What Are Effective Methods for Mounting a Cylinder Microlens?

[pavel_ivanov]

Dear All,

I would like to use a cylinder microlens for fast-axis collimation of a laser diode beam. The length of the lens is 1.06 mm and its diameter is 0.5 mm.

its working distance is 0.06 mm. How to mount the microlens in the front of the laser facet?

I want to use a needle with the lens attached to its end. Any better ideas please?

thank you





PS: I am posting this question in the Physics forum, because physicist frequently use lenses and microlenses.

 

[Andy Resnick]

If I understand how you are using the lens, it's tricky using cylinders because of the additional degree of freedom. There are a couple of mounts that may work:

http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=718
http://search.newport.com/count/24/i/1/nav/1/q2/Opto-Mechanics/q3/Lens%2520Mounts/q4/LABasix/q5/%2524100%2520-%2520%2524200/q6/Adjustable%2520Cylindrical%2520Lens%2520Mount/x2/section/x3/chapter/x4/promo_nonprice/x5/curr.pricerange/x6/family

But the trick is going to be able to accommodate the size and positioning of the optic relative to the diode. You may have to home-brew a mount (like a slot machined through a disc) and stick that into a proper optomechanical mount.

 

[pavel_ivanov]

If I understand how you are using the lens, it's tricky using cylinders because of the additional degree of freedom. There are a couple of mounts that may work:

http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=718
http://search.newport.com/count/24/i/1/nav/1/q2/Opto-Mechanics/q3/Lens%2520Mounts/q4/LABasix/q5/%2524100%2520-%2520%2524200/q6/Adjustable%2520Cylindrical%2520Lens%2520Mount/x2/section/x3/chapter/x4/promo_nonprice/x5/curr.pricerange/x6/family

these mounts look too big for the lens.

But the trick is going to be able to accommodate the size and positioning of the optic relative to the diode. You may have to home-brew a mount (like a slot machined through a disc) and stick that into a proper optomechanical mount.

I like this idea. I can easily etch a trench through a disk using a focused ion beam system. Such kind of mount can also protect the lens and the laser from mechanical damage.
thank you very much

 

[Galiupatiket]

Hi,

there is another approach of fixing a micro lens on virtually any surface. That is femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization process, where you get optical quality lenses with refractive indices of 1.4-1.6 .

Examples:
http://www.wophotonics.com/en/Micro-optics