KLS1550
K-Cube™ 1550 nm Laser Source
Shown with Included Mounting Plate
(Power Supply Sold Separately)
Kinesis Software Included
Compact Light Source & Driver Modules |
---|
K-Cube Modulesa |
Laser Diode Driver |
Laser Sources |
T-Cube Modulesa |
High Power LED Driver |
Thorlabs' K-Cube Laser Sources are fully functional, highly compact, fiber-coupled laser sources with a center wavelength of either 635 nm or 1550 nm. Each unit incorporates driver electronics and an FC/PC (2.1 mm wide key) fiber interface. The internally pigtailed Fabry-Perot laser diode is connected to the rear panel FC/PC output via a single mode fiber. With this fiber-to-fiber connection at the output, these devices deliver optical power more efficiently than air-to-fiber systems that use a receptacle with embedded optics. The laser can be operated independently via the top panel controls and display screen or remotely by PC via a USB connection. The output power is monitored continuously and a feedback circuit adjusts the laser power to achieve a constant output power.
The unit has a highly compact 121.0 mm x 60.0 mm x 47.0 mm footprint, allowing it to be positioned close to the rest of the system for added convenience when manually adjusting the laser output using the top panel controls. Tabletop operation also allows minimal cable lengths for easier cable management. A power switch on the front of the unit turns the K-Cube on and off. The top panel display screen enables operation as soon as the unit is turned on, without the need for connection to a PC. When the switch is turned off, the K-Cube saves all user-adjustable settings for the next session. Please note that the power switch should always be in the "off" position when plugging in or unplugging the unit. The laser must be turned off when connecting or disconnecting a fiber from the input. Please ensure the fiber tip and connector bulkhead are clean prior to use; the FBC250 Bulkhead and Connector Cleaner can be used to clean the bulkhead and connecting fiber.
USB connectivity provides easy 'Plug-and-Play' PC-controlled operation, and a suitable cable is included with each K-Cube laser source (USB 3.0 type A to USB 2.0 type Micro B). Two software packages are available: Kinesis, which features new .NET controls that can be used by third-party developers working in compatible languages such as C, C# and LabVIEW™ to create custom applications, and our legacy APT software. For more details, please see the Motion Control Software, Kinesis Tutorials, and APT Tutorials tabs.
Optical Table Mounting Plate
Each unit comes with a mounting plate that clips onto the base of the module. The plate contains two magnets for temporary placement on an optical table and two counterbored slots for 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws for a more permanent placement on the tabletop.
Power Supply Options
The preferred power supply (single channel, multi-channel, or hub-based) depends on the end user's application and whether you already own compatible power supplies. To that end and in keeping with Thorlabs' green initiative, we do not ship these units bundled with a power supply.
Multiple units can be connected to a single PC by using the KCH301 or KCH601 USB Controller Hubs, available below, for applications involving multiple K-Cubes and/or T-Cubes. Please see the Mounting Options tab for more details. The KCH301 features three controller mounting bays while the KCH601 features six controller mounting bays. Note that these K-Cube laser sources occupy two mounting bays on the USB controller hubs.
All power supply options compatible with the K-Cube laser sources can be found below.
Item # | KLS635 | KLS1550 |
---|---|---|
Wavelength | 635 nm | 1550 nm |
Maximum Output Power | 8.0 mW | 7.0 mW |
Output Fiber Connector | FC/PC (Wide 2.1 mm Key Compatible) | |
Stability | ±0.1 dB | |
Display Accuracy | ±10% | |
Set Point Resolution | 0.01 mW | |
Modulation Input | 0 to 10 V = 0 to Full Power | |
Modulation Bandwidth | Sine Wave: 600 Hz at 3 dB 1 kHz at 6 dB |
|
EXT IN Input Impedancea | 16 kΩ | |
Input Voltage | 15 V | |
Operating Temperature | 15 to 35 °C | |
Storage Temperature | 0 to 50 °C | |
USB Connector Type | USB 3.0 | |
USB Connection Speed | USB 1.1 Full Speed (12 Mbps) | |
Housing Dimensions (W x D x H) | 121.0 mm x 60.0 mm x 47.0 mm (4.76" x 2.36" x 1.85") | |
Weight | 350 g | 300 g |
Two options are available to securely mount our K-Cube controllers onto an optical table. An optical table mounting plate, provided with every K-Cube, allows for a single controller to be attached to an optical table. Alternatively, three- and six-port USB controller hubs are offered (sold separately) that can mount and power our K-Cube controllers. These options are described in further detail below.
