THORLABS TLV-U-FF, TLV-U-MF2, TLV-QFXL, TLV-TE2000 User Manual

TLV-U-FF
Filter Cube Assembly for Olympus
BX3 and IX3 Microscopes

User Guide

Filter Cube Assembly

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Safety ................................................................................. 1

Chapter 2 Assembly Instructions ..................................................... 2

2.1. Step1............................................................................2

2.2. Step2............................................................................2

2.3. Step3............................................................................3

2.4. Step4............................................................................4

2.5. Step5............................................................................4

2.6. Step6............................................................................5

Chapter 3 Regulatory ......................................................................... 7

Chapter 4 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts......................................... 8

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 1: Safety

Rev A, November 7, 2016 Page 1

Chapter 1 Safety

All statements regarding safety of operation and technic al data in this instruction
manual will only apply when the unit is operated correctly. Handle all optics with
care. Gloves are recommended for optic installations. Take care when tightening
optics, as overtightening optics may cause the optic to break or shatter.

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions

Page 2 TTN013161-D02

Chapter 2 Assembly Instructions

2.1. Step 1

Carefully unpack the TLV-U-FF Filter Cube assembly. Use a Thorlabs SM1
Spanner Wrench (such as Item # SPW602) to remove the retaining rings from
the excitation and emission ports (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 Filter Cube Assembly with Retaining Rings

Note the orientation of the retaining rings. The side of the retaining ring with the
spanner wrench slots should always face away from the cube.

2.2. Step 2

Remove the two screws holding the filter cube together (see Figure 1; Phillips
head, M2 threaded). Carefully separate the two filter cube halves. T ake note of
the excitation/emission filter halves (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 Disassembling the Filter Cube

Retaining Rings

Screws

Excitation
Filter Half

Emission
Filter Half

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions

Rev A, November 7, 2016 Page 3

2.3. Step 3

The TLV-U-FF Filter Cube holds a standard set of Dichroic Mirror
(up to 25.2 x 36.0 x 1.1 mm), Emission (Ø25 mm), and Excitation Filters
(Ø25 mm), sold separately. Thorlabs’ MDF-GFP Filter Set is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Dichroic Filter Set for Fluorescence Imaging

Thorlabs’ emission and excitation filters can be easily differentiated by the
thickness of the filter mount rings: emission (3.5 mm) and excitation (5.0 mm).
Note that the dichroic mirror has a beamsplit ter coating on one side (see Figure

4).

Figure 4 Dichroic Filter Orientation

When held at an angle, the beamsplitter-coated side will appear uniform in
reflection all the way to the edge. The opposite side, when held at the same
angle, will not have a uniform reflection near the edge. There will be a band of
transmission that appears through the substrate. It is impor tant to determine the
beamsplitter-coated side of the dichroic mirror as there is only one orientation
that will work with the filter cube.

Edge
Transmission
is Visible

Coating

Extends to

the Edge

Dichroic Mirror

Emission Filter

Excitation Filter

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions

Page 4 TTN013161-D02

2.4. Step 4

Place the dichroic mirror in the emission filter half’s slot. The surface of the
dichroic mirror with the beamsplitter coating must face UP.

Figure 5 The dichroic mirror is inserted into the emission filter half.

2.5. Step 5

Align the excitation filter half with the notch on the emission filter half as sho wn in
Figure 6. Alternate tightening between the two assembly screws taking care not
to allow movement of the dichroic mirror.

Check the orientation of the dichroic mirror by looking into the excitation and
emission sides of the filter cube. The reflective (beamspl itter-coated) side should
be visible through the excitation side of the cube.

