Thorlabs Inc.
Visit the Kinematic Mounts for 30 mm Cage Systems page for pricing and availability information

Kinematic Mounts for 30 mm Cage Systems

Hide Overview

OVERVIEW

Features

  • Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm) Optic Mount
  • Compatible with 30 mm Cage System
  • ±4° Kinematic Adjustment in X and Y

Thorlabs offers three 30 mm-cage-compatible kinematic mounts that are designed for easy integration into our cage assembly system. They are ideal for holding retroreflecting mirrors or collimated light sources, enabling precise angular alignment of a beam along the axis of a 30 mm cage system. Accurate center axis alignment with the 30 mm cage system is made easier using one of the cage system alignment plates offered at the bottom of this page.

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. Our mounts featured here have been designed to allow for the precise angular positioning of optics within a cage system. 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 30 mm cage system and utilize Ø6 mm ER cage rods.

Hide Cage Overview

CAGE OVERVIEW

Basic Square Cage Plate
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.

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 System16 mm30 mm60 mm
Thread SeriesSM05SM1SM2
Rod to Rod Spacing16 mm (0.63")30 mm (1.18")60 mm (2.36")
Total Length25 mm (0.98")41 mm (1.60")71.1 mm (2.8")
Cage Components
Cage Rods16 mmThese 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 Plates16 mmThese 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 Mounts16 mmThorlabs offers fixed, kinematic, rotation, and translation mounts specifically designed for our Cage Systems.
30 mm
60 mm
Cage Cubes16 mmThese 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 AdaptersMounting 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 AdaptersCage System Size Adapters can be used to integrate components from different cage system and threading standards.
Specialized ComponentsThorlabs 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.
Hide 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Smooth Bore Kinematic Mount

30 mm-Cage-Compatible Smooth Bore Kinematic Mount

  • ±4º Angular Rotation, ±3 mm Linear Translation
  • Accepts Ø1" (25.4 mm) Optics
  • Minimum Optic Thickness: 0.12" (3 mm)
  • Compatible with 30 mm Cage System
  • 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Post Mounting

The KC1 Kinematic Mount is designed with a smooth, double-bored mounting hole that can accommodate a Ø1" optic that is at least 0.12” (3 mm) thick; the optic is held in place with a top-located, nylon-tipped locking screw. This kinematic mount comes with three 1/4-80 adjusters that offer an adjustment per revolution of 7 mrad/rev. In addition, each adjuster has independently locking setscrews.

Both the front and rear plates have been machined with four clearance holes designed for direct compatibility with our 30 mm cage system standard. The cage rod holes in the front plate are sufficiently oversized to allow ±4º tip and tilt adjustment without cage rod interference. Once the desired position is achieved, locking setscrews on the rear plate can be used to secure the rods in place. In addition to 30 mm cage compatibility, the KC1 is post mountable via an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole.

Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
KC1
Kinematic 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount for Ø1" Optic
$88.00
Today
KC1/M
Kinematic 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount for Ø1" Optic, Metric
$88.00
Today
Hide 30 mm-Cage-Compatible SM1-Threaded Kinematic Mount

30 mm-Cage-Compatible SM1-Threaded Kinematic Mount

  • ±4º Angular Rotation, ±3 mm Linear Translation
  • Accepts Ø1" (25.4 mm) Optics
  • Maximum Optic Thickness: 0.23" (5.8 mm)
  • Compatible with 30 mm Cage System
  • 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Post Mounting

The KC1-T Kinematic Mount is designed with an SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) mounting hole that can directly hold optics up to 5.8 mm (0.23”) thick using the two included SM1RR Retaining Rings. Thicker optics can be accommodated by housing the optic in one of our SM1-Series Lens Tubes and then threading the lens tube into the front plate of the mount. Alternatively, since the back plate of the KC1-T features an oversized Ø1.32" bore, SM1 lens tubes can also be attached to the front plate from the rear of the mount without sacrificing angular adjustment. This threaded, kinematic mount comes with three adjusters with independently locking setscrews.

Both the front and rear plates have been machined with four clearance holes designed for direct compatibility with our 30 mm cage system standard. The cage rod holes in the front plate are sufficiently oversized to allow ±4º tip and tilt adjustment without cage rod interference. Once the desired position is achieved, locking setscrews on the rear plate can be used to secure the rods in place. In addition to 30 mm cage compatibility, the KC1-T is post mountable via an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole.

Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
KC1-T
Kinematic, SM1-Threaded, 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount for Ø1" Optic
$89.00
Today
KC1-T/M
Kinematic, SM1-Threaded, 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount for Ø1" Optic, Metric
$89.00
Today
Hide 30 mm-Cage-Compatible SM1-Threaded Kinematic Mount with Slip Plate

30 mm-Cage-Compatible SM1-Threaded Kinematic Mount with Slip Plate

  • ±4º Angular Rotation, ±3 mm Linear Translation
  • Accepts Ø1" (25.4 mm) Optics
  • Maximum Optic Thickness: 0.23" (5.8 mm)
  • Compatible with 30 mm Cage System
  • 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Post Mounting

The KC1-S Kinematic Mount is designed with a SM1 (1.035"-40) threaded mounting hole with a front slip plate that enables direct mounting of optics up to 5.8 mm (0.23”) thick using the included SM1RR Retaining Rings Thicker optics can be accommodated by housing the optic in one of our SM1-Series Lens Tubes and then threading the lens tube into the front plate of the mount. Alternatively, since the back plate of the KC1-S features an oversized Ø1.32" bore, SM1 lens tubes can also be attached to the front plate from the rear of the mount without sacrificing angular adjustment. This threaded, kinematic mount comes with three adjusters with independently locking setscrews.

Both the front and rear plates have been machined with four clearance holes designed for direct compatibility with our 30 mm cage system standard. The cage rod holes in the front plate are sufficiently oversized to allow ±4º tip and tilt adjustment without cage rod interference. Once the desired position is achieved, locking setscrews on the rear plate can be used to secure the rods in place. In addition to 30 mm cage compatibility, the KC1-S is post mountable via an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole.

The KC1-S slip plate feature incorporated into this mount provides ±1 mm of course travel in X and Y with respect to the front plate, which enables additional freedom when setting an optic's position within a cage system. Three locking screws allow the user to lock the slip plate down once the desired location has been reached. The user should note, however, that loosening the locking screws may result in excessive coarse movement (slop) in the slip plate. For best performance, tighten the locking screws, and then release them only enough to allow for smooth operation of the slip plate.

Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
KC1-S
Kinematic, SM1-Threaded, 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount with Slip Plate for Ø1" Optic
$155.00
Today
KC1-S/M
Kinematic, SM1-Threaded, 30 mm-Cage-Compatible Mount with Slip Plate for Ø1" Optic, Metric
$155.00
Today
Hide Alignment Plates for 30 mm Cage Systems

Alignment Plates for 30 mm Cage Systems

VRC4CPT
Back View of VRC4CPT
  • Quick, Drop-In Beam Alignment Tool
  • Small Through Hole Aligned at Center of 30 mm Cage Assembly

The CPA1 and CPA2 Alignment Plates are convenient tools for aligning cage-based optical systems. These drop-in plates feature a small through hole at the exact center of the 30 mm cage assembly that is used for aligning visible beams. For easy alignment, the through hole is surrounded by engraved rings, which indicate Ø4 mm, Ø7 mm, Ø10 mm, and Ø12 mm. The CPA1 provides a Ø1 mm through hole, while the CPA2 provides a Ø5 mm through hole.

The VRC4CPT Alignment Plate is specifically designed to align IR beams in a cage-based optical assembly. The front is identical to the CPA1 (shown to the left), and the back (shown to the right) includes a non-rotating IR-sensitive fluorescing alignment disk made of the same material used in our VRC4 Viewing Card. This disk has a centered Ø2 mm through hole, while the plate has a Ø1 mm centered through hole. See the table below for more information.

Item #Absorption BandsEmission BandActive Region DiameterAlignment FeaturesConcentricity of Target/Hole
VRC4CPT 790 - 840 nm, 870 - 1070 nm, 1500 - 1590 nm ~520 - 580 nm 1/2" (12.7 mm) Ø1 mm Hole in Plate
Ø2 mm Hole in IR Material
±0.05 mm
Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
CPA1
30 mm Cage System Alignment Plate with Ø1 mm Hole
$12.00
Today
CPA2
30 mm Cage System Alignment Plate with Ø5 mm Hole
$12.00
Today
VRC4CPT
30 mm Cage System Alignment Plate with IR Disk
$29.50
Today