Optical Table Mounting Plate
Each K-Cube unit comes with a mounting plate that clips onto the base of the controller, as shown in the animation below. The plate contains two magnets for temporary placement on an optical table and two counterbores for 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws for a more permanent placement on the tabletop. Please see the Specs tab for a mechanical drawing of the table mounting plate.
Kinesis USB Controller Hubs
Multiple units can be mounted and connected to a single PC by using the KCH301 or KCH601 USB Controller Hubs. They each consist of two parts: the hub, which can support up to three (KCH301) or six (KCH601) K-Cubes or T-Cubes, and a power supply that plugs into a standard wall outlet. K-Cubes simply clip into place using the provided on-unit clips, while current- and previous-generation T-Cubes require the KAP101 Adapter Plate, shown in the animation below. The hub vastly reduces the number of USB and power cables required when operating multiple controllers.
Thorlabs offers two platforms to drive our wide range of motion controllers: our Kinesis® software package or the legacy APT™ (Advanced Positioning Technology) software package. Either package can be used to control devices in the Kinesis family, which covers a wide range of motion controllers ranging from small, low-powered, single-channel drivers (such as the K-Cubes™ and T-Cubes™) to high-power, multi-channel, modular 19" rack nanopositioning systems (the APT Rack System).
The Kinesis Software features .NET controls which can be used by 3rd party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any .NET compatible languages to create custom applications. Low-level DLL libraries are included for applications not expected to use the .NET framework. A Central Sequence Manager supports integration and synchronization of all Thorlabs motion control hardware.
Our legacy APT System Software platform offers ActiveX-based controls which can be used by 3rd party developers working on C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any Active-X compatible languages to create custom applications and includes a simulator mode to assist in developing custom applications without requiring hardware.
By providing these common software platforms, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the Kinesis and APT controllers in a single application, while only having to learn a single set of software tools. In this way, it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the controllers from single-axis to multi-axis systems and control all from a single, PC-based unified software interface.
The software packages allow two methods of usage: graphical user interface (GUI) utilities for direct interaction with and control of the controllers 'out of the box', and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom-integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily programmed in the development language of choice.
A range of video tutorials is available to help explain our APT system software. These tutorials provide an overview of the software and the APT Config utility. Additionally, a tutorial video is available to explain how to select simulator mode within the software, which allows the user to experiment with the software without a controller connected. Please select the APT Tutorials tab above to view these videos.
Kinesis Version 1.14.49
The Kinesis Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of Thorlabs' Kinesis and APT™ system controllers.
Also Available:
APT Version 3.21.6
The APT Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of Thorlabs' APT™ and Kinesis system controllers.
Also Available:
Thorlabs' Kinesis® software features new .NET controls which can be used by third-party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any .NET compatible languages to create custom applications.
C#
This programming language is designed to allow multiple programming paradigms, or languages, to be used, thus allowing for complex problems to be solved in an easy or efficient manner. It encompasses typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented, and component-oriented programming. By providing functionality with this common software platform, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the Kinesis controllers in a single application, while only having to learn a single set of software tools. In this way, it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the controllers from the low-powered, single-axis to the high-powered, multi-axis systems and control all from a single, PC-based unified software interface.
The Kinesis System Software allows two methods of usage: graphical user interface (GUI) utilities for direct interaction and control of the controllers 'out of the box', and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom-integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily programmed in the development language of choice.
For a collection of example projects that can be compiled and run to demonstrate the different ways in which developers can build on the Kinesis motion control libraries, click on the links below. Please note that a separate integrated development environment (IDE) (e.g., Microsoft Visual Studio) will be required to execute the Quick Start examples. The C# example projects can be executed using the included .NET controls in the Kinesis software package (see the Kinesis Software tab for details).
Click Here for the Kinesis with C# Quick Start Guide Click Here for C# Example Projects Click Here for Quick Start Device Control Examples |
LabVIEW
LabVIEW can be used to communicate with any Kinesis- or APT-based controller via .NET controls. In LabVIEW, you build a user interface, known as a front panel, with a set of tools and objects and then add code using graphical representations of functions to control the front panel objects. The LabVIEW tutorial, provided below, provides some information on using the .NET controls to create control GUIs for Kinesis- and APT-driven devices within LabVIEW. It includes an overview with basic information about using controllers in LabVIEW and explains the setup procedure that needs to be completed before using a LabVIEW GUI to operate a device.
