Products Home / Imaging Components / Mechanical Components for Microscopy / Cage System Optic Mounts for Microscopy / Cage Cube for Rectangular OpticsCage Cube for Rectangular Optics
- Holds a Rectangular Optic up to 3 mm Thick at 45° AOI
- 30 mm Cage System and Ø1" Lens Tube Compatible
- Secure a Dichroic, Beamsplitter, Mirror, Polarizing Bandpass Filter, or Another Optic
CM1-DCH
Integrated Filter Mount
Please Wait
Click to Enlarge
The CM1-DCH is 30 mm Cage and SM1 Lens Tube compatible.
Click to Enlarge
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
- Connect Two Cage Cubes Side by Side with the CM1-CC Cage Cube Connector
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 ERSCB 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.
30 mm Cage Cube Empty Optic Mounts Selection Guide
 |  |
| Rectangular Dichroic Mirrors and Filters | Empty Compact 30 mm Cage Cube |
| Posted Comments: | |
Vitaly Pavlenko
(posted 2023-01-25 17:41:26.22) For example, for CCM1-BS01X the spec for Reflected Beam Deviation is 90° ± 20 arcmin, Defined with respect to the mechanical housing. My guess is that I should expect worse than that from CM1-DCH, considering that the filter is held only along one side and thus it could sway some. Can you provide an estimate? Also, any tips on filter installation that would minimize the deviation inaccuracy in question? cdolbashian
(posted 2023-01-27 05:03:22.0) Thank you for reaching out to us Vitaly. One reason for the way we spec these components is that one of them comes with a cemented-in-place optic which we can test and validate before selling, while the other requires a user-supplied optic, and depending on the optic chosen, the angular deviation will vary. Fabian Mainzer
(posted 2022-11-10 17:08:42.073) The cube for 45° mirror is good in itself, however, for me there are a few aspects that could be improved.
I use the cube in combination with three 30mm cage plates. Due to the fact that the edge length of the cube is smaller than that of the cage plates, they have to be machined (chamfer milled) so that they can be pushed directly to the central filter cube.
Furthermore, the two screws for fastening the base plate with mirror carrier and cube cage are no longer accessible due to this arrangement. These should be placed on the underside of the base plate for me. In addition, the mechanical fit between the base plate and mirror should be better solved, so that opening the cube makes an adjustment obsolete.
I am happy if my suggestions contribute to the improvement of the system. ksosnowski
(posted 2022-11-19 12:45:37.0) Hello Fabian, thanks for reaching out to Thorlabs. We appreciate your feedback and I am adding these ideas to our internal forum for development. From current catalogue items, the DFM1 cube may be an alternative option for some setups, though it is larger this is also what allows standard cageplate sizes to flush-mount from all sides. I have reached out directly to discuss your application in further detail. user
(posted 2022-05-04 19:49:24.793) We bought a few of these. Here I list the issues with this CM1-DCH design:
1) The spring loaded clamping mechanism is too tight. It leads to fringes on the reflected light due to strain on the dichroic. I had to remedy this by adding some padding between the dichroic and mount.
2) The screws that are used to bolt the cuboid to the base plate strips super easily and completely wastes the mount.
Until these issues are fixed, I won't be buying these anymore and will actively discourage my colleagues from procuring these parts. Given how expensive these parts are, one should've noticed these issues. jdelia
(posted 2022-05-12 09:06:58.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs, and we apologize for the issues you are experiencing. Regarding the first issue, I have reached out to you directly to discuss alternative options with weaker springs. For the second issue, while this is not something we have heard of before, we can certainly look into ensuring this does not happen in the future. Thank you again for the valuable feedback. user
(posted 2021-11-25 11:04:58.663) Dear Thorlabs team,
The two M2.5 flat head screws which hold the bottom plate with the rest of the cube are easily destroyable by screwing and unscrewing several time. The allen key doesn't fit well in the hex hole.
