Single-Axis Benchtop Controllerd KPZ101 Single-Axis K-Cube Controllerd,e |
|||
| Physical Specifications | ||||
| Mounting | Two #8 (M4) Counterbores | Four #8 (M4) Counterbores | ||
| Alignment Pin Holes | Two Ø2 mm Holes for DIN 7-m6 Ground Dowel Pins at Each Counterbore | Two Ø2 mm Holes for DIN 7-m6 Ground Dowel Pins at Each Mounting Face | ||
| Vacuum Compatibility | 10-5 Torr at 20 °C Epoxy Meets Low Outgassing Standards NASA ASTM E595, Telcordia GR-1221 |
10-9 Torr at 25 °C with Proper Bake Out 10-5 Torr at 25 °C without Bake Out Grease Vapor Pressure: 10-13 Torr at 20 °C; 10-5 Torr at 200 °C |
||
| Operating Temperature | -25 °C to 130 °C | -25 to 85 °C | ||
Polaris® Mirror Mount Test Data
Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mounts undergo extensive testing to ensure high-quality performance.
After mounting the Polaris to a Ø1" stainless steel post, the mirror and post assembly was secured to a stainless steel optical table in a temperature-controlled environment. The mirror was secured using the flexure spring, not glued; see the Usage Tips tab for additional mounting recommendations. A beam from an independently temperature-stabilized laser diode was reflected by the mirror onto a position sensing detector.
Angular Tuning Range of Piezoelectric Adjusters
Purpose: This test was done to determine the full adjustable range of the piezoelectric stack inside the adjuster screw.
Procedure: Each axis was connected to one of our KPZ101 Single-Channel K-Cube Piezo Controllers (set in manual mode) or to a single channel on our MTD693B Three-Axis Benchtop Controller. The voltage was increased from 0 to 150 V, the maximum control voltage, in 5 V steps (blue line). Then the voltage was decreased from 150 V to 0 V, again using 5 V steps (red line).
Results: The maximum deflection that can be imparted by the piezoelectric stack is shown in the plots in the expandable tables below. This maximum deflection is >490 µrad for the Ø1/2" mount, >500 µrad for the Ø1" mounts, and >280 µrad for the Ø2" mounts. The well-known hysteresis response of piezoelectric materials is also evident. That is, the displacement at a given voltage depends upon whether the applied voltage is increasing or decreasing.
| Ø1/2" Piezoelectric Mount Angular Adjustment |
|---|
| Ø1" Piezoelectric Mounts Angular Adjustment |
|---|
| Ø2" Piezoelectric Mount Angular Adjustment |
|---|
Positional Repeatability After Thermal Shock
Purpose: This testing was done to determine how reliably the mount returns the mirror to its initial position so that the alignment of the optical system is unaffected by the temperature shock.
Procedure: The ambient temperature was raised by 15 °C over a period of at least 45 minutes. Then the temperature was allowed to return to near room temperature. During these tests, the piezo actuators were not connected to a voltage source. The worst-case results obtained by this method are shown below.
Results: The thermal shock data for each Polaris mount is shown in the plots in the expandable tables below. As shown in the plots, when the Polaris mount was returned to its initial temperature, the mirror position returned to within 6 µrad of its initial position for the Ø1/2" mount, within 1 µrad for the Ø1" mounts, and within 2 µrad for the Ø2" mount.
For Comparison: To get a 1 µrad change in the mount's position, the 100 TPI adjuster on the Ø1/2" Polaris mount needs to be rotated by only 0.025° (1/14400 of a turn). A highly skilled operator might be able to make an adjustment as small as 0.6° (1/1200 of a turn), which corresponds to 12 µrad.
Conclusions: These Polaris mirror mounts are high-quality, ultra-stable mounts that will reliably return a mirror to within several µrad of its original position after cycling through a temperature change in an open-loop setup. With a large adjustable range on each axis and a typical step size of 0.5 µrad (for a 0.1 V change in applied voltage), the Polaris mounts are capable of providing sub-µrad alignment stability in a closed-loop setup, even under punishing experimental conditions.