Click Here to View the LabVIEW Guide Click Here to View the Kinesis with LabVIEW Overview Page |
The APT video tutorials available here fall into two main groups - one group covers using the supplied APT utilities and the second group covers programming the APT System using a selection of different programming environments.
Disclaimer: The videos below were originally produced in Adobe Flash. Following the discontinuation of Flash after 2020, these tutorials were re-recorded for future use. The Flash Player controls still appear in the bottom of each video, but they are not functional.
Every APT controller is supplied with the utilities APTUser and APTConfig. APTUser provides a quick and easy way of interacting with the APT control hardware using intuitive graphical control panels. APTConfig is an 'off-line' utility that allows various system wide settings to be made such as pre-selecting mechanical stage types and associating them with specific motion controllers.
The first video below gives an overview of using the APTUser Utility. The OptoDriver single channel controller products can be operated via their front panel controls in the absence of a control PC. The stored settings relating to the operation of these front panel controls can be changed using the APTUser utility. The second video illustrates this process.
There are various APT system-wide settings that can be made using the APT Config utility, including setting up a simulated hardware configuration and associating mechanical stages with specific motor drive channels. The first video presents a brief overview of the APT Config application. More details on creating a simulated hardware configuration and making stage associations are present in the next two videos.
The APT Software System is implemented as a collection of ActiveX Controls. ActiveX Controls are language-independant software modules that provide both a graphical user interface and a programming interface. There is an ActiveX Control type for each type of hardware unit, e.g. a Motor ActiveX Control covers operation with any type of APT motor controller (DC or stepper). Many Windows software development environments and languages directly support ActiveX Controls, and, once such a Control is embedded into a custom application, all of the functionality it contains is immediately available to the application for automated operation. The videos below illustrate the basics of using the APT ActiveX Controls with LabVIEW, Visual Basic, and Visual C++. Note that many other languages support ActiveX including LabWindows CVI, C++ Builder, VB.NET, C#.NET, Office VBA, Matlab, HPVEE etc. Although these environments are not covered specifically by the tutorial videos, many of the ideas shown will still be relevant to using these other languages.
Part 1 illustrates how to get an APT ActiveX Control running within Visual Basic, and Part 2 goes on to show how to program a custom positioning sequence.
Full Active support is provided by LabVIEW and the series of tutorial videos below illustrate the basic building blocks in creating a custom APT motion control sequence. We start by showing how to call up the Thorlabs-supplied online help during software development. Part 2 illustrates how to create an APT ActiveX Control. ActiveX Controls provide both Methods (i.e. Functions) and Properties (i.e. Value Settings). Parts 3 and 4 show how to create and wire up both the methods and properties exposed by an ActiveX Control. Finally, in Part 5, we pull everything together and show a completed LabVIEW example program that demonstrates a custom move sequence.
The following tutorial videos illustrate alternative ways of creating Method and Property nodes:
Part 1 illustrates how to get an APT ActiveX Control running within Visual C++, and Part 2 goes on to show how to program a custom positioning sequence.
For assistance when using MATLAB and ActiveX controls with the Thorlabs APT positioners, click here.
To further assist programmers, a guide to programming the APT software in LabVIEW is also available here.
Safe practices and proper usage of safety equipment should be taken into consideration when operating lasers. The eye is susceptible to injury, even from very low levels of laser light. Thorlabs offers a range of laser safety accessories that can be used to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Laser emission in the visible and near infrared spectral ranges has the greatest potential for retinal injury, as the cornea and lens are transparent to those wavelengths, and the lens can focus the laser energy onto the retina.
