Thorlabsfibercoupling Tutorial

The fiber collimators series 60FC are designed for collimating radiation exiting optical fiber cables with high pointing stability. They can also be used in reverse-mode as fiber incouplers. They are suitable for single-mode and polarization-maintaining fiber cables leading to collimated beams with a Gaussian intensity profile. Please note that for multimode collimation the intensity profile is not Gaussian and depends on specific fiber and radiation properties.

Adjustment of focusThe distance between fiber end-face and collimating optics is adjusted by means of an eccentric key. The lens does not rotate when adjusting the focus. The final focus setting is locked by means of two radially arranged clamping screws. Additionally attachment optics can be mounted to the front of the collimator.

Fiber collimatorThorlabs

When the ferrule tip is safely located in the inner cylinder of the receptacle, align the connector to the receptacle axis and carefully introduce the connector into the fiber coupler. Then, orient the connector key in a way that it is pressed gently onto the right-hand side of the receptacle notch. The tightened grub screw and the "right-hand orientation rule" for the connector, ensure a high reproducibility in mode field position and angle, which is especially important for attaching and reattaching polarization-maintaining fibers reproducibly.

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UVfiber optic Collimator

The tightened grub screw and the "right-hand orientation rule" for the connector, ensure a high reproducibility in mode field position and angle, which is especially important for attaching and reattaching polarization-maintaining fibers reproducibly.

Both eccentric keys are used for the fiber collimators series 60FC and the laser beam couplers series 60SMF/60SMS.The difference between the two eccentric keys is their stroke:

Reflectivefiber collimator

The eccentric key type 60EX-5 has a larger stroke compared to the key type 60EX-4. The 60EX-5 is used for couplers with focal length ≥ 12 mm. The 60EX-4 is used for focal lenghts < 12 mm.

NewportFiber Collimator

To prevent damage to the sensitive fiber end-face, always insert the fiber connector`s ferrule at an angle, with the connector key properly aligned to the receptacle notch.When the ferrule tip is safely located in the inner cylinder of the receptacle, align the connector to the receptacle axis and carefully introduce the connector into the fiber coupler. Then, orient the connector key in a way that it is pressed gently onto the right-hand side of the receptacle notch ("right-hand orientation rule").Gently screw on the connector cap nut onto the receptacle until it is finger-tight.Gently tighten the fiber grub screw to reduce the free play of the ferrule in the receptacle.

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Thorlabs collimation Tutorial

Optimum lens performance The angled polish of connectors of type APC is considered by a pre-angled mechanical coupling axis that compensates the beam deflection and you can use the lens centrically. This minimizes aberrations simply resulting from a non-ideal beam path through the lens.

An optics for each applicationA large variety of collimating optics allows that the optimum focal length and the best lens type for a single wavelength (asphere, monochromat) or a wavelength range (achromat or apochromat) can be selected for each application. All lenses are AR-coated. For an ideal Gaussian beam and standard fibers you can reach coupling efficiencies up to 80%.

In some (very, rare) cases it might be necessary to use the eccentric key type 60EX-5 even for couplers with focal lengths shorter than 12 mm:

The eccentric key 60EX-4 is used to adjust the focus position. In some cases the stroke is not large enough. Please use the eccentric key 60EX-5 with a larger stroke instead.

Material The fiber collimators are available in nickel silver (standard) or in amagnetic titanium. In case of titanium, the relative permeability is near 1 (µr=1.00005) making it almost transparent to magnetic fields. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion is close to that of the optics so that a thermal stability over a larger temperature range can be expected.

Connector Type The fiber collimator can be equipped with FC PC (wide key*), FC APC (wide key*), ST, LSA (compatible with fiber connectors type DIN, AVIO and AVIM) or mini AVIM® (compatible with mini AVIM® and midi AVIM®) receptacles. SMA-905 (F-SMA) type receptacles are available for 0°-polish e.g. for SMA-905 High Power connectors. In case of FC or LSA with a spring loaded ferrule the fiber coupler has an additional grub screw to increase pointing stability.*Even though the fiber collimator has a wide key receptacle it still can be used with both narrow key and wide key fibers. More information can be found here.

MountingThe collimator can be placed into a standard mirror mount using the corresponding adapters. A list with mounting options can be found here.

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This downloads section only includes general downloads for the complete series.Please access the individual product pages (using the product configurator, the product list, order options or the search button if you have a complete order code). Here you will find specific downloads including technical drawings or stepfiles.

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Collimating with an end cap fiber cable is no different than with a standard fiber cable. However, the focus position might vary a little (<200 µm) when swapping a standard fiber cable for a fiber cable with end cap.

AchromaticFiber Collimator

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When the ferrule tip is safely located in the inner cylinder of the receptacle, align the connector to the receptacle axis and carefully introduce the connector into the fiber coupler.

Generally, with any FC PC or FC APC type connector there is a freeplay when inserting the fiber into the fiber coupler. The free play in between the connector ferrule and receptacle is only a few microns, but necessary for inserting the ferrule without force. There is a difference between the receptable and key width for wide key (2.14 mm) and narrow key (2.0 mm) fibers. If you follow the so-called "right-hand orientation rule" you can reproducibly attach and reattach even PM fibers with narrow key receptacle to fiber couplers with wide key receptacle without difficulty.