Post-Mountable XY Translation Mounts

Click to Enlarge
The two locking screws can also be threaded through counterbores in the back plate of the SPT1T (shown here) or SPT1.

• ±0.04" (±1 mm) of Adjustment in Both X and Y Directions
• Center-Located SM1 (1.035"-40) Threaded Hole in Front Slip Plate and Smooth Bore in Fixed Back Plate
• Position Front Plate by Hand and Lock in Place by Tightening Locking Screws with 5/64" (2 mm) Hex Key
• Secure Back Plate to 4 Cage Rods via Side-Located Setscrews or to a Ø1/2" Post via 8-32 (M4) Tap

The SPT1(/M) and SPT1T(/M) Slip Plate Positioners are designed to provide coarse XY positioning of optical components within our 30 mm Cage Assembly System. This design provides for manual adjustment only and is best utilized in conjunction with an alignment laser to monitor centricity. The front plate can be locked into position against the fixed plate via two locking screws, which can be threaded from either the front or back side of the mount.

The SPT1(/M) accomodates Ø1" optics up to 0.08" (2.0 mm) thick, while the thicker front plate on the SPT1T(/M) can hold Ø1" optics up to 0.34" (8.6 mm) thick. Unmounted optics can be secured with SM1RR Retaining Rings, two of which are included with the SPT1T(/M). The center-located SM1 (1.035"-40) tapped through hole also directly accepts externally SM1-threaded components.

• ±0.04" (±1 mm) of Coarse Adjustment in Both X and Y Directions
• Center-Located SM1 (1.035"-40) Threaded Hole in Front Adjustment Plate and Back Plate
• Position Front Plate by Hand and Lock in Place using Locking Screws with 5/64" (2 mm) Hex Key
• Secure Back Plate to a Ø1/2" Post via the Bottom-Located 8-32 (M4) Tap

The SPT1N(/M) Slip Plate Positioner is designed to provide coarse XY positioning of optical components. Both the front slip plate and back plate feature a center-located SM1-threaded hole ideal for use with our SM1 Lens Tubes. This design provides for manual adjustment only and is best utilized in conjunction with an alignment laser to monitor centricity. The threaded front plate is spring loaded against the fixed, threaded back plate and can be locked into position via two locking screws. These locking screws can be threaded into the front side of the mount, or they can be removed and then re-threaded into the back side.

The front slip plate of the SPT1N(/M) accommodates Ø1" optics up to 0.07" (1.8 mm) thick, while the thicker back plate can hold Ø1" optics up to 0.19" (4.8 mm) thick. Unmounted optics can be secured with two SM1RR Retaining Rings (not included). The center-located SM1 (1.035"-40) tapped through holes in both the front and back plates also directly accept externally SM1-threaded components. Components should not be threaded past the end of either plate, as this will prevent the front slip plate from working properly. Please see the table below for the individual plate thicknesses.

• High Resolution Adjusters Provide 250 µm/rev for Micron Sensitivity
• Compatible with Our Extensive Selection of SM05, SM1, and SM2 Lens Tubes
• Designed to Center Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Optics in a Beam Path
• Bottom-Located 8-32 (M4) Tap Enables Direct Mounting to a Ø1/2" Post
• Tip/Tilt Deviation: <100 µrad

Thorlabs offers XY translation mounts equipped with high-resolution adjusters for positioning Ø1/2", Ø1", or Ø2" optical components. The LM05XY(/M) accepts Ø1/2" optics up to 0.41" (10.3 mm) thick, the LM1XY(/M) holds Ø1" optics up to 0.30" (7.5 mm) thick, and the LM2XY mounts Ø2" optics up to 0.51" (13 mm) thick. All these mounts utilize SM series threads to secure the optic, making them compatible with virtually any externally threaded SM series component. M3 x 0.25 fine adjustment screws provide up to ±0.04" (±1 mm) of travel perpendicular to the optical axis. The adjustment screws enable 250 µm/rev translation resolution, and there is a 5/64" hex socket in the back end of each screw. In addition, a hex key may be used to achieve small incremental movements.

Please note that the moving SM-threaded world may be manually rotated and may also rotate during translation.

• Accepts Ø1.00" Optics up to 0.48" (12.2 mm) Thick
• Compact Design; ±0.12" (3.0 mm) Travel
• Compatible with Our Ø1" SM1 Lens Tubes
• 4-40 Taps on Front and Back Provide 30 mm Cage Compatibility

The ST1XY translation mounts offer ±3.0 mm of travel provided by one of three drive types: adjuster screw, micrometer, or differential drive. They utilize hardened tool steel components on all moving parts to ensure long-term, drift-free operation. The ST1XY is designed to connect with our extensive line of Ø1" SM1 Lens Tubes as well as our 30 mm cage assemblies to offer great flexibility when building optical systems.