| Ø1/2" Piezoelectric Mount Thermal Shock |
|---|
 Click to Enlarge |
 Click to Enlarge The plot above shows the final angular position of a second POLARIS-K05P2 for 20 consecutive thermal shock tests. The change in temperature is the difference between the starting temperature and the temperature at the end of the test and includes factors such as the variation in room temperature. This shows the repeatability of the tests. |
| Ø1" Piezoelectric Mounts Thermal Shock |
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 Click to Enlarge |
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 Click to Enlarge The plot above shows the final angular position of a second POLARIS-K1S3P for 10 consecutive thermal shock tests. The change in temperature is the difference between the starting temperature and the temperature at the end of the test and includes factors such as the variation in room temperature. This shows the repeatability of the tests. |
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| Ø2" Piezoelectric Mount Thermal Shock |
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 Click to Enlarge |
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 Click to Enlarge The plot above shows the final angular position of a second POLARIS-K2S2P for 10 consecutive thermal shock tests. The change in temperature is the difference between the starting temperature and the temperature at the end of the test and includes factors such as the variation in room temperature. This shows the repeatability of the tests. |
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Click for Details
Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mount as Part of a Closed-Loop System
Polaris® Mirror Mount in a Beam Stabilization Setup
Active beam stabilization is often used to compensate for beam drift (unintended beam pointing deviations) in experimental setups. Drift can be caused by insecurely mounted optics, laser source instabilities, and thermal fluctuations within an optomechanical setup. In addition to correcting for setup errors, active stabilization is frequently used in laser cavities to maintain a high output power or used on an optical table to ensure that long measurements will take place under constant illumination conditions. Setups with long beam paths also benefit from active stabilization, since small angular deviations in a long path will lead to significant displacements downstream.
An example of a beam stabilization setup is shown in the schematic to the left. A beamsplitter inserted in the optical path sends a sample of the beam to a position sensor that monitors the displacement of the beam relative to the detector's center. (For optimal stabilization, the beamsplitter should be as close as possible to the measurement.) The position detector outputs an error signal in X and Y that is proportional to the beam's position. Each error signal is fed into a channel of a piezoelectric controller that steers the beam back to the center of the sensor.
The setup illustrated here stabilizes the beam to a point in space. In order to stabilize the beam over a beam path (i.e., over two points in space), two piezoelectric mirror mounts, as well as the associated electronics, are required. Suggested electronics for a beam stabilization setup are given in the table below.
| Suggested Components | |
|---|---|
| Description | Item # |
| Polaris Mirror Mount with Piezo Adjusters (Choose One) |
POLARIS-K05P2, POLARIS-K1S3P, POLARIS-K1S2P, or POLARIS-K2S2P |
| Piezoelectric Controller (Choose One) |
MDT693B Three-Axis Benchtop Controller, MDT694B Single-Axis Benchtop Controllera, or KPZ101 Single-Axis K-Cube Controllera,b |
| Position Sensor (Choose One) |
PDP90A (320 - 1100 nm), PDQ80A (400 - 1050 nm), or PDQ30C (1000 - 1700 nm) |
| K-Cube Position Sensor Controller | KPA101 |
Click to Enlarge
Details of the Polaris Design. The POLARIS-K05P2 uses a flexure spring and setscrew combination instead of the monolithic retention arm shown here.
Several common factors typically lead to beam misalignment in an optical setup. These include temperature-induced hysteresis of the mirror's position, crosstalk, drift, and backlash. Polaris mirror mounts are designed specifically to minimize these misalignment factors and thus provide extremely stable performance. Hours of extensive research, multiple design efforts using sophisticated design tools, and months of rigorous testing went into choosing the best components to provide an ideal solution for experiments requiring ultra-stable performance from a kinematic mirror mount.
Thermal Hysteresis
The temperature in most labs is not constant due to factors such as air conditioning, the number of people in the room, and the operating states of equipment. Thus, it is necessary that all mounts used in an alignment-sensitive optical setup be designed to minimize any thermally induced alignment effects. Thermal effects can be minimized by choosing materials with a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), like stainless steel. However, even mounts made from a material with a low CTE do not typically return the mirror to its initial position when the initial temperature is restored. All the critical components of the Polaris mirror mounts are heat treated prior to assembly since this process removes internal stresses that can cause a temperature-dependent hysteresis. As a result, the alignment of the optical system will be restored when the temperature of the mirror mount is returned to the initial temperature.
The method by which the mirror is secured in the mount is another important design factor for the Polaris; these Polaris mounts offer excellent performance without the use of adhesives. Instead, they use a monolithic retention arm or a flexure spring that is pressed onto the edge of the mirror using a setscrew. Setscrews, when used by themselves to hold an optic, tend to move as the temperature changes. In contrast, the holding force provided by the Polaris design is sufficient to keep the mirror locked into place regardless of the ambient temperature.
