Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Optical Cage Systems / 30 mm Cage Components / 30 mm Cage Cubes / 30 mm Cage Cubes and Accessories / 30 mm Cage Cube Rotating Platforms30 mm Cage Cube Rotating Platforms
- Stable Platform to Mount Optics Within 30 mm Cage Cubes
- Provides Continuous Rotation While Mounted
- Compatible with 30 mm Cage Cubes and Optic Holders
B4CRP
Bottom
B3CR
Top
B3CR with C6WA Adapter Allowing
all Four Cage Rods to Pass
Through C6W Cage Cube
Application Idea
Please Wait
| 30 mm Cage Cubes and Accessories | ||||
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| Cage Cubes | Optic Mounts | Platforms | Rotating Platforms | Cover Plates |
Features
- 30 mm Cage Cube-Compatible Platforms
- Continuous Rotation While Mounted to a Cage Cube
- Kinematic Options Available
The 30 mm cage cube platforms offered here are designed to hold our 30 mm cage cube optic mounts. These platforms are ideal for building optical setups involving prisms, beamsplitters, and other optics that are compatible with our 30 mm cage system. The platforms featured here can be mounted to either the top or bottom of a 30 mm cage cube and are locked down with the included screws (see video to the bottom left). Both platforms can be continuously rotated, even after locking down to a cage cube; giving the user dynamic control over the position of the optic within a cage cube. The B4C platform offers additional precision rotation with a side located micrometer and kinematic translation via three set screws located on the bottom of the platform.
When using these platforms with a C6W cage cube, there will be insufficient clearance to pass the two cage rods nearest the platform all the way through the cage cube. For the B3CR(/M) and B4CRP(/M) cube platforms, the C6WA Mounting Adapter can be used to provide clearance for all four cage rods without sacrificing mounting surface area (see video to the bottom right). Alternatively, the cage rods can still be passed through the through-holes opposite the rotating platform or the C6W can be turned 90° with all four cage rods threaded into the 4-40 holes on opposite sides of the C6W.
Animation demonstrating how to attach a platform to a 30 mm cage cube.
Animation demonstrating how the C6WA Platform Adapter allows cage rods to pass through a 30 mm cage cube.
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 below). 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.
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.
An example of the standard cage plate measurements determining cage system compatibility.
| 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: | |
Dan D
(posted 2021-07-02 09:59:22.237) Does the B3CR rotating platform have kinematic tip/tilt adjustment like the B4C platform? YLohia
(posted 2021-07-02 10:29:59.0) The B3CR does not have tip/tilt capability. For that, you would have to use the B4CRP. lebow
(posted 2018-04-19 12:13:35.457) Why don't you make an adapter that will allow the mounting of cage hardware on a 1/2" post. I had our machine shop make a simple 1/4" plate with a 1.75" hole with (3) 4-40 tapped holes to retain the mount. Tapped 8-32 hole in side. Right now you line of cage hardware is extremely restricted. llamb
(posted 2018-04-27 08:31:46.0) Thank you for your feedback. We are always looking to improve our product line. I will reach out to you directly to discuss your customization and add this new idea to our internal product forum. |
Zoom
Click to Enlarge The B3CR is Compatible with the B5C1 Optic Mount
- Continuously Rotating Cage Cube Mounting Platform
- Brass 1/16" Locking Setscrew to Secure Position
- Compatible with 30 mm Cage Cube Accessories
- Platform Includes Alignment Marks for 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, and 25.4 mm Cube Optics
The B3CR platform mounts on the top or bottom of a C4W or C6W cage cube. It provides a freely rotating platform that can be used to mount a variety of optics inside the cube. The platform can rotate through the full 360°, and can be locked using the brass setscrew with 1/16" hex.
The 4-40 (M3) tapped holes can mount our Optic Holders (B5C1 shown at right) or the FFM1 Dichroic Holder, while the 6-32 (M4) holes are compatible with the PM3 (PM3/M) Clamping Arm to hold prisms (shown at far right). Larger cube-shaped optics and prisms can also be secured with the B6C, which has a swivel head to allow for optic rotation. A Ø25 mm Post Spacer can be placed under the optic to center it in the clear aperture of the cube when using the PM3 or B5C.
