Click to Enlarge
FiberPort on HCP Post Mount used to Collimate Light from a Single Mode Fiber

Available Fiberport Types
FC and APC Connectors, Achromatic Doublet Lens
FC/PC and FC/APC Conectors, Aspheric Lens, EFL ≤ 7.5 mm
FC/APC Connectors, Aspheric Lens, EFL ≥ 11 mm
FC/PC Connectors, Aspheric Lens, EFL ≥ 11 mm
SMA Connectors, Aspheric Lens, All Focal Lengths
FiberPort Mounts

Features

5 Degrees of Freedom plus Rotational Adjustment
Micropositioning Alignment for Collimation or Coupling
FC/PC, FC/APC, and SMA Versions
- FC/PC and FC/APC Versions Accept Both 2.1 mm Wide Key
  and 2.0 mm Narrow Key Connectors
- PAF-SMA FiberPorts are Designed for SMA 905 Connectors
Available with Either an Aspheric or Achromatic Lens
Suitable for Single Mode, Multimode, and Polarization-Maintaining (PM) Fiber

Thorlabs' compact, ultra-stable FiberPort micropositioners provide an easy-to-use platform for coupling light into and out of optical fibers. This device enables alignment to an FC/PC-, FC/APC-, or SMA-terminated fiber with six directional adjustments. The compact size combined with the ultra-stable alignment, which is maintained over time, makes the FiberPort an ideal solution for fiber coupling or collimation.

Five Degrees of Freedom (Plus Bulkhead Rotation)
While holding the connector and fiber stationary, the built-in lens can be aligned with five degrees of freedom: linear alignment of the lens in the x and y, and angular alignment for tip and tilt, plus z adjusment using the tip and tilt controls simultaneously. In addition, the locking screws on the front plate can be loosened to enable rotation of the bulkhead for PM fiber alignment. The lens adjustment and bulkhead rotation provide a total of six degrees of freedom. After alignment is complete, a locking setscrew can be tightened to secure the position. Please contact Tech Support for complete instructions regarding bulkhead adjustment.

Fiber Patch Cables for Fiberports
We recommend using FiberPorts with our AR-coated single mode or multimode fiber optic patch cables for both coupling and collimating applications. These cables feature an antireflective coating on one fiber end for increased transmission and improved return loss at the fiber to free space interface. These cables are available with an AR-coated FC/PC (SM), FC/APC (SM), or SMA (MM) connector. Alternatively, our large selection of standard fiber patch cables can also be used.

Click to Enlarge
For full operating details, see the Mechanism and Operation tabs.

Lens Materials

Item #	Material	Transmission Plot
PAF-xxx-2-x	ECO-550
PAFA-X-4-A*	N-SK16/N-LASF9
PAFA-X-4-B*	N-LAK22/N-SF6HT
PAFA-X-4-C*	N-SF66/N-LASF41
PAF-xxx-5-x	H-LAK54
PAF-xxx-7-x	H-LAK54
PAF-xxx-11-x	H-LAK54
PAF-xxx-15-x	ECO-550
PAF-xxx-18-x	ECO-550

* Achromatic Doublet Lens. All other FiberPorts use aspheric lenses.

Lens Selection Example - Choosing a FiberPort for Fiber Coupling

The example presented here details the steps needed to ensure proper selection of a FiberPort to match the requirements of a particular fiber. For specific recommendations, please contact Technical Support.

Example:
Fiber: P1-630A-FC-2
Collimated Beam Diameter Prior to Lens: Ø3 mm
Wavelength: 633 nm

The specifications for the P1-630A-FC-2, 630 nm, FC/PC single mode patch cable indicate that the 1/e² mode field diameter (MFD) is 4.3 μm at 633 nm. The MFD should equal the diffraction-limited spot size Ø_spot, which is given by the following equation:

Here, f is the focal length of the lens, λ is the wavelength of the input light, and D is the 1/e²diameter of collimated beam incident on the lens. Solving for the desired focal length of the collimating lens yields:

Thorlabs offers a large selection of FiberPorts. You'll note that the FiberPort with a focal length closest to 16 mm has a focal length of 15.4 mm (Item # PAF-X-15-B), while also meeting the requirements for fiber connector and antireflection coating range. This FiberPort also has a clear aperture that is larger than the collimated beam diameter. Therefore, this is the best option given the initial parameters (i.e., a P1-630A-FC-2 single mode fiber and a collimated beam diameter of 3 mm). Remember, for optimum coupling the spot size of the focused beam must be less than the MFD of the single mode fiber. As a result, if a FiberPort is not available that provides an exact match, then choose the FiberPort with a focal length that is shorter than the calculation above yields. Alternatively, if the clear aperture of the lens is large enough, the beam can be expanded before the lens, which has the result of reducing the spot size of the focused beam.

Please note that the specified NA is the NA of the lens, not the required numerical aperture of the fiber you are using. As long as the lens NA is smaller than the NA of your fiber, you should be able to couple light. For best results, Thorlabs recommends using the equations above when choosing a FiberPort.

AR Coatings

Thorlabs offers models with our A (350-700 nm*), B (600-1050 nm), C (1050-1600 nm), or D (1800-2400 nm) AR-coatings. These models may be used with single mode, multimode, and PM fibers terminated with FC/PC, FC/APC, or SMA connectors. Care should be taken in selecting a FiberPort to make sure the correct fiber/connector/FiberPort combination is selected. If you need assistance, please contact tech support at your local office.

Fiberport AR Coatings

Aspheric vs. Achromatic FiberPort Performance

Fiberports are available with either Aspheric or Achromatic Doublet Lenses. For applications requiring collimation of multiple visible wavelengths, the Achromatic FiberPorts are ideal. The achromatic design of the PAFA series of FiberPorts utilizes cemented doublets. These doublets minimize chromatic aberrations when coupling or collimating either a broadband light source or multiple wavelengths. The small focal length shifts experienced by an achromatic doublet allow the FiberPort to be used over a broad wavelength range without needing realignment (see below).