As well, it would be great to have a way to orient the FFM1 inside the bottom plate (similarly to the 2 dots you have on the bottom plate and on the rest of the cube).
Thank's cdolbashian
(posted 2021-12-27 03:46:57.0) Thank you for contacting us here at Thorlabs with this good feedback. We have heard a similar type of feedback in the past with regards to the size of the hex hole in the securing screws.
I have logged your excellent suggestion regarding the alignment dots to our product development forum. This would indeed create a nice and easy way to ensure a nominal angle, rather than having to carefully adjust it.
Thank you again for the feedback. This only helps us to improve our products! Xindong Song
(posted 2021-04-02 02:39:54.41) Hi Thorlabs. Could you make the same thing for the 60mm cage system? Many thanks. YLohia
(posted 2021-04-05 02:11:07.0) Hello, thank you for your feedback. We will consider offering a 60 mm version of this exact cage cube in the future. In the meantime, we do offer the DFM2 for such applications. user
(posted 2020-09-17 03:01:56.77) Hi,
Is this product for the right turning of light beam?
Can I use it as a left-turning mount?
Thanks. YLohia
(posted 2020-09-17 01:34:00.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. This can be used in either scenario -- the direction of the reflection will depend on the orientation of the FFM1 in the cube mount. Sami Arja
(posted 2019-11-12 20:14:11.947) Dear Thorlabs,
Is it possible to use the CM1 with BS013 by purchasing the bottom part separately? I am interested to know if I can have a cage mount that is compatible with both DCH/M and BS013.
Your advice is highly appreciated.
Sami YLohia
(posted 2019-11-13 10:43:59.0) Hello Sami, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The CM1 cannot be used with the BS013 as we don't not offer suitable plates to adapt cubed optics to the CM1 system. We do, however, offer the CCM1-4ER, which would be a good fit for your application. Gregor Jotzu
(posted 2019-10-18 09:19:58.903) Dear Thorlabs Team,
it would be great to be able to purchase only the part that holds the filter separately. I have a setup where we use the filter cube in a cage construction and it is possible to remove the filter. It would be great if one can replace the filter. I am aware of the DFM1, but there are parts of our seput where we prefer the CM1-DCH.
Sincerely,
Gregor Jotzu llamb
(posted 2019-10-22 11:21:40.0) Hello Gregor, thank you for your feedback. We can certainly offer the bottom assembly of the CM1-DCH as a custom product for now, and I have posted this idea in our internal engineering forum for further review as its own product release. I have reached out to you directly to discuss quoting the bottom assembly as a custom product for the time being. 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? |
Zoom
Click to Enlarge
A C4W and C6W Cage Cube connected to a 1.5" wide CCM1-4ER Compact Cage Cube using the C4W-CC and CM1-CC Cube Connectors, respectively.
Click to Enlarge
CM1-CC Connecting Multiple 1.5" Wide Cage Cubes
- Connect Two 1.5" Wide Cage Cubes Side by Side
- Connect a 1.5" Wide Cage Cube to a 2" Wide Cage Cube
- Compatible with CM1 or CCM1 Series Cage Cubes
The CM1-CC cage cube connector allows two or more CM1 or CCM1 style cubes to be connected as shown in the image to the right. The CM1 and CCM1 series of cage cubes, which are all compatible with this connector, include empty cubes, empty dichroic cubes, mounted beamsplitters, mounted penta prisms, and mounted turning mirrors. The CM1-CC cage cube connector includes four 4-40 button-head screws, two 4-40 flat-head screws, four washers, and a 1/16" hex key.
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.
We also offer the C4W-CC to connect two 2" wide 30 mm cage cubes. Both C4W-CC and CM1-CC cage cube connectors can be used to connect one 1.5" wide 30 mm cage cube, such as our CCM1-4ER(/M), with a 2" wide 30 mm cage 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.
30 mm Cage Cube for Rectangular Filters