• Directly Accepts Ø2" Optics up to 0.35" (8.9 mm) Thick
• Mount Optics Within a 60 mm Cage System Assembly
• Tapped with our Standard SM2 (2.035"-40) Thread
• 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Mounting to Ø1/2" Posts

The LCP34(/M) SM2-Threaded Cage Plate is among our most popular 60 mm cage plates. It provides a center-located SM2 (2.035"-40) threaded bore that accepts a Ø2" optic up to 0.35" (8.9 mm) thick. Two SM2RR retaining rings, providing a Ø1.90" clear aperture, are included to hold an optic within the cage plate. The cage rod through holes have side-located locking setscrews for securing the position of the LCP34(/M) within the cage; use a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key to lock the cage plate in place. For additional convenience, an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole is provided for post mounting and OEM-mounting applications. As shown in the image at the top of the page, the LCP34/M has a small dimple to indicate that it is a metric part.

• Directly Accepts Ø2" Optics up to 0.70" (17.8 mm) Thick
• Mount Optics Within a 60 mm Cage System Assembly
• Tapped with Our Standard SM2 (2.035"-40) Thread
• 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Mounting to Ø1/2" Posts

The LCP34T(/M) 0.9" Thick Cage Plate is designed for cage mounting of Thorlabs' thickest Ø2" optics. The center-located SM2-threaded (2.035"-40) bore is designed to hold optics up to 0.70" (17.8 mm) thick. Two SM2RR retaining rings, providing a Ø1.90" clear aperture, are included to hold an optic within the cage plate. The cage rod through holes have side-located, 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex locking setscrews for securing the position of the LCP34T(/M) plate within the cage. Additionally, an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole is provided for post-mounting applications. Like the LCP34/M, the LCP34T/M has a small dimple to indicate that it is a metric part (see the image at the top of the page).

Click to Enlarge
View of the Flexure Clamping Mechanism

• Directly Accepts Ø2" Optics up to 0.35" (8.9 mm) Thick
• Mounts Optics Within a 60 mm Cage System Assembly
• Tapped with Our Standard SM2 (2.035"-40) Thread
• 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole for Mounting to Ø1/2" Posts

The LCP08(/M) Cage Plate with Enhanced Clamping improves upon the popular LCP34(/M) design, providing the same center-located SM2-threaded (2.035"-40) bore and 8-32 (M4) mounting hole, but offering a more stable flexure clamping mechanism for our standard ER rods. Four cap screws, each with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex, activate the flexure clamp, which increases the surface area in contact with the ER rods. The center-threaded bore of the LCP08(/M) can directly accept a Ø2" optic up to 0.35" (8.9 mm) thick. One SM2RR retaining ring is included, providing a Ø1.90" clear aperture; for direct mounting of optics, a second SM2RR must be purchased. Thicker optics may be mounted in an SM2 Lens Tube, which can be threaded onto the cage plate. As with the LCP34/M shown at the top of the page, the LCP08/M also features a small dimple indicating it is a metric part.

Click to Enlarge
The LCP36 cage plate secures
SM2 lens tubes in a 60 mm cage system.

• Ø2.2" (Ø56.0 mm) Bore Supports Outside Diameter of SM2 Lens Tubes
• Compatible with 60 mm Cage Systems
• Nylon-Tipped Setscrew and Double Bore Securely Hold Lens Tubes
• Not Post Mountable

The LCP36 Cage Plate is designed to allow our SM2 lens tubes to slide into the cage plate and be locked in position with a nylon-tipped setscrew. This cage plate is ideal for situations where it is not desirable to thread the lens tube into one of our threaded cage plates. A double-bore design gives three points of contact for stable and secure mounting. Each cage rod through hole is accompanied by a side-located locking M4 x 0.7 setscrew, which can be secured using a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key.

Please note that this plate does not feature a tapped mounting hole, unlike many of our other cage plates. Due to the bore size, there would be interference between the threaded stud on our Ø1/2" posts and the clear aperture of the bore. Therefore, this cage plate cannot be used directly with Ø1/2" Posts, and a cage system utilizing this plate must be supported using a different method.

Click to Enlarge
Rotating 60 mm Cage System

• Rotates an Entire 60 mm Cage System Subassembly Around a Fixed SM2-Threaded (2.035"-40) Bore
• Post Mountable via 8-32 (M4) Tapped Hole
• Rotation Locked with Flexure Mechanism

Thorlabs' LCPU2(/M) 60 mm Rotating Cage Segment Plate allows an entire 60 mm cage subsystem to be rotated about the optical axis. The LCPU2(/M) consists of two plates: one attaches to a fixed cage segment, while the other rotates all attached cage elements. To rotate a cage segment between two fixed cage segments, two LCPU2(/M) plates must be used. The rotating cage segment is ideal for rotating multiple optical elements where the rotation of each element must be the same (e.g., using two cylindrical lenses to change the spatial profile of a laser diode or for multi-element polarization applications).