Crosstalk
Crosstalk is minimized by carefully controlling the dimensional tolerances of the front and back plates of the mount so that the pitch and yaw actuators are orthogonal. In addition, sapphire seats are used at all three contact points. Standard metal-to-metal actuator contact points will wear down over time. The polished sapphire seats of the Polaris mounts, in conjunction with the hardened stainless steel actuator tips, maintain the integrity of the contact surfaces over time.
Drift and Backlash
In order to minimize the positional drift of the mirror mount and backlash, it is necessary to limit the amount of play in the adjuster as well as the amount of lubricant used. When an adjustment is made to the actuator, the lubricant will be squeezed out of some spaces and built up in others. This non-equilibrium distribution of lubricant will slowly relax back into an equilibrium state. However, in doing so, this may cause the position of the front plate of the mount to move. The Polaris mounts use adjusters matched to the body that exceed all industry standards so very little adjuster lubricant is needed. As a result, alignment of the Polaris mounts is extremely stable even after being adjusted (see the Test Data tab for more information). In addition, these adjusters have a smooth feel that allows the user to make small, repeatable adjustments.
Integrated Piezoelectric Stacks
Each adjuster screw incorporates a piezoelectric stack inside the body of the actuator, seated directly behind the tip. This in-line design keeps the number of ball contact points to a minimum, reduces the number of moving parts, and ensures that the low crosstalk guaranteed by our precision-machined components is not compromised. Whether being moved by hand or by the piezoelectric stack, the adjusters make use of the same sapphire-to-hardened-steel contact points to provide precise motion for the life of the mount.
Compatible with Vacuum Environments
Each component has been carefully selected to ensure vacuum compatibility. The epoxy used to bond the sapphire seats in place is baked using a NASA-approved low-outgassing procedure. DuPont LVP High-Vacuum (Krytox) Grease, an ultra-high-vacuum-compatible, low-outgassing PTFE grease is used with the adjusters. The piezoelectric stack is sheathed by a thin, low-solvent-content acrylic material that supports vacuum environments down to at least 10-5 Torr. For the piezo connector, we chose PTFE, a non-hygroscopic plastic, as the insulating layer. All electrical contacts are made by a low-flux solder; the flux is burned off during the soldering process.
Please note that a high-voltage, coaxial feedthrough vacuum flange is required to pass the piezo control voltage into vacuum.
Click to Enlarge
Optic distortion of a BB1-E02 mirror mounted in a Ø1" Polaris mount. At zero torque, the sample mirror's flatness was λ/10 over the clear aperture
(λ = 633 nm). The shaded region indicates the recommended amount of torque.
Through thermal changes and vibrations, the Polaris kinematic mirror mounts are designed to provide years of use. Below are some usage tips to ensure that the mount provides optimal performance.
General Usage Tips
Match Materials
Due to its relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, stainless steel was chosen as the material from which to fabricate the Polaris mount. When mounting the Polaris, we recommend using components fabricated from the same material.
Use a Wide Post
The Polaris' performance is optimized for use with a Ø1" post for Polaris mounts. These posts are made of heat-treated stainless steel and provide two planes of contact with the mount, which help confine the bottom of the mount during variations in the surrounding temperature, thereby minimizing potential alignment issues.
Optic Mounting
Since an optic is prone to movement within its mounting bore, all optics should be mounted with the Polaris out of the setup to ensure accurate mounting that will minimize misalignment effects. We recommend using a torque wrench when installing an optic in a Polaris mount. Over-torquing the flexure arm optic retainer can result in dramatic surface distortions. The graph to the right shows surface distortions that result from increasing torque values delivered by the TD24 Torque Wrench for the front plate used in the POLARIS-K1S3P and POLARIS-K1S2P with a Ø1", 6 mm thick BB1-E02 mirror mounted in it. The test was stopped once the distortion was greater than 0.2 waves.
Front Plate's Position
To achieve the best performance, it is recommended that the front plate be kept as parallel as possible to the back plate. This ensures the highest adjustment stability.
Mount as Close to the Table's Surface as Possible
To minimize the impact of vibrations and temperature changes, it is recommended that your setup has as low of a profile as possible. Using short posts will reduce the Y-axis translation caused by temperature variations and will minimize any movements caused by vibrations.
Polish and Clean the Points of Contact
We highly recommend that the points of contact between the mount and the post, as well as the post and the table, are clean and free of scratches or defects. For best results, we recommend using a polishing stone to clean the table’s surface and a polishing pad (LFG1P) for the top and bottom of the post as well as the bottom of the mount.
Piezo Usage Tips
Disconnect Unused Channels
If active stabilization of a given axis is not needed, then it is not necessary to connect the unused axis to a piezoelectric controller. Any noise on the electrical connection may cause an undesired movement in the beam.
