Thorlabs MCLS1

Thorlabs MCLS1 service contains software for controlling the Thorlabs MCLS1 laser source. Backend selection is automatic at runtime:

• On Windows, the service uses the Thorlabs UART library backend.

• On non-Windows platforms (Linux/macOS), the service communicates directly over serial (pyserial).

On Windows, the environment variable CATKIT_THORLABS_UART_LIB_PATH must point to the Thorlabs UART library file used by this service.

Thorlabs software suite is publicly available at https://www.thorlabs.com/software-pages/mcls1/

Configuration

mcls1:
    service_type: thorlabs_mcls1
    simulated_service_type: thorlabs_mcls1_sim
    interface: thorlabs_mcls1
    requires_safety: false

    # Used by the Windows UART-library backend to find the device in the VCP list.
    # Can be omitted if not on Windows.
    vcp_port: 'VCP3'

    # Optional for non-Windows serial backend.
    # serial_port: '/dev/ttyUSB0'
    # serial_timeout: 1.0

    emission: 1
    current_setpoint: 100
    low_flux_current_setpoint: 35
    channel: 2
    target_temperature: 25

    channels:
        1: 640
        2: 670

Properties

None.

Commands

None.

Datastreams

current_setpoint: (mA) Output current level of the MCLS1 (in percent), used to set up the source.

emission: (boolean/int) Source emission status. 0 is OFF, 1 is ON. Used to set up the source.

target_temperature: (Celsius) Target temperature of the MCLS1. Used to set up the cooling system.

temperature: (Celsius) Source temperature. Feedback only.

power: (mW) Source output power. Feedback only.