The rotating cage segment plate features a 1" deep, SM2-threaded (2.035"-40) central bore through the part that remains fixed as the plate is rotated. Two SM2RR retaining rings are provided for direct mounting of optics.

Each side of the cage plate has four blind holes for attaching cage rods. The blind holes do not penerate the full length of the plate, and thus, the cage rods must terminate at the segment they are installed in. Each rod is held in place by a side-located locking M4 setscrew, which can be secured using a 5/64" (2 mm) balldriver or hex key. An engraved scale with 2° graduations allows for reliable manual positioning. After the rotation is adjusted, a flexure locking mechanism, which is engaged with a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key, secures the rotation. The fixed side of the cage plate is equipped with an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole for mounting with our Ø1/2" posts.

Click for Details

• Create Removable 60 mm Cage Segments
• SM2 (2.035"-40) Internal Thread
• Compatible with 60 mm Cage Systems
• Available in 0.50" and 0.90" Thick Versions

Thorlabs' 60 mm Removable Cage Segment Plates provide the means to extract a portion of a cage system and replace it with other pre-aligned segments, as illustrated in the photo to the right. These cage plates add versatility to a cage system without disturbing any pre-aligned components while maintaining the rigidity of the cage system. The LCP45(/M) and LCP45T(/M) cage plates are equipped with a flexure cam lock to hold the cage plate in position prior to final tightening via the included 3-48 (M2.5 x 0.45) locking socket head screw. The cage plates may be mounted on our Ø1/2" Posts via an 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) mounting hole.

For additional information, please see the complete product presentation.

Click to Enlarge
LCP44F Quick-Release Magnetic Plate Shown in 60 mm Cage System

• 60 mm Cage Compatible Back Plate
• Magnetically Coupled Mounting Carriage
• Accepts Ø2" (50.8 mm) Optics Up to 0.325" (8.3 mm) Thick
• Angular Repeatability Better Than 1 µrad
• Lateral Repeatability Better Than 10 µm in X, Y, and Z
• Back Plate and Mounting Carriage Have Internal SM2 Threading
• One SM2RR Retaining Ring Included

The LCP44F consists of a back plate compatible with the 60 mm cage system and a mounting carriage (front plate) that is magnetically coupled with pairs of rare earth magnets to the back plate. For stability, precision, and repeatability, the mounting carriage contacts the back plate at three points. Each point of contact is a ball bearing on the mounting carriage resting in the groove formed by two parallel steel pins. Since the axes defined by the three sets of pins share a common point of intersection, the system is properly constrained (kinematic). The mounting carriage can be easily inserted or removed from the fully assembled cage system by separating it from the back plate, rotating it sideways, and then extracting it from the cage.

The internal SM2 threading allows components up to 0.325" (8.3 mm) thick to be secured in the mounting carriage with the included SM2RR retaining ring. Components with external SM2 threading (OD = 2.2" (55.9 mm)) cannot extend more than 1" (25.4 mm) beyond the face of the mounting carriage without sacrificing the ability to remove the mounting carriage and component from a closed cage system. The lateral repeatability specification (10 µm) indicates that the X, Y, and Z position of the mount will not vary by more than 10 µm after being removed and replaced, while the 1 µrad angular repeatability refers to the rotation of the optic not changing by more than 1 µrad.

Both the LCP44F and LCP44F-B have four cage rod through holes that are each accompanied by a side-located locking M4 setscrew, which can be secured using a 2.0 mm hex key (such as Item # 564HK).

• Compatible with 60 mm Cage Systems
• Internal SM2 Threading
• Dovetail Design Provides Smooth Release and Clamping Action
• One-Handed Operation for Removal and Repositioning of an Optic
• Accepts Ø2" (Ø50.8 mm) Optics Up to 0.15" (3.8 mm) Thick
• One SM2RR Retaining Ring Included

The QRC2A cage mount is equipped with a spring-loaded dovetail clamp that secures or releases the cage mount to two of the four ER rods in the cage structure. The cage plate has internal SM2 threading that allows for components up to 0.15" (3.8 mm) thick to be secured with the included SM2RR retaining ring. In addition, components up to 1" (25.4 mm) thick [not including length of threaded stub, OD = 2.2" (55.9 mm)] with external SM1 threading can be attached without sacrificing the ability to remove the cage plate from a closed cage system.