Click to Enlarge

This graph compares the performance of an achromatic doublet to an aspheric lens when a collimated beam is focused onto a fiber, such as the case with our FiberPort couplers. The achromatic doublet provides a small spot size on the fiber over a large wavelength range, while the aspheric lens offers a small spot size only over a narrow range.

Click to Enlarge

This graph plots the focal length shift of an aspheric lens (in PAFX-5-A) and a similar focal length achromatic doublet (in PAFA-X-4-A). The focal shift experienced by the aspheric lens is an order of magnitude larger than that of the achromatic doublet.

The FiberPort is a six degree of freedom fiber collimator and coupler (5-axis plus rotation). It uses a movable lens as the alignment mechanism while holding the fiber stationary. This provides an extremely stable and repeatable platform for coupling and collimating. All adjustments are coupled.

(Click to Enlarge)

The FiberPort consists of a body, a Magnetic Lens Cell (MLC) adhered to a tilt plate, and a bulkhead with fiber connector. The bulkhead is locked onto the FiberPort body by three flat head screws and the clamp plate. By loosening the flat head screws, the fiber bulkhead can be rotated freely.

FiberPort MLC as Viewed from the Lens Side (with Tilt Plate Removed) (Click to Enlarge)

Z/q/j Adjustment
The MLC adheres to the tilt plate, which can be adjusted in Z/q/j (Axial, Tip, Tilt) using the three socket head cap screws (SCHS). The plunger screws provide counterforce against the SCHS. The Z (optical axis) translation range is ± 0.4 mm for a given position of the plunge screws. The plunge screws can translate the + extreme of the travel range in the Z direction over a distance of 2 mm.

X-Y Adjustment
Additionally, the MLC can be translated in X-Y using the setscrews in the side of the fiberport body. The MLC rests on a leaf spring, and the X-Y screws push the cell against the leaf spring. A third setscrew behind the leaf spring can be used for locking. The travel range of the aspheric lens in the X and Y directions is ± 0.7 mm but when the FiberPort is used in a standard collimation/coupling application only a small portion of this translation range is used.

Location of Screws on the FiberPort

Please refer to the Operation tab for full operating instructions.

The X-Y lens adjustment screws are located on the outer diameter of the FiberPort body at the 9 o’clock and the 12 o’clock positions (in the photo below). The three plunger screws provide counterforce for the tilt plate. The three socket head cap screws (SHCS) provide the Z/q/j adjustments for the FiberPort. The three SHCS and the X-Y screws are the only screws that are normally used in the alignment of the FiberPort. However, the plunge screws can be used to adjust the tension on the tilt plate if needed. Also, the three flat head screws on the face of the FiberPort hold the clamp plate and bulkhead in place. By loosening these screws, the bulkhead can be rotated a full 360° and secured at any angle for PM applications. This is a coarse adjustment, however.

Location of Adjustment and Mounting Screws as Viewed from the Fiber Bulkhead Side (Click to Enlarge)

The locking screw is located on the outer diameter of the FiberPort body at the 4:30 position. The locking screw is not installed when the FiberPort is shipped but is included in the package. The locking screw is only used after the FiberPort is aligned. NOTE: Locking is not necessary in most applications and can affect coupling.

Part	Screw Size	Head Size (Hex)
Mounting Plate Attachment Screws	2-56	5/64"
X, Y, Z, Tip & Tilt Socket Head Screws	0-80	0.050"
Flat Head Screws	2-56	0.050"
Plunger Screws	6-32	0.035"

FiberPort Mechanical Drawing

Collimating Out of a Fiber

Fiberport Lens Positions for Collimating

Three Lens Positions: Collimated, Converging, and Diverging (Click to Enlarge)

Attach a connectorized fiber source to the bulkhead of the FiberPort and examine the output.
Adjust the X-Y screws to center the output beam in the tilt plate aperture. It is important to maintain the X-Y screws in a position neither too tight or loose at all times or they may not function properly.
Trace the beam away from the FiberPort to check for collimation (see diagram to the right).
- For a converging beam (beam comes to a focus): The lens is too far away from the fiber. Alternately turn the SHCS (socket head cap screws) clockwise in small, equal increments. Be sure to adjust all screws in equal increments.
- For a diverging beam (beam diameter continually increases): The lens is too close to the fiber. Alternately turn the SHCS counter clockwise in small, equal increments. Be sure to adjust all screws in equal increments.
Check the beam path and adjust the X-Y screws as needed to re-center the beam in the output aperture.
Use progressively smaller adjustments until collimation is achieved and the desired beam centration is obtained. Do not force the screws past their normal operating range, if collimation is not easily achieved please contact Tech Support for assistance.

Coupling into a Fiber

FiberPort Alignment Setup (Click to Enlarge)

If possible, collimate light out of the FiberPort first (see Collimating out of Fiber above). This will put the lens close to the correct position to start coupling.
In order to launch a free-space beam into the FiberPort effectively, it is essential that the incoming beam path be aligned with the fiber axis of the FiberPort. The diagram to the right illustrates a simple technique that can be implemented to achieve this alignment.

First, place two irises (set to the same height off the table) as shown in the figure to the right. Adjust mirror 1 (M1) until the beam passes through the center of Iris 1, then adjust M2 to align the beam through the center of Iris 2. Iris 1 may need to be opened at this stage to allow the beam to pass through to Iris 2 during the initial part of alignment. Repeat this process iteratively until the beam is centered through both Iris 1 and Iris 2.