Connect Cables only when Power Supply is Off
The piezoelectric stacks may be irreversibly damaged by abrupt changes in the applied voltage. In order to prevent such damage, ensure that the power supply is off before connecting the SMB cable.
Use Gentle Voltage Steps
Abrupt charging or discharging of the piezoelectric actuator may cause irreversible damage to the piezo.
Stay within the 0 - 150 V Control Voltage Range
Applying voltages less than 0 V (negative voltages) or greater than 150 V may cause irreversible damage to the piezo.
Handle with Care
Piezoelectrics are ceramic materials, and therefore relatively brittle as compared to common optomechanics. Hence, they are sensitive to shock forces. Do not drop the mount or place it in a box without protective cushioning.
Not Recommended
We do not recommend taking the adjusters out of the back plate, as it can contaminate the threading. This can reduce the fine adjustment performance significantly. Also, do not pull the front plate away as it might stretch the springs beyond their operating range, crack the sapphire seats, or break the piezoelectric stacks. Finally, do not overtighten the retaining screws that secure the flat spring that holds the optic in place; only slight force is required to secure the optic in place.
| Posted Comments: | |
user
(posted 2020-12-19 02:07:03.243) Are the piezo actuators compatible with the SM threaded polaris mounts? llamb
(posted 2020-12-21 03:26:51.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The SM-threaded Polaris mounts' adjuster screws do not have the same 3/8"-100 threads as the POLARIS-P20, and are thus not compatible. The POLARIS-P20 piezo actuator is intended as a replacement piezo actuator for the Ø1" and Ø2" Polaris Piezo mirror mounts sold on this page. user
(posted 2019-10-16 11:19:28.957) How come the new preset torque wrenches are not compatible with these mounts? llamb
(posted 2019-11-07 03:06:43.0) Hello, thank you for your feedback. We are looking into offering a 12 mm torque wrench for our piezos. 1611820688
(posted 2018-12-10 12:21:27.623) Hi,I have two KPZ101,one K1S2P, one PF10-03-P01.one KPA101.can you tell me the mechanical bandwidth of K1S2P piezo actuator?Since when I control KPZ101 by labview,and I input a sine signal(40+30sin(2*pi*5*t),sampled at 50 S/s),the XDiff of KPA101 I received is not a sine shape.I guess the bandwidth is low,but the sine signal's frequency is only five.So,what's the bandwidth of K1S2P piezo actuator? llamb
(posted 2018-12-21 11:11:57.0) Hello, thank you for your feedback. We have not explicitly tested the Polaris piezo mounts for bandwidth or resonance, though we have done some testing on the POLARIS-K2S2P. See my feedback response below from April 9th, if the comparison may help.
For your particular setup, the refresh rate from LabView to your units is likely decreasing your overall measured bandwidth. I would recommend using the External Input on the KPZ101 to apply your sine wave, and using the SMA output ports on the KPA101 with an oscilloscope for measuring your signal from your beam position detector. I have reached out to you directly as well for further troubleshooting. 2693502986
(posted 2018-11-07 10:16:58.84) 射频连接接口为公头极易损坏，针脚容易折断，在实验中造成了的严重的不便和经济损失。与KPZ101压电控制器配套使用时没有配套线缆，十分不便。 llamb
(posted 2018-11-07 09:37:28.0) Thank you for your feedback. The SMB connectors were chosen for the Polaris piezo mounts to offer a push-fitting that will not twist or rotate as you move the manual adjuster, preventing connected cables from getting twisted. Broken connector pins are typically attributed to over-stressing the cable connections. I will reach out to you directly to troubleshoot and see if the delivered product was faulty.
For connecting the cables included with the Polaris piezo mounts to the KPZ101 controller, you can use our T4292 adapter. We are looking into the possibility of providing SMB to SMC cables for future use with the KPZ101 as well.
Also, you may email 'techsupport-cn@thorlabs.com' directly with future inquiries.
感谢您的反馈意见。 选择SMB连接器用于Polaris压电安装座，提供一种在您移动手动调节器时不会扭曲或旋转的推入式配件，防止连接的电缆扭曲。 断开的连接器引脚通常归因于对电缆连接的过度应力。 我会直接联系您进行故障排除，看看交付的产品是否有问题。
要将Polaris压电安装座随附的电缆连接到KPZ101控制器，您可以使用我们的T4292适配器。 我们正在研究为SMC电缆提供SMB的可能性，以便将来与KPZ101一起使用。
此外，您可以通过电子邮件直接发送电子邮件至'techsupport-cn@thorlabs.com'，以便将来查询。 Matthias.Nagel
(posted 2018-08-24 14:58:10.78) Dear Thorlabs team.