Figure 6 Reassembling the Filter Cube and Checking Dichroic Mirror Orientation

Excitation
Filte

r

Half

Emission

Filte

r

Half

Emission

Filte

r

Half

Dichroic Mirror
(Beamsplitter­Coated Side Must
Face U

p

)

Emission
Side

Excitation
Side
(Coated)

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions

Rev A, November 7, 2016 Page 5

2.6. Step 6

Orient the filter cube so the emission side is facing up. Ins ert the emissi on filter in
the filter cube with the arrow facing away from the cube as sho wn in Figure 7.
Thread an SM1 retaining ring above the filter to secure it.

Note: The emission filter will not be parallel with the face of the cube.
Orient the filter cube so the excitation side is facing up. Insert the excitation filter

with the arrow pointing towards the cube and dichroic mirror, as shown in Figure

7. Thread the other SM1 retaining ring into the excitation port to secure the filter.

Figure 7 Installing the Excitation and Emission Filters

Emission Filter

Excitation Filter

Retaining Ring

Retaining Ring

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions

Page 6 TTN013161-D02

The assembled TLV-U-FF Filter Cube is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 Filter Cube with Filters Installed

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 3: Regulatory

Rev A, November 7, 2016 Page 7

Chapter 3 Regulatory

As required by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive)
of the European Community and the correspond ing national laws, Thorlabs offers
all end users in the EC the possibility to retur n “end of life” units without incurring
disposal charges.

 This offer is valid for Thorlabs electrical and electronic equipment:
 Sold after August 13, 2005
 Marked correspondingly with the crossed out

“wheelie bin” logo (see right)

 Sold to a company or institute within the EC
 Currently owned by a company or institute

within the EC

 Still complete, not disassembled and not

contaminated

As the WEEE directive applies to self contained
operational electrical and electronic products, this end of
life take back service does not refer to other Thorlabs products, such as:

 Pure OEM products, that means assemblies to be built into a unit by the

user (e.g. OEM laser driver cards)

 Components
 Mechanics and optics
 Left over parts of units disassembled by the user (PCB’s, housings etc.).

If you wish to return a Thorlabs unit for waste recovery, please contact Thorlabs
or your nearest dealer for further information.

Waste Treatment is Your Own Responsibility

If you do not return an “end of life” unit to Thorlabs, you must hand it to a
company specialized in waste recovery. Do not dispose of the u nit in a litter bin
or at a public waste disposal site.

Ecological Background

It is well known that WEEE pollutes the environment by releasing toxic products
during decomposition. The aim of the European RoHS directive is to redu ce the
content of toxic substances in electronic products in the future.

The intent of the WEEE directive is to enforce the recycling of WEEE. A
controlled recycling of end of life products will thereb y avoid negative impacts on
the environment.

Wheelie Bin Logo

Chapter  Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

USA, Canada, and South America

Thorlabs, Inc.
56 Sparta Avenue
Newton, NJ 07860
USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com
www.thorlabs.us (West Coast)

Email: [e-mail]
Support: [e-mail]

UK and Ireland

Thorlabs Ltd.
1 Saint Thomas Place
Ely CB7 4EX
Great Britain
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com

Email: [e-mail]
Support: [e-mail]

Europe

Thorlabs GmbH
Hans-Böckler-Str. 6
85221 Dachau / Munich
Germany
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.de

Email: [e-mail]

Scandinavia

Thorlabs Sweden AB
Bergfotsgatan 7
431 35 Mölndal
Sweden
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com

Email: [e-mail]

France

Thorlabs SAS
109, rue des Côtes
78600 Maisons-Laffitte
France
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com

Email: [e-mail]

Brazil
Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda.
Rua Riachuelo, 171
São Carlos, SP 13560-110
Brazil
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.com

Email: [e-mail]

Japan

Thorlabs Japan, Inc.
3-6-3, Kitamachi,
Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0081
Japan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabs.co.jp

Email: [e-mail]

China
Thorlabs China
Room A101, No. 100, Lane 2891,
South Qilianshan Road
Putuo District
Shanghai 200331
China
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.thorlabschina.cn

Email: [e-mail]

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 4: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

Page 8 TTN013161-D02

www.thorlabs.com