Place the FiberPort after Iris 2. Centering the input beam on the lens aperture of the FiberPort can be accomplished by affixing a target to the tilt plate in front of the lens. Make adjustments to the FiberPort’s position until the beam is visibly centered on the FiberPort aperture. The FiberPort can be mounted on to a HCP bracket mount in order to adjust its position.

Once the beam is centered, light should be clearly visible exiting the back of the FiberPort (with no fiber attached). Move the FiberPort body to make sure the beam is not visually clipped.

Make sure the tip of the fiber is clean as this will maximize the amount of light coupled into the fiber. Once light is passing through the FiberPort, attach a multimode (MM) fiber (50 – 100 μm core) to the FiberPort, which will make the initial alignment process easier rather than coupling directly into a singlemode (SM) fiber.
Attach an optical detector to the end of the fiber not connected to the FiberPort and monitor the output signal. An optical detector has a faster response time than a power meter, and thus may be more helpful for fiberport alignment. Steps 2 and 3 should ensure that enough light is coupled into the fiber in order to detect an output signal at this stage. If you do not have any measurable power, repeat steps 2 and 3.
Use the X and Y adjustment screws to maximize the output signal. These adjustments are extremely sensitive. Small adjustments here translate to large coupling changes. The X and Y adjustments are coupled, so finding the maximum signal is an iterative process between the X and Y adjustments. Once the XY maximum is achieved, only VERY SMALL adjustments are needed. It is important to maintain the X-Y screws in a position neither too tight or loose at all times or they may not function properly.
Monitor and maximize the output signal while making small, equal adjustments in Z/q/j positioning socket head cap screws (SHCS). This will allow the lens to move in the Z direction without altering the tip/tilt. Be sure to adjust the SHCS in equal increments.
NOTE: in order to determine which way to adjust the screws, unscrew the fiber connector from the bulkhead and monitor the output as the fiber is retracted from the bulkhead. If the power increases, then the lens needs to move further away from the fiber, and if it decreases then the lens still has to move closer to the fiber. (Turn the SCHS clockwise to move the lens closer to the fiber, and counterclockwise to move the lens farther from the fiber.)
1. Start at any SHCS on the face of the FiberPort and make very small adjustments to get a maximum in the output signal.
2. Move in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to the next SHCS and make a similarly small adjustment.
3. Continue in the same direction with the final SHCS, and again make an equal adjustment.
4. After adjusting the SHCS, the signal may be lower that before the adjustment. Re-adjustment of the XY screws in the next step will show the increase in signal power.
Repeat step 6 (XY adjustment) to reach an absolute maximum signal. Note that adjusting the XY screws may involve losing the signal, and then finding the maximum again. Adjust the X and Y screws iteratively to find an absolute maximum.

As the coupling efficiency increases, the magnitude of the adjustments will get smaller and smaller. If you intend to couple into an SM fiber, switch the MM fiber to an SM fiber at this point (once there is good coupling into the MM fiber after steps 5 and 6). It will be necessary to repeat steps 6 - 8 with the SM fiber in place to maximize the coupling.

NOTE: When coupling into SM fiber, even the smallest adjustments can drastically affect the coupling. When adjusting the SHCS be aware that by simply monitoring the power of the output signal, one can get stuck in a local maxima and never achieve best coupling. The ideal procedure is to make a small EQUAL adjustment in each of the SHCS in the chosen direction and only monitor the power once all the screws have been adjusted. Usually, one will see a drop in power once the 2nd screw is adjusted but then a large increase in power when the 3rd screw is adjusted, or when the XY screws are adjusted.

If you are using PM fiber, you can rotate the bulkhead to align the axis if needed. Please see Chapter 1 for more information on how to adjust the FiberPort.

FiberPort to FiberPort on a Single-Axis Fiberbench

FiberPort to FiberPort on a Single-Axis FiberBench (Click to Enlarge)

Rough Alignment

Assemble the FiberBench with both ports on the FiberBench facing each other as shown on the right.
Collimate beam from input FiberPort: Attach an optical fiber to the input FiberPort in order to launch light into the FiberBench. Adjust the three SHCS screws in a near equal amount so the “Z” positioning is fine tuned to collimate the beam out of the fiber (see Chapter 5). It may only require very small adjustment.
Center beam on output FiberPort: Once good collimation is achieved, use slight (quarter or eighth) turns of the SHCS to steer the beam to the center of the other FiberPort. If this adjustment is not enough, DO NOT adjust the screws any more. Instead, set them back to the previous position which gave good collimation (from step 2) and this time use the X-Y adjustment screws to move the lens in X-Y to steer the beam.
Collimate and center other FiberPort: Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other FiberPort, launching light backward through the output fiber.
Beam Waist at Center: In order to maximize the coupling of light between the FiberPorts, place the waist of the beam at the center between the two FiberPorts.

Fine Tuning

Use multimode fiber for coarse alignment: To align the FiberBench, start with multimode (50 – 100 µm core) fiber (if you have one) on the output port. The large core allows for easy coupling and good practice for the feel of the fiberport and which types of adjustments translate to coupling. This also helps to understand how quickly one can go out of alignment. NOTE: It does not help to use multimode fiber on the input port.
Check output power: Connect the output fiber to a suitable detector in order to determine and monitor the power coupled into the output fiber, and the quality of the alignment. Some power should be present from steps 2 – 4 at this stage (possibly only 10 – 250 nW). If there is no measurable power, repeat steps 2 – 4 again.
Fine-tune coupling: Once you have a measurable signal from the output fiber, you can further improve and fine tune the alignment/coupling by making adjustments and monitoring the power level on the detector. See section on fiber coupling.
Switch to SM Fiber: Once the alignment is optimized, you can switch to using SM fiber on the output FiberPort. You may need to repeat step 3 to optimize the coupling efficiency.

Locking the FiberPort

Most applications DO NOT require locking.

