MT ferrules require different polishing procedures In Part 1 of this series, we covered the use of films with pressure-sensitive adhesives. In Part 2, we covered films for polishing zirconia ferrules. In this article, we focus on the special products needed to polish...
In September 2019, FOC posted an article explaining the difference between mechanical and fusion splices. Fiber Optic Cable Splicing Explained. Fusion splicing is joining two fibers together by melting the two fibers together. Result is a near-seamless / lossless...
FOC has posted several articles on cleaning and inspection in recent years. Two recent ones were Ensuring Clean Fiber Connections, and The Art of Cleaning. The first article cites IEC standard 61300-3-35, which covers visual inspection techniques and requirements for...
Technical Paper: Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Manufacturing Process Improvements: The Often-Overlooked Benefits of Industry Standards Industry Standards for fiber optic cable assembly production exist, in part, to provide guidance to manufacturers on how to build...
Errors in epoxy processes (mixing, dispensing / application, curing schedules, etc.) can lead to premature bond failures which negatively impact the reliability of any cable assembly. In response to our industry needs for the most timely information and solutions...
With the rapidly changing demands and conditions in the factory, supply network, and customer requirements, automation is a solution many are looking towards. Smart manufacturing is the new buzz as more cable assembly houses embrace their need for fully-integrated and...
Choosing between PSA-backed and non-PSA-backed lapping film FOC currently offers 476 distinct products in its lapping-film category. The variations include type (material), particle size (grit), manufacturer, and options for pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)...
In any mated pair of fiber optic connectors, the cleanliness of both fiber endfaces plays a major role in the performance of the mated pair. Obviously and intuitively, anything that prevents light from passing freely from one fiber into the other (such as dirt /...
When I talk with FOC customers about MT ferrule cleaving in preparation for polishing, we discuss two basic options: “manual cleaving” and “automated cleaving”. Manual cleaving relies on a trained operator scoring the fiber with a fiber scribe,...
Fabricating fiber optic cable assemblies is still in large part a manual process, requiring knowledge and skill. When something in the process goes awry, investigation is needed to identify and address the cause. Recently, our team of experts met to discuss some...
“How do I know what curing schedule I should use?” This is a common question that fiber optic cable assembly houses ask – and it’s a particularly good question. Why? When our customers ask this question, it tells us they are focusing on a critical aspect...
Introduction When fiber optic cable assembly manufacturers ask us to help troubleshoot their epoxy curing issues, we find that some problems stem from improper mixing of epoxy. Other problems arise from lax cleaning procedures or improper dispensing of epoxy....
Introduction Too often, the process of bonding optical fiber to a ferrule – the epoxy step – is treated as an afterthought in fiber optic cable assembly houses. However, this is an extremely critical step in the assembly process, since it is a major factor in...
In standard Singlemode cable assembly, the two wavelengths used for Insertion Loss testing are 1310nm and 1550nm. All Singlemode fibers work very similarly in either wavelength—that is, you don’t need to buy fiber based on wavelength, one fiber fits all. So,...
Of the two common ferrule shapes involved in APC polishing – conical and step – the step ferrule is by far the easiest in terms of controlling geometries. Step ferrules are more expensive than conical ferrules. However, from a purely process-control point of view,...