The translating SM1-threaded carriage accepts optics up to 0.48" (12.2 mm) thick when using two SM1RR retaining rings (included). A stationary internal SM1 thread with 0.14" (3.5 mm) depth is present on the other side of the mount that allows for coupling to stationary SM1 Lens Tubes. Three 8-32 (M4) tapped holes are provided on the bottom surface to allow direct mounting on our Ø1/2" Posts.

Thorlabs also offers the CXY1 XY Translator, which has Ø6 mm through holes for cage rods, as opposed to the 4-40 taps on the ST1XY translation mounts. These through holes permit the CXY1 to slide along the optic axis.

The ST1XY-D(/M) features DM22 differential drives. For more information about this drive, including operation and adjustment knob reattachment, please visit our DM22 differential drive page. 

• Designed Specifically for Use with the ST1XY Series of XY Translators (Featured Above)
• Connect Two Internally Threaded Cage Components with ER Rods
• SM1 (1.035"-40) Threaded Through Hole
• Four 4-40 Screws Included

The ST1CP is a bolt-on adapter designed specifically for use with the ST1XY-series of XY translators. Like our ERSCA adapter, this plate can be used to connect two internally threaded cage components with ER rods. First thread the four included 4-40 screws through the ST1CP through hole and into the internally bored side of the ER rod (as shown in the figure to the left). Then, remove the back plate on an ST1XY stage and secure this adapter plate in its place using the four outer 2-56 counterbored through-holes. Once attached, this adapter plate keeps the cage and any SM1-threaded component attached to the adapter plate stationary, while enabling an optic inside the ST1XY stage to move relative to these fixed components.

Alternatively, this adapter can also be attached to the front side (i.e., the side without the removable mount) of an ST1XY stage using the included 4-40 screws. In this case, the front side of the ST1XY stage will no longer be cage compatible (although the back side still is). However, the advantage of this configuration is that two SM1-compatible components can be attached to the ST1XY stage (one on each side) and an optic inside the stage can be moved relative to these fixed components.

Click to Enlarge
A channel allows for translation of the lockable support arms for accommodating optics with different widths.

• Compatible with 1/2" (12.7 mm) to 3" (76.2 mm) Wide Rectangular Optics
• Maximum Optic Thickness of 0.16" (4 mm)
• 50 mm (1.97") Horizontal Travel and 30 mm (1.18") Vertical Travel
• Each Axis Includes a Vernier Scale that Provides 100 µm Resolution
• 8-32 (M4) Tapped Holes Support Six Post-Mounted Orientations
• Four Nylon-Tipped Setscrews Secure the Optic Between Two Mounting Arms

Thorlabs' XYF1(/M) Test Target Positioning Mount accepts 1/2" (12.7 mm) to 3" (76.2 mm) wide rectangular optics up to 0.16" (4 mm) thick. The mount is ideal for general applications as well as home-built microscopy systems. It is designed for use with our selection of resolution, distortion, slant edge, and calibration test targets. In addition, it is also compatible with our rectangular microscope slides, filters, dichroic mirrors, variable ND filters, and fluorescence imaging filters.

Two actuators on the side of the mount enable manual positioning over a 50 mm (1.97") x 30 mm (1.18") area. These actuators can be adjusted by hand or with a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key (not included). Each axis of translation is equipped with a vernier scale that provides a resolution of 100 µm, allowing for repeatable positioning of the mounted optic. Each actuator can be locked by a 5/64" (2 mm) hex setscrew. Five 8-32 (M4) tapped holes support six possible mounting orientations when used with our Ø1/2" posts, of which a selection are shown below.

Optics are secured with two support arms that each contain two 5/64" (2 mm) hex, nylon-tipped setscrews. Each support arm can slide along a channel in the mount to accommodate different optic sizes; a 5/64” (2 mm) hex setscrew is used to lock each support arm in place. This mounting mechanism can be seen in the photo to the upper right. By loosening the top locking screws, the arms can be removed from the channel and reversed, as shown in the image to the bottom left. When reattaching the arms, simply align each locking screw with one of the 2-56 captive nuts in the channel and tighten. This feature is useful in applications that require the target to be positioned close to a lens or other optical element in a system. 

Please note that the support arms overlap the optic by 4.4 mm on each side.

Click to Enlarge
The support arms can be removed from the channel and reversed by loosening the locking screws. 

Click to Enlarge
The XYF1 Mount has five 8-32 (M4) taps, allowing for six post-mountable orientations (see images to the right).

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The XYF1 Mount can be used to position a test target horizontally, vertically, or perpendicular to the post axis.