If you are leaving the FiberPort on a table, it does not need to be locked. Screw on the black end cap to minimize unauthorized alignment changes. Typically, an aligned FiberPort can be hand carried and moved without alignment changes. Alignment can be lost in the locking process. For situations where the FiberPort can undergo large vibrations or shock, such as shipping, we recommend locking or potting the FiberPort. Locking the FiberPort is an iterative process requiring patience. The locking screw pushes the cell firmly against the X & Y screws. Alignment will be lost if the locking screw is tightened quickly.

When locking the position of the LMC using the procedure below, monitor the position of the beam if the FiberPort is being used as a collimator. If the FiberPort is being used to couple light into a fiber, attach a suitable optical detector to the output end of the fiber and monitor the output signal of the detector during the locking process. In either case, make sure that the locking process does not change the alignment of the LMC.

Carefully thread the small locking screw into the FiberPort at the 7:30 o’clock position on the outer diameter.
As you slowly tighten the locking screw, adjust the X-Y screws as required to maintain the alignment. DO NOT TORQUE DOWN ANY OF THE SCREWS. Applying too much pressure with the screws can permanently damage the magnet/lens assembly, the 0-80 screws, and/or destroy the alignment. When the X, Y, and locking screws are just snug, the lens is locked in place.
To prevent accidental changes in Z/q/j, carefully tighten the plunger screws with the small size hex wrench. Make minor adjustments to the SHCS as necessary to maintain the alignment of the LMC. DO NOT TORQUE DOWN ANY OF THE SCREWS.
If optimal alignment is lost when locking, first loosen the locking screw two full turns, then loosen the plunger screws ¼ turn each. The less the plunger screws have to travel to be locked the better. Now adjust the X-Y screws to regain optimal alignment. Repeat the steps 2 and 3 above.
Screw the black end cap on to discourage any further adjustment of the alignment screws.

FiberPort Cage Mount		FiberPort Post Mount
	The CP08FP is designed to center a FiberPort inside a 30 mm cage system. The CP08FP secures to the four ER rods of a 30 mm cage assembly. Four included #2-56 stainless steel socket head screws secure a FiberPort to the adapter. The CP08FP has internal SM1 threading, enabling it to be used with our extensive line of lens tubes, as well as 8-32 or M4 taps for post mounting.		The HCP L-Bracket FiberPort Mount has four 2-56 threaded holes for securing a FiberPort to the front plate. The bottom of the L-bracket can be easily attached to an optical table, a breadboard, or a post since it has #8-32 and M4 threaded holes as well as a counterbored through hole for a 1/4"-20 or an M6 screw.
FiberPort Standard HeNe Adapter		FiberPort 5/8"-32 Threaded HeNe Adapter
	The HCL Adapter allows a FiberPort to attach directly to the front of a HeNe laser utilizing a HeNe industry standard four-bolt pattern. For added mounting options, the HCL features internal C-Mount threading, which is utilized on some lasers. All mounting screws are included. Refer to the FiberPort manual for more details.		The HCL2 Adapter, which features external 5/8"-32 threading, allows a FiberPort coupler to be attached directly to the threaded aperture of our self-contained HeNe lasers or any other 5/8"-32 tapped hole. A slip-plate design allows the position of the fiberport to be shifted and locked to maximize coupling efficiency. FiberPort mounting screws are included. Refer to the FiberPort manual for more details.
FiberPort and Fiberbench
	Thorlabs' fiber-to-fiber U-Benches consist of a FiberBench base combined with two FiberPorts. The U-Benches allow for easy access to the optical beam and are ideal for fiber-to-fiber applications that incorporate multiple components and require the utmost in stability. Thorlabs offers a complete line of optical subassemblies that can be placed into the beam path. We also offer our FiberBenches bundled with two compatible fiberports.

Fiberport mounts are available for purchase at the bottom of this page.

Fiber Collimator Selection Guide

Click on the collimator type or photo to view more information about each type of collimator.

Type		Description
Fixed FC, APC, or SMA Fiber Collimators		These fiber collimation packages are pre-aligned to collimate light from an FC/PC-, FC/APC-, or SMA-connectorized fiber. Each collimation package is factory aligned to provide diffraction-limited performance at one of six wavelengths: 405, 543, 633, 780, 1064, 1310, or 1550 nm. Although it is possible to use the collimator at detuned wavelengths, they will only perform optimally at the design wavelength due to chromatic aberration, which causes the effective focal length of the spheric lens to have a wavelength dependence.
Air-Spaced Doublet, Large Beam Collimators		For large beam diameters (Ø6.6 - Ø8.5 mm), Thorlabs offers FC/PC, SMA, and FC/APC air-spaced doublet collimators. These collimation packages are pre-aligned at the factory to collimate a laser beam propagating from the tip of an FC or SMA conectorized fiber and provide diffraction-limited performance at the design wavelength.
Adjustable Fiber Collimators		These snap-on collimators are designed to connect onto the end of an FC/PC or FC/APC connector and contain an AR-coated aspheric lens. The distance between the aspheric lens and the tip of the FC-terminated fiber can be adjusted to compensate for focal length changes or to recollimate the beam at the wavelength and distance of interest.
FiberPorts		These compact, ultra-stable FiberPort micropositioners provide an easy-to-use, stable platform for coupling light into and out of FC/PC, FC/APC, or SMA terminated optical fibers. It can be used with single mode, multimode, or PM fibers and can be mounted onto a post, stage, platform, or laser. The built-in aspheric or achromatic lens is available with three different AR coatings and has five degrees of alignment adjustment (3 translational and 2 pitch). The compact size and long-term alignment stability make the FiberPort an ideal solution for fiber coupling, collimation, or incorporation into OEM systems.
Triplet Collimators		Thorlabs' High Quality Triplet Fiber Collimation packages use air-spaced triplet lenses that offer superior beam quality performance when compared to aspheric lens collimators. The benefits of the low-aberration triplet design include an M² term closer to 1 (Gaussian), less divergence, and less wavefront error.
Reflective Collimators		Thorlabs' metallic-coated Reflective Collimators are based on a 90° off-axis parabolic mirror. Mirrors, unlike lenses, have a focal length that remains constant over a broad wavelength range. Due to this intrinsic property, a parabolic mirror collimator does not need to be adjusted to accommodate various wavelengths of light, making them ideal for use with polychromatic light. Our reflective collimators are ideal for single-mode fiber.
Pigtailed Collimators		Our pigtailed collimators come with one meter of either single mode or multimode fiber, have the fiber and AR-coated aspheric lens rigidly potted inside the stainless steel housing, and are collimated at one of six wavelengths: 532, 830, 1030, 1064, 1310, or 1550 nm. Although it is possible to use the collimator at any wavelength within the coating range, the coupling loss will increase as the wavelength is detuned from the design wavelength.
GRIN Fiber Collimators		Thorlabs offers gradient index (GRIN) fiber collimators that are aligned for either 980, 1064, 1310, or 1550 nm and have either FC connectorized, APC connectorized, or unterminated fibers. Our GRIN collimators feature a Ø1.8 mm clear aperture, are AR-coated to ensure low back reflection into the fiber, and are coupled to standard single mode or graded-index multimode fibers.
GRIN Lenses		These graded-index (GRIN) lenses are AR coated for applications at 630, 830, 1060, 1300, or 1560 nm that require light to propagate through one fiber, then through a free-space optical system, and finally back into another fiber. They are also useful for coupling light from laser diodes into fibers, coupling the output of a fiber into a detector, or collimating laser light. Our GRIN lenses are designed to be used with our Pigtailed Glass Ferrules and GRIN/Ferrule sleeves.