Could you be so kind and tell me the max. current which is necessary to drive the POLARIS-P20 actuator?
I am searching for a suitable OEM driver for my application and i couldn´t find a value for this.
I am looking foward to receive your answer. YLohia
(posted 2018-09-17 10:29:27.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Piezos are voltage-based devices and typically require very low levels of current (especially for low drive frequencies). What frequency do you plan on driving this piezo at? The capacitance of this piezo is rated to be 0.35uF. The current can be estimated via the following equation
I = Pi*f*Vpp*C,
where f is the drive frequency, V is the voltage supplied, and C is the capacitance of the piezo. More information can be found here: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=5030&tabname=Piezo%20Bandwidth. jens.kiessling
(posted 2018-03-02 08:20:06.833) Dear Thorlabs team,
can you tell me the mechanical bandwidth of the K05P2 and K1S2P piezo actuator, i.e. where is the first resonance? What are the capacitances of the piezos?
Thanks in advance
Jens llamb
(posted 2018-04-09 11:02:53.0) Hello Jens, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The capacitances for the -K05P2 and -K1S2P are 175 nF and 350 nF respectively. We have not explicitly tested these Polaris mounts for bandwidth or resonance, though we do have some test data for the POLARIS-K2S2P (as seen in the feedback below as well). Over a scan range of ±50 urad, we found the K2S2P to have small resonances at approximately 130 Hz and 198 Hz, and a large resonance around 370 Hz. We are looking to fully test our Polaris line for bandwidth soon, so I will reach out to you directly to discuss testing parameters. thomas.pinoteau
(posted 2017-10-18 10:18:43.847) Hi, I am not able to find the speed of the angular rotation of the Polaris-K1PZ, could you please provide me this information?
Thanks nbayconich
(posted 2018-01-03 02:06:13.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs and suggesting this data as something that would be helpful to customers. While we have not yet done extensive testing for the angular velocity of the piezo actuated Polaris series mounts, we have done some initial testing of the Polaris-K2S2P using the MDT694B piezo controller.
The first thing we notice is that there are peaks in the response which may be caused by resonance of the piezo. I'd expect these to change with the spring tension and preload, and I would recommend operating well below these frequencies. The unit tested had its first peak at about 130hz, so staying slower than that would be best. We will reach out to you with more information on how you might test an individual unit you have. user
(posted 2017-05-05 12:43:11.14) Hi,
I would like to know the displacement provided by Piezo in unit of distance per unit volts. I am assuming that the mounts rotates about one of the hinge when voltage is applied to it.
I was going through the comments and the range is mentioned to be +/-8 um. Is that correct? And, how do you get that number?
Thanking you in advance. tfrisch
(posted 2017-05-19 02:17:51.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. POLARIS-K1PZ uses component piezo actuators with a 16um stroke, and that number is given by the design of the piezoelectric actuator. The travel per voltage change is difficult to give as piezo actuators suffer from hysteresis preventing a linear response. For example, going from zero to 20V may yield a different position than going from 100V to 20V. Please contact TechSupport@Thorlabs.com if you would like to discuss this. mitch
(posted 2016-11-22 05:20:02.947) Hi, can I use the K1Pz2 with the TIM101 controller? tfrisch
(posted 2016-11-22 07:22:52.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. KPZ101 is the appropriate controller. TIM101 is for piezo inertial actuators, and it will not work with POLARIS-K1PZ2. jtravs
(posted 2016-08-22 15:02:40.82) Is it possible to get a version of the POLARIS-K1PZ2 with a larger angular range, say at least 2 or even 3 times, by using a larger stroke piezo stack? sschaub
(posted 2016-05-30 09:12:58.063) Can the actuators on the POLARIS-K1PZ be removed? I'd like to install some piezo actuators that can get to 10^-8 Torr vacuum levels. besembeson
(posted 2016-06-02 11:57:21.0) Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: The entire actuator itself can be removed from the mirror mount but the piezo stack is integrated with the adjuster and can't be removed for your replacement piezo. The stock versions we currently provide are rated for 10^-5 Torr but we can look into a special version that can meet your vacuum requirements. I will contact you. ariel
(posted 2014-02-21 10:34:11.037) Thanks for your answer.
I have one more question.
KC1-T-PZ/M has +- 4um linear travel, it means mirror mount maximum movement is +-4um with piezo mortor?
