Gimbal Mirror Mounts

• True Gimbal Design
• Maximum Optic Thickness: 0.25" (6.4 mm)
• Mounts Ø1" (25.4 mm) Optics
• Fine Adjustment Provides ±15° at 1°/rev
• Fully Lockable Design
• Superior Kinematic Performance Without Crosstalk

The GMB1 Gimbal Mirror Mount, which is designed to hold Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm) optics up to 0.25" (6.4 mm) thick, features true gimbal motion in order to eliminate crosstalk when steering a beam of light. The point of rotation for both axes is located at the center of the mounted optic’s surface. Utilizing locking thumbscrews and fine pitch adjusters, the GMB1 offers both coarse adjustment and fine tuning. The coarse adjustment allows 360° of manual positioning for both angular degrees of freedom. The fine adjustment allows for ±15° of control, with rotation of the control knob yielding 1° of angular displacement per revolution. The yaw can be adjusted in a similar fashion using the thumbscrew and setscrew closest to the post. After the desired pitch and yaw position is established, the entire mount can be easily locked into place by tightening both thumbscrews and both setscrews. The minimal profile of this mount is ideal for tight beam paths. 

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The photo above shows the front (left) and back (right) of the GM200 gimbal mirror mount.

• True Gimbal Design
• Maximum Optic Thickness: 0.63" (16 mm)
• GM100 - Mounts Ø1" (25.4 mm) Optics
• GM200 - Mounts Ø2" (50.8 mm) Optics
• Designed for Intra-Cavity Use
• Angular Range of ±2.5° (GM100) or ±2.0° (GM200)
• Graduated Adjuster Knobs, 100 TPI Adjusters

Thorlabs' Gimbal Mirror Mounts are designed for intra-cavity use, and incorporate a true gimbal design that locates the optical surface directly on the axis of rotation. The design provides pure rotational motion without angular or positional crosstalk.

Two adjustment knobs (graduated with 50 divisions per revolution) are located on the top surface of the mount, making them easily accessible even if the mount is integrated into an optical cavity. They provide excellent angular positioning performance. The GM100 is designed to hold Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm) optics, while the GM200 is meant for Ø2" (Ø50.8 mm) optics. The mounts are SM1- (1.035"-40) or SM2-threaded (2.035"-40), respectively, for compatibility with our lens tubes and accessories, and each mount includes a retaining ring for securing the optic.

Please Note: Due to the internal drive mechanism, the adjustment knobs on these mounts do not provide perfectly linear motion. For specific measurements, please click here.

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Gimbal mounts in combination with our swivel couplers are ideal for creating non-45° incident angles within a cage system.

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The KC45D1 Gimbal Mount in a 30 mm Cage System

• True Gimbal Design
• Maximum Optic Thickness: 0.24" (6 mm)
• Mounts Ø1" Optics
• Compatible with Thorlabs' 30 mm Cage System
• Full 360° Rotation of Optic Holder
• ±30° Rotation on the Optic Holder Saddle

The KC45D1 Gimbal Mirror Mount is designed to allow a Ø1" optic to be rotated about a point in the center of a 30 mm cage assembly with true gimbal motion. The optic holder is free to rotate through 360°. Once its coarse angular orientation is set, the fine adjustment mechanism (i.e., two 100 TPI adjusters offering an adjustment per revolution of 13 mrad/rev) can be used for precise alignment, using the HKTS-5/64 hex key thumbscrew or any other 5/64" hex key or balldriver. The second angular degree of freedom is achieved by rotation of an intermediate saddle. This saddle connects the optic holder to the cage assembly and is free to rotate ±30°. The optic is secured against the back lip of the SM1 (1.035"-40) center tapped region using the included SM1RR Retaining Ring.

• Strain Gauge Feedback Sensors for Closed-Loop Operation
• Designed for Use with Included Controller
• True Gimbal Rotation Maintains Stationary Center Point of a Mounted Optic
• High Angular Range: 30 mrad (Open Loop) or 20 mrad (Closed Loop)
• SM1-Threaded (1.035"-40) Optic Bore for Ø1" Optics
• Through Holes for Integration with a 30 mm Cage System

The PGM1SE(/M) Piezoelectric Gimbal Mirror Mount has two axes that each rotate the mounted optic about a gimbal axis, keeping the center of the optic in a fixed position. Each axis is capable of scanning over a high piezoelectric angular range of 30 mrad with a resolution of 0.05 µrad in open-loop mode (20 mrad angular range and 0.14 µrad resolution in closed-loop mode).

A Ø1" optic can be mounted in the SM1-threaded optic bore and secured with the included SM1 retaining ring. The mount can hold optics between 2 mm and 7.5 mm thick; the optic is installed via the back of the mount, which keeps the optic surface coincident with the gimbal axes, regardless of the optic thickness. We do not recommend mounting an SM1 lens tube to the threading as it will apply excessive torque to the gimbal element.

Six 8-32 (M4) tapped holes on the optic mount allow it to be mounted on a Ø1/2" post. Additionally, four 4-40 tapped holes around the optic bore on both sides of the mount provide compatibility with 30 mm cage systems.

The mount is shipped with a piezo controller that has been factory calibrated to the specific mount and supplies a voltage of -25 to +150 VDC. Piezo control is supported through the included Kinesis^® GUI, either locally using the paired controller or by using an externally supplied control voltage. The controller offers USB and RS-232 interfaces for computer control, a BNC input for the addition of external drive signals, and a BNC output that gives either positioning feedback from the mount’s built-in capacitive sensors or a signal proportional to the piezo drive voltage. In addition, a DB15 connector provides signals that can be used for synchronization with external equipment. A USB 2.0 (A to B) cable is included.

For more information on the piezoelectric gimbal mount, please see the full web presentation.