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Posted Comments:

Poster: zwang

Posted Date: 2013-06-18 00:04:10.2

What does of Divergence in your fiberport table mean?

Poster: rajduc

Posted Date: 2013-02-19 20:16:08.913

I too need Zemax files in ZMX format! Can I request from technical support directly for specific components, until ThorLabs deliberates whether they will provide both zar and zmx formats?

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2013-02-21 14:58:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: Thank you for contacting us. Our technical support team is happy to provide .zmx or .zar formats on request to techsupport@thorlabs. We are also actively working on providing this on the website.

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2013-01-17 10:31:50.603

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: We have achromatic options available. We will contact you to discuss the performance based on your wavelengths.

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2012-10-07 11:04:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: We can provide the optic or the magnet/optic assembly separately as a special. If you plan to use the lens with another FiberPort we would need to ensure the bulkhead will sit at an appropriate distance. I see you didn’t leave any contact information. To obtain a quote and continue this discussion please contact us at techsupport@thorlabs.com.

Poster: fdm

Posted Date: 2012-10-06 07:16:59.0

Is the lens used in PAFA-X-4-C available for sale separately? We already own a FiberPort but we would like to use this lens.

Poster: jlow

Posted Date: 2012-09-27 14:19:00.0

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: You could possibly make a XZ translation mount out of our regular translation stages and then put the FiberPort fitted on the HCP on it for coarse XZ adjustment. I will get in contact with you directly to discuss about the travel ranges and other constraints that you might have in your application.

Poster: jyuan

Posted Date: 2012-09-20 17:38:08.0

I would like to couple a free-space laser to fiber, and am thinking of mounting PAFA-X-4-A to a XZ translation mechanism (to provide coarse X-Z adjustment before fine-tuning using PAFA-X-4-A). I think this would make the adjustment easier. But the problems is I am not able to find a suitable XZ stage to couple to PAFA-X-4-A, possibly through HCP. Could you give me some suggestions? Thank you!

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2012-08-17 12:04:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: The coupling efficiency depends on a few factors. When mounted to a FB-38 or FB-51 FiberBench, you should be able to get around 1dB IL. In your case, symmetry between the optics and fiber will allow favorable results in coupling. Please always ensure the cleanliness of your components. You didn’t mention whether there are optics or other components in the beam path. A sketch showing the PAF separation and other elements in the beampath would be helpful to continue this discussion and I will contact you to discuss your setup with you directly.

Poster: scottie730318

Posted Date: 2012-08-15 19:14:38.0

Dear Sir: I have bought two fiber ports (PAFA-X-4-C) to collimate and focus the light. The one is collimating the light from the Hi-1060 fiber. Another one is focusing the collimating light into the Hi-1060 fiber. The connector of single mode fiber (Hi-1060) is the FC/APC. I have already fine tune the fiber port of collimator and focusing to get the max. coupling efficiency. However, the loss between the two collimator/focusing fiber ports is about 2.1 dB. What value is the max. coupling efficiency? And How can I to improve the coupling efficiency? Thank you very much.

Poster: phkloth

Posted Date: 2012-08-02 18:15:39.0

What kind of beam diameter is meant in your selection guide. The 1/e or the 1/e^2? Thanks for your response.

Poster: jlow

Posted Date: 2012-08-02 12:09:00.0

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: The beam diameter is defined by 1/e^2.

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2012-05-29 10:22:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: Thank you for contacting us! The max waist distance will increase as wavelength increases. However, it is also a function of the fiber used. Assuming the PAF-X-2-C is used at 1060nm with an input MFD of 10.4um, we have zmax = f + [(2)(f^2)(lambda)]/[(pi)(MFD^2)] ~ 27mm.

Poster: scottie730318

Posted Date: 2012-05-27 02:33:30.0

What distance is the max waist distance (PAF-X-2-C ) with about 1060 nm ?

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2012-05-08 09:49:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: We have our Zemax documentation on the web as .zar because this allows us to include more information than with a standard .zmx file. I have contacted you to provide the associated .zmx file.

