Kinematic Mirror Mounts with Vertical Drives

• Mounts Ø1/2" Optics
• Minimum Optic Thickness: 0.14" (3.6 mm)
• Total Angular Range of ±3°
• 0.5° per Revolution Adjustment
• 8-32 (M4) and 4-40 (M3) Mounting Holes

Thorlabs' VM05(/M) Compact Kinematic Mount with Vertical Drive features top-mounted, 0.25 mm pitch actuators designed to keep the beam path clear, which is ideal for use with high-power lasers. Sensitivity is achieved by two fine adjustment screws that offer a 1/2° of angular adjustment per revolution. Each knob can be rotated by hand or by using a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key or balldriver. The VM05(/M) mount offers a total angular range of ±3° and a Ø0.44" (11.2 mm) clear aperture. A nylon-tipped locking setscrew secures the Ø1/2" optic. The mount's thick main body increases rigidity to prevent flexing during adjustment.

• Designed for use with Ø1/2" Optics
• +3°/-2.5° Mechanical Angular Range (Nominal)
• ~11 mrad/rev Resolution
• 130 TPI Matched Actuator/Body Pairs
• Less than 2 µrad Deviation after Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab on the Full Web Presentation for Details)
• Patented Monolithic Flexure Arm Design (US Patent 10,101,559)
• Patented Vertical Drive Design (US Patent 11,320,621)
• Right- and Left-Handed Versions Available

These 2-Adjuster Ø1/2" Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mounts provide long-term stability and high-resolution adjustment using vertical drives. Right-handed and left-handed versions are available. The patented optic bore design with a monolithic flexure arm keeps wavefront distortion on the mounted optic to a minimum while providing strong optic retention force; the flexure arm can be actuated using the included screw and a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. The Polaris design addresses all of the common causes of beam misalignment and is designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications (see the table to the right).

The 130 TPI adjusters feature a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex and may be adjusted with our HKTS-5/64 hex key thumbscrews, the hex on the end of the SA1 adjustment tool, or any other 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex wrench. These adjusters can be locked using the POLARIS-LNS05 locking collars. Two are pre-installed on each mount, one for each adjuster. The included locking collars can be loosened or tightened most easily using the POLARIS-T3 spanner wrench. The spanner wrench has a hole through its center which accepts a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key, allowing the adjuster to be held in place while the locking collar is tightened. For long-term stability, we recommend tightening to a torque of 32 oz-in, which can be achieved by using our TW13 preset torque wrench.

Post mounting is provided by one #8 (M4) counterbore. Due to the shallow design of the counterbore, low-profile 8-32 and M4 cap screws are included for securing the mount to a post. Note that the 8-32 cap screw reduces the clear aperture to 0.39" (9.9 mm) and the M4 cap screw reduces it to 0.34" (8.6 mm). For custom mounting configurations, two Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located on the mounting face for setting a precise location and mounting angle. Standard DIN 7-m6 ground dowel pins are recommended (click on the red documents icon below for details). We recommend using these mounts with stainless steel posts that also have Ø2 mm alignment pin holes, such as our Ø1" Posts for Polaris Mirror Mounts.

Mounts can also be customized with different face plates, such as those used in our in our low-distortion optic retention mounts, or with back plates that have mounting and alignment pin holes on the adjacent side so that the adjusters are oriented horizontally. Please contact Tech Support with inquiries.

For more details, please see the Polaris Vertical Drive Mounts page.

• Mounts Ø1" Optics
• Minimum Optic Thickness: 0.11" (2.8 mm)
• Total Angular Range of ±3°
• 0.25° per Revolution Adjustment
• Graduated Knobs with 50 Divisions per Revolution
• 8-32 (M4) Mounting Holes

Thorlabs' VM1(/M) Compact Kinematic Mount with Vertical Drive features top-mounted 100 TPI actuators designed to keep the beam path clear, which is ideal for use with high-power lasers. Sensitivity is achieved by two fine adjustment screws that offer a 1/4° of angular adjustment per revolution. Unlike the VM05(/M), the screws at the end of the knob cannot be used to rotate the knobs. The VM1(/M) mount offers a total angular range of ±3° and a Ø0.94" (23.9.2 mm) clear aperture. A nylon-tipped locking setscrew secures the Ø1" optic. The mount's thick main body increases rigidity to prevent flexing during adjustment.