How about POLARIS-K1PZ?
Compare KC1-T-PZ/M with POLARIS-K1PZ, which can more travel?
Thanks,
Kangwoo, Ahn cdaly
(posted 2014-02-25 05:39:28.0) Response from Chris at Thorlabs: Thank you for your inquiry. The KC1-T-PZ/M uses piezoelectric actuators with an 8um stroke, giving the +/-4um travel range specification provided. The piezo stacks in the POLARIS-K1PZ have a max stroke of 16um, giving them a range of +/-8um when used together for z-axis translation. |
| Polaris Mount Optic Retention Methods (Click Image to Enlarge) | |||
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| Side Lock | SM Threaded | Low Distortion | Glue In |
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| Polaris Mount Adjuster Types (Click Image for Details) | ||||
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| Side Hole | Hex | Adjuster Knobs | Adjuster Lock Nuts |
Piezo Adjusters |
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Thorlabs offers several different general varieties of Polaris mounts, including kinematic side optic retention, SM-threaded, low optic distortion, piezo-actuated, and glue-in optic mounts, as well as a fixed monolithic mirror mount and fixed optic mounts. Click to expand the tables below and see our complete line of Polaris mounts, listed by optic bore size, and then arranged by optic retention method and adjuster type. We also offer a line of accessories that have been specifically designed for use with our Polaris mounts; these are listed in the table immediately below.
| Accessories for Polaris Mounts |
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| Ø1" Posts for Polaris Mirror Mounts |
| Polaris Clamping Arm |
| Polaris 45º Adapter |
| Polaris Mounts for Ø1/2" Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø19 mm (3/4") Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø25 mm Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø1" Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø1.5" Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø50 mm Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø2" Optics |
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| Polaris Mounts for Ø3" Optics |
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| Polaris Kinematic Platform Mount |
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Zoom
- 2-Adjuster Piezoelectric and Knob-Driven Design
- Designed for Use with Ø1/2" Optics
- 100 TPI Screws with Integrated PK4DMP1 Piezoelectric Elements
- Less than 6 µrad Beam Deviation After Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab)
- Two SMB-to-BNC Cables Included
This Ø1/2" Kinematic Mirror Mount with Two Piezoelectric Adjusters is designed to provide long-term alignment stability in systems with an external feedback loop. It offers exceptional angular resolution of ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V step via piezoelectric adjustment. We recommend driving the piezo actuators using our benchtop or Kinesis K-Cube™ open-loop piezo controllers. The KPZ101 K-Cube controller will also require the use of one T4292 BNC-to-SMC adapter per axis. Please note that the piezo actuators do not include strain gauges.
The Polaris design results in greater durability and thermal performance compared to non-Polaris mirror mounts. A flexure spring and setscrew combination provides temperature-independent retention of the optic, unlike nylon-tipped setscrews that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The setscrew that adjusts the flexure spring accepts a 1/16" (1.5 mm) hex key. We strongly recommend using a torque driver for securing the optic to prevent optical surface distortion and to improve thermal stability.
This mirror mount comes with two adjuster lock nuts that can be tightened by holding the adjuster knob while lightly tightening the lock nut by hand or with an 11 mm thin-head, open-ended hex wrench. Lock nuts only need to be lightly tightened to a torque of approximately 4 to 8 oz-in (0.03 to 0.06 N·m). These lock nuts hold in place the manual adjustment and will not affect the fine piezoelectric adjustment of this mount. The mount is designed so that the knobs and lock nuts are flush with the bottom surface of the housing, allowing it to be directly mounted to an optical table or breadboard.
Post mounting is provided by two #8 (M4) counterbores located at right angles with respect to each other for right- or left-handed mounting. Due to the shallow design of the counterbores, low-profile 8-32 and M4 cap screws are included for mounting without obstructing the transmissive beam path. The 8-32 cap screw accepts a 5/64" (2 mm) hex wrench, while the M4 cap screw accepts a 2.5 mm hex wrench. For custom mounting configurations, Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located on both sides of each counterbore for setting a precise location and mounting angle. Standard DIN 7-m6 ground dowel pins are recommended; see the Docs icon (
) below for details.
Two PAA236R cables are included with this mount. Each cable has a 90° SMB connector on one end and a straight BNC connector on the other.
Note: The POLARIS-K05P2 mount incorporates 1/4"-100 adjuster screws and is not compatible with the POLARIS-P20 actuator (sold below), which has a 3/8"-100 thread.
