FOC Blogs

Selecting the right epoxies and adhesives and using them properly is essential for ensuring long-term product reliability. In addition to the strong, reliable, and durable bonds they provide, protection of optical fibers, connectors, and components are just as critical...

For optimum 2-part epoxy bonding, it is essential that the two components, resin and hardener, (often referred to as Part A and Part B), are combined in the appropriate ratios and adequately mixed prior to dispensing and applying to the product. When manually...

Epoxy Dispensing Machines are needed to apply the epoxy precisely and uniformly to fiber optic connectors prior to inserting the fiber. The Fiber Optic Center Technical Team provides consultation on the exact type of dispensing equipment best suited for specific...

Ensuring epoxy is fully cured and the long-term optical performance of the fiber optic connector is not compromised, depends greatly on selecting the correct curing equipment. The Fiber Optic Center consultation process for curing equipment selection is based on the...

MPO cleaning guidelines are much like those for single-fiber connectors. In November 2020, Fiber Optic Center posted an article on cleaning and inspecting connector ends, Ten Practical Tips for Cleaning Connector Ends. With the article below, we are expanding ...

This article continues FOC’s latest series on optical fiber manufacturing processes, providing an overview of coatings for a wide range of standard communication and specialty optical fibers. The main job of coatings is to protect the glass fiber, but there...

In this article, the latest in FOC’s series covering specialty fibers and their fabrication, we discuss polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers and the various approaches used to make them. There are several PM fiber designs – all quite different and each with it ...

The digital divide is a popular term we hear from both government officials and local communities. The official definition of the digital divide is the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not. A key part of ...

Objectives of the fiber drawing process - The draw process takes a specialty fiber preform that may measure one meter in length and stretches it into hundreds of meters or even multiple kilometers of fiber. The preform is designed and fabricated with dopants and ...

Since 2018, FOC has provided more than 10 articles on making fiber and preforms. One series of seven articles, launched in January 2018 and written by Larry Donalds, focuses on MCVD technology and issues in making preforms. The second series, started in July...