• Designed for use with Ø1" Optics
• ±4° Mechanical Angular Range
• ~7.7 mrad/rev Resolution
• 100 TPI Matched Actuator/Body Pairs
• Less than 1 µrad Deviation after Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab on the Full Web Presentation for Details)
• Patented Monolithic Flexure Arm Design (US Patent 10,101,559)
• Patented Vertical Drive Design (US Patent 11,320,621)
• Right- and Left-Handed Versions Available

These 2-Adjuster Ø1" Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mounts provide long-term stability and high-resolution adjustment using vertical drives. Right-handed and left-handed versions of these mounts are available. The patented optic bore design with a monolithic flexure arm keeps wavefront distortion on the mounted optic to a minimum while providing strong optic retention force; the flexure arm can be actuated using the included screw and a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. The Polaris design addresses all of the common causes of beam misalignment and is designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications (see the table below).

Click to Enlarge
Using the POLARIS-K1VS2 Ø1" Mount:
A: POLARIS-T2 Tool for Adjusting POLARIS-LNS1 Collars
B: 5/64" or 2.0 mm Hex Key in the End of an Adjuster
C: POLARIS-N5 Removable Knobs on the Adjusters*
D: HKTS-5/64 Hex Knobs on the Adjusters
A similar process can be used for the POLARIS-K1VS2L.

These mirror mounts come with 100 TPI adjusters that feature a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex and may be adjusted with our HKTS-5/64 Hex Key Thumbscrews, the hex on the end of the SA1 Adjustment Tool, or any other 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex wrench. Alternatively, POLARIS-N5 removable, low-profile adjustment knobs can be threaded onto the adjusters for improved feel in fine-resolution adjustments; note that this may limit the mechanical angular range of the mount because the knobs screw directly onto the exposed threads of the adjuster screws.

The adjusters on these mounts can be locked using POLARIS-LNS1 locking collars. Two are pre-installed on the mounts, one for each adjuster. The included locking collars can be loosened or tightened most easily using the POLARIS-T2 spanner wrench.

Post mounting is provided by two #8 (M4) counterbores. For custom mounting configurations, two Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located on each mounting face for setting a precise location and mounting angle. Standard DIN 7-m6 ground dowel pins are recommended (click on the red documents icon below for details). We recommend using these mounts with stainless steel posts that also have Ø2 mm alignment pin holes, such as our Ø1" Posts for Polaris Mirror Mounts.

Mounts can be also be customized with different face plates, such as those used in our in our low-distortion optic retention mounts, or with back plates that have mounting and alignment pin holes on the adjacent side so that the adjusters are oriented horizontally. Please contact Tech Support with inquiries.

For more details, please see the Polaris Vertical Drive Mounts page.

• Designed for use with Ø1.5" Optics
• ±3° Mechanical Angular Range (Nominal)
• ~5.5 mrad/rev Resolution
• 100 TPI Matched Actuator/Body Pairs
• No Greater than 1 µrad Deviation after Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab on the Full Web Presentation for Details)
• Patented Monolithic Flexure Arm Design (US Patent 10,101,559)
• Patented Vertical Drive Design (US Patent 11,320,621)
• Right and Left-Handed Versions Available

These 2-Adjuster Ø1.5" Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mounts provide long-term stability and high-resolution adjustment using vertical drives. Right-handed and left-handed versions of these mounts are available. The patented optic bore design with a monolithic flexure arm keeps wavefront distortion on the mounted optic to a minimum while providing strong optic retention force; the flexure arm can be actuated using the included screw and a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. The Polaris design addresses all of the common causes of beam misalignment and is designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications (see the table to the right).

