Cage Cube for Rectangular Optics

Overview
Application
Mounted Optics Guide
Feedback

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The CM1-DCH is 30 mm Cage and SM1 Lens Tube compatible.

CM1-DCH Flat Head Screw for Cover Removal and Filter Replacement

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Two Flat Head Hex Screws are used for Cube Cover Removal and Filter Replacement

Features

Mount Rectangular Dichroic Mirrors and Other Optics up to 3 mm Thick
Four SM1-Threaded (1.035"-40) Through Ports for Emission and Excitation Filter Attachment
30 mm Cage System Compatible

The CM1-DCH dichroic filter cube holds a rectangular optic, such as a dichroic mirror, beamsplitter, silver mirror, or polarizing bandpass filter up to 36 mm wide, 26 mm tall, and 3 mm thick using an integrated clamp. Its compact size compared to other filter cage cubes reduces the distance between cage components. Two flat head hex screws on the base of the cube can be unscrewed with a 1.5 mm hex key to detach the base from the cube housing, allowing access to the integrated clamp (see the photo below right).

Emission and excitation filters can also be mounted into short lens tubes and attached to the SM1-threaded ports for a full fluorescence imaging filter setup (see the Application tab for more information). CM1-DCH cubes have four 4-40-threaded holes on each face for 30 mm cage system integration and are post mountable via an 8-32 (M4) tap. The cubes can also be connected sequentially using the CM1-CC cage cube connector sold below. Cage cubes can also be connected with cage rods by using our ERSCA Rod Adapters.

Please note: The filter holder base features a modified FFM1 filter holder mount. Our catalog FFM1 is not compatible with the CM1-DCH. Additional CM1-DCH bases may be ordered as a special by contacting tech support.

For a complete selection of our cube-mounted optics please see the Mounted Optics Guide tab.

Fluorescence Filter Set Application

The CM1-DCH can be used along with two SM1L03 lens tubes to hold a complete imaging filter set within a cage system. The emission and excitation filters are mounted in the 0.3" lens tubes attached to the cage cube. Mouse over the photo to see the corresponding components in the table to the right.

Product Description	Qty.	Photo (Click to Enlarge)
CM1-DCH Dichroic Cube	1
SM1L03 0.3" Long Lens Tube	2
Fluorescence Filter Set	1
ER Cage Rods	12

30 mm Cage-Cube-Mounted Optics Selection Guide

The table below provides links to all of our 30 mm Cage-Cube-Mounted optics. For our selection of 16 mm Cage-Cube-Mounted Optics, please see our 16 mm Cage Systems guide.


Non-Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube	Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube	High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube

Pellicle Beamsplitters	Laser Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube	Circular / Variable Polarizers

Penta Prisms	Turning Mirrors	Variable Beamsplitters / Attenuators

30 mm Cage Cube Empty Optic Mounts Selection Guide


Rectangular Dichroic Mirrors and Filters	Empty Compact 30 mm Cage Cube

Posted Comments:

Craig Prater (posted 2019-07-31 19:13:05.797)

I just bought one of this and I'm not loving this product. I had been considering using it in an OEM application, but the filter mount does not seem very stable. I can apply slight pressure to the edge of a dichroic installed in this unit filter rock between two positions. I'd like this product if the mounting of the filter in this mount could be more stable and secure for example more like the DFM1. I just don't 'need the kinematic mounting feature (or extra size and cost) of the DFM1.