Lasers are categorized into different classes according to their ability to cause eye and other damage. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. The IEC document 60825-1 outlines the safety of laser products. A description of each class of laser is given below:
Class | Description | Warning Label |
---|---|---|
1 | This class of laser is safe under all conditions of normal use, including use with optical instruments for intrabeam viewing. Lasers in this class do not emit radiation at levels that may cause injury during normal operation, and therefore the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) cannot be exceeded. Class 1 lasers can also include enclosed, high-power lasers where exposure to the radiation is not possible without opening or shutting down the laser. | |
1M | Class 1M lasers are safe except when used in conjunction with optical components such as telescopes and microscopes. Lasers belonging to this class emit large-diameter or divergent beams, and the MPE cannot normally be exceeded unless focusing or imaging optics are used to narrow the beam. However, if the beam is refocused, the hazard may be increased and the class may be changed accordingly. | |
2 | Class 2 lasers, which are limited to 1 mW of visible continuous-wave radiation, are safe because the blink reflex will limit the exposure in the eye to 0.25 seconds. This category only applies to visible radiation (400 - 700 nm). | |
2M | Because of the blink reflex, this class of laser is classified as safe as long as the beam is not viewed through optical instruments. This laser class also applies to larger-diameter or diverging laser beams. | |
3R | Class 3R lasers produce visible and invisible light that is hazardous under direct and specular-reflection viewing conditions. Eye injuries may occur if you directly view the beam, especially when using optical instruments. Lasers in this class are considered safe as long as they are handled with restricted beam viewing. The MPE can be exceeded with this class of laser; however, this presents a low risk level to injury. Visible, continuous-wave lasers in this class are limited to 5 mW of output power. | |
3B | Class 3B lasers are hazardous to the eye if exposed directly. Diffuse reflections are usually not harmful, but may be when using higher-power Class 3B lasers. Safe handling of devices in this class includes wearing protective eyewear where direct viewing of the laser beam may occur. Lasers of this class must be equipped with a key switch and a safety interlock; moreover, laser safety signs should be used, such that the laser cannot be used without the safety light turning on. Laser products with power output near the upper range of Class 3B may also cause skin burns. | |
4 | This class of laser may cause damage to the skin, and also to the eye, even from the viewing of diffuse reflections. These hazards may also apply to indirect or non-specular reflections of the beam, even from apparently matte surfaces. Great care must be taken when handling these lasers. They also represent a fire risk, because they may ignite combustible material. Class 4 lasers must be equipped with a key switch and a safety interlock. | |
All class 2 lasers (and higher) must display, in addition to the corresponding sign above, this triangular warning sign. |
The KLS635 and KLS1550 K-Cube laser sources are compact units with a fiber-coupled Fabry-Perot laser diode. The unit can be operated via the top panel display screen and controls as soon as the device is turned on. Alternatively, a USB connection allows for remote PC operation with either the Kinesis or APT software. An integrated feedback circuit maintains constant optical output power at the selected output intensity level.
The unit has a very small 121.0 mm x 60.0 mm x 47.0 mm (4.76" x 2.36" x 1.85") footprint and may be mounted directly to the optical table using the 1/4" (M6) counterbored slots in the base plate. This compact size allows the laser source to be positioned close to the rest of the system for added convenience when manually adjusting components. Tabletop operation also allows minimal cable lengths for easier cable management.
Please note that this controller does not ship with a power supply. Compatible power supplies are listed below.
Part Number | Description | Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
KLS635 | K-Cube Laser Source, 635 nm, 8.0 mW Max (Power Supply Sold Separately) | $1,692.89 | Today |
KLS1550 | K-Cube Laser Source, 1550 nm, 7.0 mW Max (Power Supply Sold Separately) | $1,482.34 | Today |
The KPS201 power supply outputs +15 VDC at up to 2.66 A and can power a single K-Cube or T-Cube with a 3.5 mm jack. It plugs into a standard wall outlet.
The KCH301 and KCH601 USB Controller Hubs each consist of two parts: the hub, which can support up to three (KCH301) or six (KCH601) K-Cubes or T-Cubes, and a power supply that plugs into a standard wall outlet. The hub draws a maximum current of 10 A; please verify that the cubes being used do not require a total current of more than 10 A. In addition, the hub provides USB connectivity to any docked K-Cube or T-Cube through a single USB connection.
For more information on the USB Controller Hubs, see the full web presentation.
Part Number | Description | Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
KPS201 | 15 V, 2.66 A Power Supply Unit with 3.5 mm Jack Connector for One K- or T-Cube | $40.33 | Today |
KCH301 | USB Controller Hub and Power Supply for Three K-Cubes or T-Cubes | $598.63 | 3 weeks |
KCH601 | USB Controller Hub and Power Supply for Six K-Cubes or T-Cubes | $724.52 | Today |