Alignment Targets

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These alignment targets for visible light help simplify the process of aligning an optical system. All of these targets are made out of anodized aluminum. Each of these targets features either laser-engraved concentric circles, graduated X- and Y-axes, or a single engraved axis for optimal visual alignment of the beam. Options are available for compatibility with cage systems, lens mounts, and lens tubes. For assistance aligning UV or IR light, we offer fluorescing alignment disks and detector cards.

Posted Comments:

J Bianca Jackson (posted 2019-10-10 09:57:49.667)

You should consider manufacturing a C-Mount version of SM05A7 and SM1A7.

asundararaj (posted 2019-10-10 03:02:35.0)

Thank you for your feedback. I will forward your suggestion to our R&D team for future consideration. These can be used with either SM05A2 or SM1A9 to adapt from SM05 and SM1 threads to C-Mount respectively, although this might be a bulky alternative.

user (posted 2015-10-07 12:27:03.74)

The CPA1 would be very useful if the bottom rings weren't cut off. Perhaps a taller version of the target?

besembeson (posted 2015-10-13 12:10:32.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Thanks for the feedback, and we will review this. The current design has concentric rings complete for up to 10mm diameter beams which is suitable for alignment purposes in most typical applications.

egalvez (posted 2015-06-05 11:11:15.933)

I normally have to align beams to reach a piece of optics, a fiber collimator (such as F220FC-B with with adapter AD11F mounted on threaded mirror mount KC1-T) or a lens (such as LA1560-A-ML on LMR1), and I want the beam to be centered and perpendicular to the plane of the optics. So I put together a tube (such as SM1L10), with a mirror inside (such as BB1-E02) locked in, and with a threaded iris (such as SM1D12) attached to the tube. Then I attach this contraption to my optics via the SM1 threads, and tilt the optics so that the beam is centered and retro-reflected. Once that is done the optics is aligned and I unscrew my tube alignment contraption. It works like a charm!

besembeson (posted 2015-08-28 05:35:28.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: That is great and thanks for the feedback. You may also be interested in our kinematic fiber collimator adpaters on the following page: http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_ID=219

climouse (posted 2014-10-13 10:09:35.48)

Hi, I find the CPA1 alignment targets extremely useful. However, they are hard to use in the one case where the cage system is vertical and the beam is traveling upwards. In that configuration it is often nearly impossible to see where the beam hits the target as one needs to look from underneath. I think it would be a great addition to your line of targets to have a CPA1-like target but with the target rings painted on a clear glass window, such as it becomes possible to see the beam by transparency. Such an item would be useful in other configurations of the cage as well, as it would be possible to install multiple targets along the path without blocking the beam, and the back reflection may be used to check orthogonality of the target with respect to the beam. Thank you for the great line of products! Best regards, Charles

cdaly (posted 2014-10-13 02:39:49.0)

Response from Chris at Thorlabs: We do offer ground glass alignment disks, such as DG10-1500-H1, which has a 1mm central hole for alignment, which could be mounted in a quick release cage plate such as QRC1A for drop in alignment use.

Cage Alignment Plates

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Quick, Drop-In Beam Alignment Tools
Ø1 mm or Ø5 mm Through Hole Aligned at Center of Compatible Cage System
Options Available for 16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm Cage Systems

These drop-in alignment plates are convenient tools for aligning visible beams in cage-based optical systems. Made from anodized aluminum, they provide a through hole at the center of the cage assembly. For easy alignment, the through hole is surrounded by engraved alignment rings.

Item #	SCPA1	CPA1	CPA2	LCPA1
Compatible Cage System	16 mm	30 mm	30 mm	60 mm
Through-Hole Diameter	1 mm	0.9 mm	5 mm	1 mm
Alignment Ring Diameters	3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, and 9 mm	4 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm, and 13 mm	7 mm, 10 mm, and 13 mm	7 mm, 12 mm, 17 mm, 22 mm, and 27 mm

Lens Mount Alignment Plates

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These alignment plates slide over the fixed lens mounts sold above to create a mounted alignment target.

Quick, Drop-In Visual Beam Alignment Tool
Ø1 mm Through Hole
Options for Ø1/2", Ø1", or Ø2" Fixed Optics Mounts and SM05, SM1, or SM2 Series Lens Tubes

These alignment targets can be quickly and easily dropped onto one of our fixed lens holders or lens tubes allowing the user to align a visible beam using the center Ø1 mm through hole. Once the beam is aligned, the tool can be lifted from the lens holder or lens tube without disturbing the alignment and can later be replaced into approximately the same position.

The LMR05AP, LMR1AP, and LMR2AP Alignment Plates fit on fixed lens mounts and lens tubes for Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" optics, respectively. For optimal visual alignment of the beam, these plates feature laser-engraved concentric circles, with the diameter of each circle being 2 mm greater than the previous.

Threaded Alignment Targets

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Alignment Tick Marks at 1 mm Increments
External SM05 or SM1 Threading

The SM05A7 and SM1A7 alignment disks provide useful aids for aligning visible beams to the center of optical mounts. To enable accurate alignment, the disks have clear markings with graduations on both the X and Y axes. The back of the SM05A7 features our standard SM05 (0.535"-40) threading for compatibility with Ø1/2" lens tubes and fixed optics mounts, while the SM1A7 has SM1 (1.035"-40) threading for compatibility with Ø1" lens tubes and fixed optics mounts.

Aperture Plates

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Aperture Plate in an LMR05 Mounted on a Post

Mounts in any Ø1/2" Optic Mount
Ø1.5 mm or Ø2.5 mm Aperture Available

Aperture Plates are a useful tool for system alignment or to measure beam size. The aperture plate should be mounted into a Ø1/2" optic mount (such as the LMR05, as shown in the image to the right) and then can be used to establish an optical center line in a system. It is also useful for blocking stray light or other unwanted light in an optical system.

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Alignment Targets

Cage Alignment Plates

Lens Mount Alignment Plates

Threaded Alignment Targets

Aperture Plates