Zoom
- 3-Adjuster Piezoelectric and Knob-Driven Design
- Designed for Use with Ø1" Optics
- 100 TPI Screws with Integrated Piezoelectric Elements
- Less Than 1 µrad Beam Deviation After Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab)
- Three SMB-to-BNC Cables Included
This Ø1" Kinematic Mirror Mount with Three Piezoelectric Adjusters is designed to provide long-term alignment stability in systems with an external feedback loop. It offers exceptional angular resolution of ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V step via piezoelectric adjustment. We recommend driving the piezo actuators using our benchtop or Kinesis K-Cube™ open-loop piezo controllers. The KPZ101 K-Cube controller will also require the use of one T4292 BNC-to-SMC adapter per axis. Please note that the piezo actuators do not include strain gauges.
The Polaris design results in greater durability and thermal performance compared to non-Polaris mirror mounts. A monolithic retention arm provides temperature-independent retention of the optic, unlike nylon-tipped setscrews that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The setscrew that adjusts the flexure arm accepts a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. We strongly recommend using a torque driver for securing the optic to prevent optical surface distortion and to improve thermal stability.
This mirror mount comes with three adjuster lock nuts that can be tightened by holding the adjuster knob while lightly tightening the lock nut by hand or with a 12 mm thin-head, open-ended hex wrench. Lock nuts only need to be lightly tightened to a torque of approximately 4 to 8 oz-in (0.03 to 0.06 N·m). These lock nuts hold in place the manual adjustment and will not affect the fine piezoelectric adjustment of this mount.
Post mounting is provided by two #8 (M4) counterbores located at right angles with respect to each other for right- or left-handed mounting. One 8-32 cap screw and one M4 cap screw are included for securing the mount to a post. The 8-32 cap screw accepts a 9/64" hex wrench, while the M4 cap screw accepts a 3 mm hex wrench.
Three PAA236R cables are included with this mount. Each cable has a 90° SMB connector on one end and a straight BNC connector on the other.
Zoom
- 2-Adjuster Piezoelectric and Knob-Driven Design
- Designed for Use with Ø1" Optics
- 100 TPI Screws with Integrated Piezoelectric Elements
- Less Than 1 µrad Beam Deviation After Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab)
- Two SMB-to-BNC Cables Included
This Ø1" Kinematic Mirror Mount with Two Piezoelectric Adjusters is similar to the 3-adjuster version sold above but features a hardened steel ball in place of the third adjuster. This mount is designed to provide long-term alignment stability in systems with an external feedback loop. It offers exceptional angular resolution of ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V step via piezoelectric adjustment. We recommend driving the piezo actuators using our benchtop or Kinesis K-Cube™ open-loop piezo controllers. The KPZ101 K-Cube controller will also require the use of one T4292 BNC-to-SMC adapter per axis. Please note that the piezo actuators do not include strain gauges.
The Polaris design results in greater durability and thermal performance compared to non-Polaris mirror mounts. A monolithic retention arm provides temperature-independent retention of the optic, unlike nylon-tipped setscrews that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The setscrew that adjusts the flexure arm accepts a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. We strongly recommend using a torque driver for securing the optic to prevent optical surface distortion and to improve thermal stability.
This mirror mount comes with two adjuster lock nuts that can be tightened by holding the adjuster knob while lightly tightening the lock nut by hand or with a 12 mm thin-head, open-ended hex wrench. Lock nuts only need to be lightly tightened to a torque of approximately 4 to 8 oz-in (0.03 to 0.06 N·m). These lock nuts hold in place the manual adjustment and will not affect the fine piezoelectric adjustment of this mount.
Post mounting is provided by two #8 (M4) counterbores located at right angles with respect to each other for right- or left-handed mounting. One 8-32 cap screw and one M4 cap screw are included for securing the mount to a post. The 8-32 cap screw accepts a 9/64" hex wrench, while the M4 cap screw accepts a 3 mm hex wrench.
Two PAA236R cables are included with this mount. Each cable has a 90° SMB connector on one end and a straight BNC connector on the other.
Zoom
- 2-Adjuster Piezoelectric and Knob-Driven Design
- Designed for Use with Ø2" Optics
- 100 TPI Screws with Integrated Piezoelectric Elements
- Less Than 2 µrad Beam Deviation After Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab)
- Two SMB-to-BNC Cables Included
This Ø2" Kinematic Mirror Mount with Two Piezoelectric Adjusters is designed to provide long-term alignment stability in systems with an external feedback loop. It offers exceptional angular resolution of ~0.5 µrad for a 0.1 V step via piezoelectric adjustment. We recommend driving the piezo actuators using our benchtop or Kinesis K-Cube™ open-loop piezo controllers. The KPZ101 K-Cube controller will also require the use of one T4292 BNC-to-SMC adapter per axis. Please note that the piezo actuators do not include strain gauges.