Poster: martin.vogel

Posted Date: 2012-05-07 19:06:40.0

Hello, can you please repost the lens prescription in ZMX format? Zemax archive files (ZAR) are not read by most other optical design software. Many thanks

Poster: tcohen

Posted Date: 2012-05-01 11:58:00.0

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback! We are looking into being able to offer this option. I will contact you to keep you updated in the process.

Poster: marcel.rattunde

Posted Date: 2012-04-26 20:46:27.0

is there a possibility to get a fiber port for the 1800 - 2400nm range (D coating) also for an SMA connector ? so far you have in this range only FC/PC or FC/APC couplers ?

Poster: jjurado

Posted Date: 2011-08-19 09:34:00.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to willtalmadge: Thank you for contacting us. They are a few parameters to consider in order to choose the most appropriate fiberport. To determine the required focal length of the coupling lens, it is necessary to take into account the beam diameter of the input beam and the modefield diameter of the fiber, which is 3.5um (+/- 0.5um) at 515 nm for the 460HP fiber used in the P1-460A-FC-5 cable(see Fiber Coupling tab: http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3810). It is recommended to focus your spot to approximately 70-80% of the core size in order to optimize the coupling efficiency. It is also important in most cases to match the numerical of both the lens and the fiber in order to prevent coupling into the cladding of the fiber. I will contact you directly for further support.

Poster: willtalmadge

Posted Date: 2011-08-18 13:41:21.0

I need some assistance selecting a fiber port that is optimally matched to the fiber cable P1-460A-FC-5 to be used for coupling a 514.5 nm free space laser into the fiber. A recommendation on which fiber port one would use would be best.

Poster: jjurado

Posted Date: 2011-08-18 10:18:00.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to p.edmunds: We are currently working on an update to the manual of our fiberport collimators which contains detailed instructions for aligning and optimizing the collimation and coupling of light in fiber systems. This manual will be available on the web within the next week. I will contact you directly for further support.

Poster: p.edmunds

Posted Date: 2011-08-16 14:34:12.0

In a similar vein to the comments before, Ive found that the SHCS no longer respond linearly to changes made to the screws & indeed there seems to be a lot of hystereses involved. This has happened on several different fiberports that my group has bought-it seems as if they can only handle being aligned a couple of times. Is it really necessary to disassemble and put the fiberport back together again? Some more detailed instructions on this than are listed in the manual would be appreciated.

Poster: jjurado

Posted Date: 2011-03-22 18:18:00.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to benju: Thank you for submitting your inquiry. The fiberport collimators/couplers have several advantages over a "microcage" system using the components you mentioned: - The fiberport allows for tip and tilt adjustability in addition to x, y and z (along the optical axis of the lens), which helps optimize coupling. An assembly using the SM1Z coupled to the HPT1 or CP1XY does not have this feature. - The majority of the mechanical components used in the fiberport are manufactured with stainless steel, which is more thermally stable than aluminum. - The components of the fiberport are built with tighter tolerances, which allow for precise positioning. - The fiberport can be locked to secure the adjustment settings. I will contact you directly for further assistance.

Poster: benju

Posted Date: 2011-03-21 20:17:12.0

Hi, could you please get back to me regarding the stability of the fiberport compared to e.g. an assembly of separate xy and z translator in a microcage system (e.g. SM1Z + CP1XY/HPT1)?

Poster: jjurado

Posted Date: 2011-02-15 16:01:00.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to tangcheng: Thank you for contacting us with your request. The manual for the fiberports contains detailed instructions for disassembling and reassembling the device. You can use these instructions to gain access to the spring. After continuous use, it is possible for the spring to become damaged, over bent, or improperly seated. If necessary, we can replace the spring for you. You can find a copy of the manual via the following link: http://www.thorlabs.com/Thorcat/16100/16137-D02.pdf

Poster: tangcheng

Posted Date: 2011-02-14 18:30:07.0

I have similar problem of loss of spring tension. Could you send me the instructions on readjusting the spring? Thank you.

Poster: scott

Posted Date: 2010-11-03 16:21:28.0

I have a similar problem as the previous poster. I dont think the leaf spring is broken but the lens cell only moves over a fraction of the original x/y adjustment range. It seems as if either the spring has lost tension and cannot push the cell any further now, or the fraction of the cell inside the cage has increased over time. Is there any way to get the full travel range in x/y back as the collimator is pretty much unusable in its current state?

Poster: Thorlabs

Posted Date: 2010-11-03 15:54:02.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to Scott and Iddo: Thank you for your feedback. It is possible that the leaf spring has lost tension. However, before making this assumption, I would suggest making sure that the locking screw located on the side of the fiberport is not threaded in, as it would limit the x/y travel of the lens. If loosening the locking screw does not help with the x/y travel, then you could disassemble the fiberport and readjust the leaf spring (or we could do that for you, if you prefer). I will send you instructions and pictures for doing this.

Poster: iddo.pinkas

Posted Date: 2010-11-03 13:25:12.0

Dear Sir/Madam, I have had this product for over a year. I believe that the counter spring on the XY controls has broken, as I dont have any continuous motion of either axis when trying to align the light into the fiber. Is there a way to replace this spring? Best regards, Iddo

Poster: iddo.pinkas

Posted Date: 2010-11-03 13:24:18.0

Poster: Thorlabs

Posted Date: 2010-11-03 09:17:38.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to bmills: you can optimize the collimation by adjusting the three socket head cap screws (SHCS)located on the connector side of the fiberport. Adjusting all three screws allows you to control the distance between the tip of the fiber and the lens by +/- 0.4 mm. Please refer to the "Mechanism" tab for more information.

