THORLABS TLV-QFXL User manual

TLV-QFXL
Filter Cube Assembly for Nikon
E200-E1000, TS100, TS100F, TE200,
TE300, ME600L, and L150A
Microscopes
User Guide

Filter Cube Assembly
Table of Contents
Chapter 1Safety.................................................................................1
Chapter 2Assembly Instructions..................................................... 2
Chapter 3Regulatory.........................................................................7
Chapter 4Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts.........................................8

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 1: Safety
Rev A, February 26, 2016 Page 1
Chapter 1 Safety
All statements regarding safety of operation and technical 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 TTN013155-D02
Chapter 2 Assembly Instructions
2.1. Step 1
Carefully unpack the TLV-QFXL 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 four screws holding the filter cube together (see Figure 1; Phillips
head, M2 threaded). Carefully separate the two filter cube halves. Take note of
the excitation/emission filter halves (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 Disassembling the Filter Cube
Retaining Rings
Screws
Screws
Emission
Filter Half
Excitation
Filte
r
Half

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions
Rev A, February 26, 2016 Page 3
2.3. Step 3
The TLV-QFXL 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 beamsplitter 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 important to determine the
beamsplitter-coated side of the dichroic mirror as there is only one orientation
that will work with the filter cube.
Dichroic Mirror
Emission Filter
Excitation Filter
Edge
Transmission
is Visible
Coating
Extends to
the Edge

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions
Page 4 TTN013155-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 emission half as shown in Figure 6.
Alternate tightening between the four 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 (beamsplitter-coated) side should
be visible through the excitation side of the cube.
Figure 6 Reassembling the Filter Cube and Checking Dichroic Mirror Orientation
Dichroic Mirror
(Beamsplitter-Coated
Side Must Face U
p
)
Emission
Filte
r
Half
Emission
Filter Half
Excitation
Side
(Coated)
Excitation
Filter Half
Emission
Side

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 2: Assembly Instructions
Rev A, February 26, 2016 Page 5
2.6. Step 6
Orient the filter cube so the emission side is facing up. Insert the emission filter in
the filter cube with the arrow facing away from the cube as shown 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 TTN013155-D02
The assembled TLV-QFXL Filter Cube is shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8 Filter Cube with Filters Installed

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 3: Regulatory
Rev A, February 26, 2016 Page 7
Chapter 3 Regulatory
As required by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive)
of the European Community and the corresponding national laws, Thorlabs offers
all end users in the EC the possibility to return “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 unit 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 reduce 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 thereby avoid negative impacts on
the environment.
Wheelie Bin Logo

Filter Cube Assembly Chapter 4: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts
Page 8 TTN013155-D02
Chapter 4Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts
For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at
www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-date contact information.
USA, Canada, and South America
Thorlabs, Inc.
sa[email protected]le
[email protected]
Europe
Thorlabs GmbH
[email protected]
France
Thorlabs SASSA
[email protected]
Japan
Thorlabs Japan, Inc.
[email protected]
UK and Ireland
Thorlabs Ltd.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Scandinavia
Thorlabs Sweden AB
[email protected]
Brazil
Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda.
[email protected]
China
Thorlabs China
[email protected]

www.thorlabs.com