Zoom
Click to Enlarge The B4CRP is Compatible with the B5CT2 Optic Mount
- Kinematic Platform Enables Tip, Tilt, and Height adjustment
- 360° Manual Rotation with ±7° Micrometer-Driven Fine Adjustment
- 1/16" Hex Locking Hex Setscrew to Secure Manual and Micrometer Position
- 1° Resolution Laser Engraved Scale With 5 Arcmin Vernier Scale
- Compatible with all Cage Cube Accessories
The B4CRP (/M) precision platform mounts to the top or bottom of a C4W or C6W 30 mm cage cube. This precision platform can be freely rotated 360° while mounted to a 30 mm cage cube. Additionally, when engaged, the stage provides a micrometer driven ±7° of fine rotation. A laser engraved scale provides 1° resolution with a 5 arcmin vernier scale. Three kinematic adjustment screws located on the bottom of the platform (see image at top right) allow for fine tip, tilt, and height adjustments; resulting in total and precise control of and optic’s position while mounted in a 30 mm cage cube. The top plate is marked with 3 small Xs, indicating the location of the three kinematic adjustment screws. A 1/16” hex setscrew allows the user to lock the position of the platform while another 1/16” hex setscrew enables or disables micrometer control (see image at far top right). Please note that overtightening of the fine adjustment control screw may prevent proper operation of the micrometer.
The 4-40 (M3) tapped holes can mount our Optic Holders (B5CT2 shown at right) or the FFM1 Dichroic Holder, while the 6-32 (M4) holes are compatible with the PM3 (PM3/M) Clamping Arm to hold other components such as prisms. Larger cube-shaped optics and prisms can also be secured with the B6C, which has a swivel head to allow for optic rotation. A Ø25 mm Post Spacer can be placed under the optic to center it in the clear aperture of the cube when using the PM3 or B6C.
Zoom
Click for Details
The C6WA is shown here with the B3CR. It can be mounted to the C6W Cage Cube with Thorlabs' Cube Platforms.*
Click for Details The C6WA can be used to mount optics with the B5C1 in the C6W Cage Cube while allowing all four cage rods to be fully inserted in the through holes.
- Mounting Adapter Allows C6W to House Optics with All Four Cage Rods Inserted
- Compatible with B3C(/M), B4C(/M), B3CR(/M), and B4CRP(/M) Platforms*
- Four 1/4" Long Button-Head Screws Included for Mounting
The C6WA(/M) Platform Adapter Kit allows Thorlabs' Cube Platforms* to be used in conjunction with the C6W with all four cage rods installed. The C6WA kit consists of two machined components, four 4-40 button-head screws, and a single 4-40 (M3) flat-head screw. A 0.08" (2.0 mm) thick shim allows the mounting platform to mate to the C6W without interfering with the cage rods while a secondary platform is then installed above the cage rods. The adapter platform has a diameter of 1.65" (41.9 mm) and raises the mounting surface height by 0.27" (6.9 mm).
The C6WA(/M)'s hole pattern consists of four 4-40 (M3) taps compatible with our Optic Holders (B5C1 shown at right) and four 6-32 (M3) tapped holes allowing the use of a PM3 Clamping Arm. When using one of these optic holders or a clamping arm with a rotating cage cube platform and the C6WA, limited fine adjustment with the rotation platform is possible before the top of the mount or clamping arm interferes with the cage rods. This platform adapter is not designed for use with the FFM1.
To use the adapter, place the square shim between the bottom of the C6W and the cage cube platform (B3C(/M), B4C(/M)*, B3CR(/M)*, or B4CRP(/M)) you wish to mount to the cage cube. Secure the cage cube platform to the cage cube through the holes in the shim using the four 1/4" (6.4 mm) long button-head screws included in the adapter kit (see exploded view to the right). Insert the adapter platform through the top hole of the cage cube, angling it as needed to bypass the top cage rods, and attach it to the cage cube platform using the included 4-40 (M3) flat-head screw. Once the adapter platform is installed, the optic holder or clamping arm can be used to mount an optic inside the cage cube.
Please note that the vertical offset created by the raised mounting platform will make any optic mounted using our 30 mm-Cage-Cube-Compatible Optic Mounts no longer centered with respect to the SM1-threaded ports.
*The C6WA(/M) is not compatible with versions of the B3CR/M sold before March 26, 2014, or B3C(/M) and B4C(/M) platforms sold before December 5, 2012. If you have an older model of the B3CR/M, B3C(/M), or B4C(/M) platforms and would like to exchange it for the new version, please contact Technical Support.
 30 mm Cage Cube Rotation Platforms |