Poster: bmills

Posted Date: 2010-11-02 18:25:28.0

Is the focus of the lens in the fiberport device adjustable? i.e. - is the collimation adjustable of you were collimating the light coming out of a fiber?

Poster: Thorlabs

Posted Date: 2010-09-22 17:56:07.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to mdmalik01: Our fiberports are certainly compatible with the 460HP fiber and your 532 nm HeNe laser. The distance between the lens and the tip of the fiber can be adjusted in order to compensate for the chromatic focal shift of the aspheric lens used. I will contact you directly to discuss your application.

Poster: mdmalik01

Posted Date: 2010-09-21 14:53:36.0

I was looking at your fiber ports and thought they would be a good idea for our green HeNe laser, but the single mode fiber you offer (460HP) requires a f=2.93mm lens, which is not even an option for your fiber ports -- so my question is: how do you guys expect a customer to use both your fiber and fiber ports for anything that is green and has a 0.7mm 1/e^2 diameter? It looks like you are forcing us to go somewhere else for fiber launching in green.

Poster: Thorlabs

Posted Date: 2010-09-10 17:37:44.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to tommy.e.drake: Yes we do. Click on the "D" (documents) icon next to the part number, and you can download the solidworks model for the fiberport. I will also send this file to you.

Poster: tommy.e.drake

Posted Date: 2010-09-09 16:08:55.0

Do you have a solid model for the PAF-SMA-7-A?

Poster: Thorlabs

Posted Date: 2010-08-31 11:11:44.0

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to last poster: The body of all fiber ports are now manufactured with notches on all four corners to allow them to slide along the rods of the 30 mm cage system. We will update the photos on the web shortly. The SHCS acronym refers to the Socket Head Cap Screws. We will add the definition to the manual.

Poster:

Posted Date: 2010-08-31 06:44:14.0

On these fibre couplers why dont you nip off the corners of the back plate so they can slide on you rail systems? As it is they have to be placed on the ends of the rails which removes a useful degree of freedom when building your systems. I can see no reason why not to do this. Another point is the documentation relies on the acronym SHCS which is not defined at the point of first use nor defined on the diagram. This is very annoying!

Poster: Adam

Posted Date: 2010-03-30 11:20:58.0

A response from Adam at Thorlabs to Jim: We would suggest using this fiberport for coupling light into a 200um fiber. This fiberport can be used to help collect the light from 200um core fibers, but the light will not be well collimated. The light is not collimated well out of multimode fiber because the light behaves as a multimode point source and is not symmetric around the optical axis. This also makes it rather difficult to predict the diameter coming out of the fiber. I would like to get more information about the exact fiber you are using to see what information we can provide.

Poster: Jim.Thieser

Posted Date: 2010-03-30 10:04:25.0

Hi, i have a short question. Can I use this fiber port with a 200 µm fibre? and how large is the beam diameter outcoming of that fiber port with this fibre attached? thanks Best regards Jim Thieser

Poster: apalmentieri

Posted Date: 2010-01-21 13:07:12.0

A response from Adam at Thorlab to b.steel1: At this point in time, the correct information can be found on the website. We are working to get our stock up to V20 standards and the infomration in the catalog will be correct within the next month. I will email you directly to find out the exact fiberport you are working with.

Poster: b.steel1

Posted Date: 2010-01-21 05:38:03.0

The ranges of the AR coatings listed on the website and in the catalogue do not match. Eg, coating A is listed as 400-600nm on the website and 400-700nm in the catalogue. I am coupling a 633nm laser, and the website implies I should use coating B, but the AR coatings graph in the catalogue suggests coating A would be preferable.

Poster: klee

Posted Date: 2009-10-23 18:24:56.0

A response from Ken at Thorlabs to tnakai: We will be shipping these with a quick reference guide going forward. The full 16-page manual can be downloaded from this page.

Poster: tnakai

Posted Date: 2009-10-23 03:06:33.0

The vol.20 catalog still says the alignment instructions are included, but it has never happened so far.

Poster: apalmentieri

Posted Date: 2009-09-18 21:07:57.0

A response from Adam at Thorlabs: I am sorry for the confusion on the MFD. The MFD we provide is just an example of the type of fiber that can be used with the fiberport. The fiberports do not have to be used with the MFDs we specify, they can be used with other MFDs. I will make sure our Technical marketing department makes this more apparent on the website. As per your last sentence, you are correct that those three specifications depend on the fiber/fiberport combination. Please note that all of the specifications found on our website are based off of the MFD we specify for each fiberport.

Poster: mathieu.perrin

Posted Date: 2009-09-18 16:46:45.0

I really dont understand how you can define an Input MFD for these fiberports and think there is a bug in your specs. To be more specific, for part PAF-X-5-C (numerical aperture = 0.53), you quote an Input MFD of 10.4µm in your Spec tab. If I connect a large mode area fiber, such as LMA-35, which has a Mode Field Diameter of 26µm, I guess the MFD will be larger than 10.4µm. If instead I connect a fiber such as UHNA4, which has a Mode Field Diameter of 4µm, I would say the MFD will be smaller than 10.4µm. To me, the MFD will depend on the fiber used, but you specify an Input MFD value for the fiberports. So I figured it is the achievable beam waist for a beam incident on the fiberport lens. Due to diffraction, this should depend on the numerical aperture of the lens, but for part PAF-X-18-C (numerical aperture = 0.15), you quote the exact same Input MFD of 10.4µm, as for all fiberports with the C coating. I think there is a bug in your specs. I also have some trouble understanding the "Output Waist Dia." parameter, the "Max Waist Dist." parameter and the "Divergence" parameter of the fiberport, as they seem related to a particular fiberport+fiber combination.

Poster: klee

Posted Date: 2009-09-11 16:14:36.0

A response from Ken at Thorlabs to ieu.perrin: The Input MFD does not depend on the AR coating. It depends on the fiber used to emit a single mode (approximately a Gaussian intensity profile) from the fiber used at a particular wavelength to calculate the other values.