The Polaris design results in greater durability and thermal performance compared to non-Polaris mirror mounts. A monolithic flexure arm provides temperature-independent retention of the optic, unlike nylon-tipped setscrews that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The setscrew that adjusts the flexure arm accepts a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key. We strongly recommend using a torque driver for securing the optic to prevent optical surface distortion and to improve thermal stability.
This mirror mount comes with two adjuster lock nuts that can be tightened by holding the adjuster knob while lightly tightening the lock nut by hand or with a 12 mm thin-head, open-ended hex wrench. Lock nuts only need to be lightly tightened to a torque of approximately 4 to 8 oz-in (0.03 to 0.06 N·m). These lock nuts hold in place the manual adjustment and will not affect the fine piezoelectric adjustment of this mount.
Post mounting is provided by four #8 (M4) counterbores for right- or left-handed mounting. One 8-32 cap screw and one M4 cap screw are included for securing the mount to a post. The 8-32 cap screw accepts a 9/64" hex wrench, while the M4 cap screw accepts a 3 mm hex wrench.
Two PAA236R cables are included with this mount. Each cable has a 90° SMB connector on one end and a straight BNC connector on the other.
Zoom| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manual Travel Range | 0.375" (9.53 mm) |
| Manual Travel Resolution | 0.26 mm/rev |
| Piezo Travel Range | 15.4 µm (Min) 19.4 µm (Max) |
| Piezo Travel Resolution | 0.017 µm for a 0.1 V Stepa |
| Piezo Drive Voltage | 0 to 150 V |
| Mechanical Drawing |  |
- Manual Coarse Adjustment Range: 0.375"
- Piezoelectric Fine Adjustment Range: 15.4 µm (Min)
- 3/8"-100 Adjuster Mounted in Ø0.50" Stainless Steel Bushing
- Male SMB Connector (SMB-to-BNC Cable Not Included)
- Compatible with Ø1" and Ø2" Mounts Sold Above
The POLARIS-P20 is the piezoelectric actuator used in the Ø1" and Ø2" mirror mounts sold above. It can be used as a replacement adjuster by removing the adjuster screw from the bushing. The actuator can be manually adjusted for up to 0.375" of travel, while the piezoelectric fine adjustment has a maximum travel range between 15.4 µm and 19.4 µm. The adjuster screw and bushing are machined from stainless steel, which has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for stability in environments with large temperature fluctuations. For details on using this piezoelectric actuator, please see the spec sheet.
The piezo actuator features a male SMB connector; an SMB-to-BNC cable is not included. We offer the PAA236R cable with a 90° SMB connector on one end and a straight BNC connector on the other. The actuator includes an adjuster lock nut that can be tightened or loosened by hand or with a 12 mm thin-head, open-ended hex wrench. Holding the adjuster in place with the lock nut will not affect the piezoelectric adjustment.
We recommend driving this piezo actuator with the KPZ101, MDT693B, or MDT694B open-loop piezo controllers.
Note: The POLARIS-P20 actuator has 3/8"-100 threads and is not compatible with the POLARIS-K05P2 mount (sold above), which incorporates 1/4"-100 adjuster screws.
Zoom- Provide Long Term Adjuster Stability
- Compatible with Select Polaris Mounts
This 13 mm hexagonal lock nut is designed for use with our Polaris mounts with 3/8"-100 adjusters. Manufactured for long-term adjuster stability or applications that are exposed to shock and vibration, these lock nuts are pre-greased with the same ultra-high-vacuum-compatible, low-outgassing PTFE grease as the Polaris mounts and have been tested for adjuster fit.
For applications that require frequent tuning of the adjusters, the lock nuts only need to be lightly tightened by hand to a torque of approximately 4 to 8 oz-in (0.03 to 0.06 N·m). For long term stability, we recommend tightening to a torque of 32 oz-in, which can be achieved by using our TW13 preset torque wrench. To avoid cross threading the lock nut, place it against the adjuster and "unscrew" the lock nut until you feel a slight drop; then thread the lock nut onto the adjuster.
Note: The POLARIS-P20 actuator includes a 12 mm 3/8"-100 locking nut, which will need to be removed in order to install a POLARIS-LN4 locking nut. By using this 13 mm locking nut, users may take advantage of the TW13 preset torque wrench.
Polaris Mirror Mounts with Piezo Adjusters