YLohia (posted 2019-08-01 10:50:07.0)

Hello, thank you for your feedback. We are always looking for different ways of improving our products. I have posted your comments on our internal engineering forum for further consideration.

schnell (posted 2017-05-18 14:33:18.503)

How well do these cage cubes hold the rectangular plate beamsplitters from your catalog? I wonder if they provide a stable enough mount to serve as a beamsplitter for interferometry. Also, will the cube hold the plate beamsplitter well enough when mounted vertically, e.g. the output port is facing down? Thank you!

nbayconich (posted 2017-05-25 05:57:11.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you directly regarding the CM1-DCH mounting capabilities. We also have the DFM1 cage cube or the B5C1 cage cube optic mount for Ø1" diameter optics as alternative mounting options.

lothar.schmid (posted 2014-09-26 22:49:51.087)

The protrusions on the bottom plate partly block the 1'' holes, so that lens tubes cannot be screwed completely in. filing the protrusions down a bit solves the problem, but that's not what I expected from a thorlabs product.

cdaly (posted 2014-10-11 04:47:06.0)

Response from Chris at Thorlabs: I will contact you directly to discuss this. There should not be an issue when attaching a standard 1" lens tube (SM1Lxx) to the cube as seen in the overview tab of this webpage.

sharrell (posted 2012-09-13 08:43:00.0)

Response from Sean at Thorlabs: Thank you for sharing your feedback. Even though you were able to find the information you needed on the lens tube compatibility, we'll endeavor to make this information more obvious on the page through adding additional photos of the cube with an SM1 lens tube.

gir (posted 2012-09-12 23:07:38.0)

I just realized my previous question is answered (in the affirmative) on the overview page. My apologies.

gir (posted 2012-09-12 22:58:34.0)

Can I mate a SM1LXX lens tube into one of the ports?

Dichroic Cage Cube

Cage Cube Connector

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View Imperial Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
BA2T2	1	Adjustable Mounting Base, 2" x 3" x 3/8"
CM1-CC	2	Cage Cube Connector for Compact 30 mm Cage Cubes
CCM1-BS014	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Non-Polarizing Beamsplitter, 700 - 1100 nm, 8-32 Tap
CCM1-PBS252	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 620-1000 nm, 8-32 Tap
CCM1-4ER	1	Compact Clamping 4-Port Prism/Mirror 30 mm Cage Cube, 8-32 Tap
PH2	1	Ø1/2" Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Hex-Locking Thumbscrew, L = 2"
TR2	1	Ø1/2" Optical Post, SS, 8-32 Setscrew, 1/4"-20 Tap, L = 2"

View Metric Product List

Item #	Qty	Description
BA2T2/M	1	Adjustable Mounting Base, 50 mm x 75 mm x 10 mm
CM1-CC	2	Cage Cube Connector for Compact 30 mm Cage Cubes
CCM1-BS014	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Non-Polarizing Beamsplitter, 700 - 1100 nm, 8-32 Tap
CCM1-PBS252	1	30 mm Cage Cube-Mounted Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 620-1000 nm, 8-32 Tap
CCM1-4ER/M	1	Compact Clamping 4-Port Prism/Mirror 30 mm Cage Cube, M4 Tap
PH50/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Post Holder, Spring-Loaded Hex-Locking Thumbscrew, L=50 mm
TR50/M	1	Ø12.7 mm Optical Post, SS, M4 Setscrew, M6 Tap, L = 50 mm

Two CM1-CC Connectors used to Connect Multiple 1.5" Wide Cage Cubes

Connect Two 1.5" Wide Cage Cubes Side by Side
Compatible with CM1 and CCM1 Series Cage Cubes

The CM1-CC cube connector allows two or more cubes to be connected as shown in the image to the right. Many of our cage cubes are compatible with this connector, including empty cubes, empty dichroic cubes, mounted beamsplitters, mounted penta prisms, and mounted turning mirrors.

Two cage cube-mounted turning mirrors cannot be connected using the CM1-CC due to a lack of Ø6 mm cage rod holes on two sides of the cube.

Alignment Pins
Please note that because dowel alignment pins are used, the connector requires drilled holes on the cube face between the SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) ports. If you have an older cube and would like it updated to have alignment holes for free, please contact Technical Support. Alternatively, the alignment pins are press-fit inside their mounting holes, and can be pressed out for use with cubes that do not have these alignment holes.

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