Poster: mathieu.perrin

Posted Date: 2009-09-10 18:51:33.0

The Input MFD (mode field diameter) depends only on the AR coating used. How is this quantity defined? If this is the waist of a gaussian beam focused by the lens, why is it independent of the numerical aperture?

Poster: Tyler

Posted Date: 2009-03-25 14:21:08.0

A response from Tyler at Thorlabs to oscar.frasciello: The coupling efficiency is dependent on many factors including things like the input beam diameter, wavelength of light, fiber type, etc, so it is not possible to provide an absolute number. The FiberPort alignment mechanism does not impose a limit on the coupling efficiency so if you would expect 50% coupling efficiency using a more traditional alignment stage then you can expect to get the same performance from the FiberPort. However, since the 5 adjustment axes are coupled, there is a knack to achieving optimum alignment. We will contact you via email to collect more information on your setup so that we can provide specific recommendations on how to proceed. If you have any further questions, please continue to submit them.

Poster: oscar.frasciello

Posted Date: 2009-03-24 12:34:30.0

Id like to know wich is the mean power loss for PAF-X-7-A fiberport coupling into a single mode fiber. Im not able to reach a power coupling of more than 10%. Thanks for support

Poster: rdrullinger

Posted Date: 2009-02-18 10:28:26.0

re the fiber collimator, PAF-x-xx, an exploded view with part labels would sure be useful. You obviously never had a user not previously in the know about these things go over your documentation.

Poster: Tyler

Posted Date: 2009-01-26 12:19:31.0

A response from Tyler at Thorlabs to dgray: A member of our technical support department contacted you with a quote, but the short answer is yes. In fact, there are instructions in the FiberPort manual about how to disassemble the FiberPort in case the user wishes to swap the aspheric lens element. If you have any further questions, please continue to submit them.

Poster: dgray

Posted Date: 2009-01-14 04:34:03.0

Can you supply the fiber aligment port without a lens infront?

Poster: jpang

Posted Date: 2008-10-27 11:42:43.0

IF question is when you adjust the 3 Z screws equally does the pointing vector change, this answer is "it depends". For FC straight polished fiber with lens properly XY positioned relative to the fiber and the lens not tilted the beam angular pointing vector will change only slightly. As you can imagine if you have lens off center but tilted you can steer the beam to a given center line point. Likewise you can have beam hit a point on a target with several different lens position combinations. The XY adjustment of 1/50 turn of the 0-80 screw results in very LARGE beam steering change so I assume this was not the question. If you are looking for a varifocus collimator in which only "collimation" divergence changes with a single adjustment then the fiberport PAF is not good for this requirement. For this you need straight or PC polished fiber sliding in a tube. So a kit could be a CFS-T-xx that is not bonded (fiber and lens tube not bonded), you could move fiber in and out to adjust divergence with very little beam deviation.

Poster: dgray

Posted Date: 2008-10-23 10:12:54.0

Fiberport collimators: as the lens is moved in this alignment, in practice does this change the pointing of the collimated laser beam with respect to the mounting flange?

Poster: Tyler

Posted Date: 2008-10-17 15:21:12.0

A response from Tyler at Thorlabs to lsandtrom: The travel range of the aspheric lens in the X and Y directions is ± 0.7 mm but when the FiberPort is used in a standard collimation/coupling application only a small portion of this translation range is used. The Z (optical axis) translation range is ± 0.4 mm for a given position of the plunge screws. The plunge screws can translate the + extreme of the travel range in the Z direction over a distance of 2 mm. Thank you for submitting your question. We have added this information to the product presentation under the "Mechanism" tab. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.

Poster: lsandstrom

Posted Date: 2008-10-16 05:36:38.0

How much can the internal lens be adjusted in x, y, and z from its nominal position?

Poster: Laurie

Posted Date: 2008-04-16 08:57:56.0

Response from Laurie at Thorlabs to unknown poster: All of our FiberPorts will function (i.e. work with no damage to the unit) with any fiber. However, we advice caution in choosing a fiber/connector/FiberPort Combination. Some FiberPorts will not be ideally suited for every fiber type and application. If you need technical assistance choosing the correct FiberPort for your application, please contact Customer Support at techsupport@thorlabs.com or call your local office (the number is located at the bottom of the page). Thank you for your interest in our products!

Poster:

Posted Date: 2008-04-16 08:09:27.0

item description says "for SM/MM/PM". does one item work with all three or do i need to specify which fiber i use when ordering?

Poster: technicalmarketing

Posted Date: 2007-11-06 15:16:42.0

Yes, jweston, we have a typo concerning the units and will fix that. Thank you for the catch and your interest in our products.

Poster: jweston

Posted Date: 2007-11-05 13:38:56.0

TESTING units for input MFD should probably be micrometers like in the catalog !!?? regards, Anders Wallin

Poster: acable

Posted Date: 2007-10-31 18:53:08.0

Can you provide a photo of this device being used on an actual laser. It would also be better if the photo of the product was positioned next to the price box, you show 6 different photos of the FiberPort, only have 5 different models listed, which really seem to net down to 3 different models because one model is offered with 3 different wavelength ranges. Also why all the part numbers at the top of the page, you show 12 different part numbers but only offer pricing on 5.

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FiberPort Collimators / Couplers

Features

Lens Materials

Lens Selection Example - Choosing a FiberPort for Fiber Coupling

AR Coatings

Aspheric vs. Achromatic FiberPort Performance

Location of Screws on the FiberPort

Collimating Out of a Fiber

Coupling into a Fiber

FiberPort to FiberPort on a Single-Axis Fiberbench

Locking the FiberPort

Most applications DO NOT require locking.

Fiber Collimator Selection Guide