Click to Enlarge
LH160C Holding a Ø2" Lens
in a 60 mm Cage System

• Mounts Optics from Ø0.50" (Ø12.7 mm) to Ø2.00" (Ø50.8 mm)
• 4 Through Holes on 60 mm Centers for Our Cage Rods
• SM2-Threaded (2.035"-40) for Compatibility with SM2 Lens Tubes
• Laser-Engraved Millimeter Scale for Centering Optics
• 8-32 (M4) Tapped Mounting Hole for Mounting to Ø1/2" Posts

Thorlabs' LH160C(/M) Adjustable Lens Mount is compatible with our 60 mm Cage Systems and is ideal for general-purpose mounting of non-standard optic sizes. The non-marring Delrin^®* fingers can be individually adjusted for unusual shapes in addition to being reversible, providing a flat side and a V-shaped side. The optic or object may be manually aligned and then locked into place by tightening the three black thumbscrews in the Delrin fingers. The aluminum mount and Delrin fingers have laser-engraved witness lines and millimeter scales, respectively. The scales on the fingers offer minor ticks every 1 mm and major ticks spaced 5 mm apart. These ticks along with the engraved lines allow for more repeatable positioning and help with optic centration within the mount.

The mount features four through holes compatible with our Ø6.0 mm cage rods and 60 mm cage system. Two 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex setscrews for each rod lock the mount into place. The mount also features SM2 (2.035"-40) threading for compatibility with our SM2 Lens Tubes and a bottom-located 8-32 (M4) tapped hole that allows for direct mounting to our Ø1/2" Posts. Please note that the three Delrin fingers prohibit mounting SM2-threaded components on the front of the LH160C(/M) mount.

*Delrin is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc.

• Rectangular Optic Mount for 60 mm Cage Systems
• Two Manually Positioned Arms Hold Optics up to 1.84" (46.8 mm) Tall Within the Cage System
• Internal SM2 (2.035"-40) Threads Compatible with Ø2" Lens Tubes
• Graduations at 1 mm Intervals Help with Centration and Repeatability

Thorlabs' Cylindrical Lens Mount for 60 mm Cage Systems is designed to orient a cylindrical lens or another rectangular optic horizontally or vertically within a 60 mm cage system. The lens is effectively clamped between the two sliding arms, each of which is lined with a 2.70" (68.6 mm) long rubber pad and has a lip for resting the plano side of the lens against, as shown in the image at the top of the page. The manually positioned arms can hold optics from 0.16" to 1.84" tall (4.0 mm to 46.8 mm) before they begin to obscure the through holes for the cage system. In order to accommodate taller optics, the included 3" long cage rods can be replaced with longer cage rods (sold separately), but the mount cannot be used within a cage system if the arms or the optic overlap with the through holes.

Each arm is secured to the side-mounted 3" long cage rods (Item # ER3) using two 4-40 setscrews that accept a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. The cage plate is tightened to these cage rods by two additional 4-40 setscrews. The cage plate and arms can be moved and locked independently. Hence, by loosening the cage plate while keeping the arms tightened, the user may translate a lens parallel to these cage rods (i.e., in a transverse direction) without disturbing the rest of the cage system. The arms can also be relocated from the front of the cage plate to the back of the cage plate.

For additional information, please see the complete product presentation.

Click to Enlarge
Cage Rod Mounting Options

• Four Internally SM2-Threaded (2.035"-40) Ports
• 4-40 Tapped Holes on Four Faces for Securing Ø6 mm Cage Rods
• Ø6 mm Through Holes for Ø6 mm Cage Rods

The LC6WR 60 mm Cage Cube is designed for building 2D and 3D cage systems while providing a means to mount optics such as beamsplitters inside. Two opposing faces offer Ø6 mm through holes, while the other four faces have 4-40 tapped holes to accept cage rods. The through holes allow for 1D translation of a section in a cage assembly. There are four 8-32 tapped holes (see photo to the right) on the top and bottom of the cube for connecting various accessories, such as cover plates or platforms, which can be found below. The 8-32 cap screws needed for mounting these accessories are included with the individual accessory and not the LC6WR Cage Cube. The four internally SM2-threaded ports allow the cubes to be integrated with other accessories, such as our Ø2" Lens Tubes; unused ports can be closed off with an SM2CP2 Port Hole Cover.

Eight M4 setscrews with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex are included to secure the cube to the cage rods that pass through the through holes of the cage cube.