These mirror mounts come with 100 TPI adjusters that feature a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex and may be adjusted with our HKTS-5/64 Hex Key Thumbscrews, the hex on the end of the SA1 Adjustment Tool, or any other 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex wrench. Alternatively, POLARIS-N5 removable, low-profile adjustment knobs can be threaded onto the adjusters for improved feel in fine-resolution adjustments; note that this may limit the mechanical angular range of the mount because the knobs screw directly onto the exposed threads of the adjuster screws.

The adjusters on these mounts can be locked using POLARIS-LNS1 locking collars. Two are pre-installed on the mounts, one for each adjuster. The included locking collars can be loosened or tightened most easily using the POLARIS-T2 spanner wrench. Examples of these methods for turning or locking the adjusters on a POLARIS-K1VS2 Ø1" mirror mount, which has identical adjusters to the POLARIS-K15VS2(L) Ø1.5" mirror mounts, are shown above.

Post mounting is provided by one #8 (M4) counterbore. For custom mounting configurations, two Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located on the mounting face for setting a precise location and mounting angle. Standard DIN 7-m6 ground dowel pins are recommended (click on the red documents icon below for details). We recommend using these mounts with stainless steel posts that also have Ø2 mm alignment pin holes, such as our Ø1" Posts for Polaris Mirror Mounts.

Mounts can be also be customized with different face plates, such as those used in our in our low-distortion optic retention mounts, or with back plates that have mounting and alignment pin holes on the adjacent side so that the adjusters are oriented horizontally. Please contact Tech Support with inquiries.

For more details, please see the Polaris Vertical Drive Mounts page.

• Designed for use with Ø2" Optics
• ±3° Mechanical Angular Range (Nominal)
• ~5 mrad/rev Resolution
• 100 TPI Matched Actuator/Body Pairs
• No Greater than 2 µrad Deviation after Temperature Cycling (See the Test Data Tab on the Full Web Presentation for Details)
• Patented Monolithic Flexure Arm Design (US Patent 10,101,559)
• Patented Vertical Drive Design (US Patent 11,320,621)
• Right and Left-Handed Versions Available

These 2-Adjuster Ø2" Polaris Kinematic Mirror Mounts provide long-term stability and high-resolution adjustment using vertical drives. Right-handed and left-handed versions of these mounts are available. The patented optic bore design with a monolithic flexure arm keeps wavefront distortion on the mounted optic to a minimum while providing strong optic retention force; the flexure arm can be actuated using the included screw and a 0.05" (1.3 mm) hex key. The Polaris design addresses all of the common causes of beam misalignment and is designed to be compatible with cleanroom and vacuum applications (see the table to the right).

These mirror mounts come with 100 TPI adjusters that feature a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex and may be adjusted with our HKTS-5/64 Hex Key Thumbscrews, the hex on the end of the SA1 Adjustment Tool, or any other 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex wrench. Alternatively, POLARIS-N5 removable, low-profile adjustment knobs can be threaded onto the adjusters for improved feel in fine-resolution adjustments; note that this may limit the mechanical angular range of the mount because the knobs screw directly onto the exposed threads of the adjuster screws.

The adjusters on these mounts can be locked using POLARIS-LNS1 locking collars. Two are pre-installed on the mounts, one for each adjuster. The included locking collars can be loosened or tightened most easily using the POLARIS-T2 spanner wrench. Examples of these methods for turning or locking the adjusters on a POLARIS-K1VS2 Ø1" mirror mount, which has identical adjusters to the POLARIS-K2VS2(L) Ø2" mirror mounts, are shown above.

Post mounting is provided by three #8 (M4) counterbores. For custom mounting configurations, two Ø2 mm alignment pin holes are located on the mounting face for setting a precise location and mounting angle. Standard DIN 7-m6 ground dowel pins are recommended (click on the red documents icon below for details). We recommend using these mounts with stainless steel posts that also have Ø2 mm alignment pin holes, such as our Ø1" Posts for Polaris Mirror Mounts.

Mounts can be also be customized with different face plates, such as those used in our in our low-distortion optic retention mounts, or with back plates that have mounting and alignment pin holes on the adjacent side so that the adjusters are oriented horizontally. Please contact Tech Support with inquiries.

For more details, please see the Polaris Vertical Drive Mounts page.