Holiday Update:
Fiber Optic Center will be closed December 24 and 25.
Due to potential early carrier pickups, PLEASE HAVE ALL ORDERS IN BY NOON ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 23.


We will resume our regular business hours on Thursday, December 26.

Fiber Optic Center will be at Photonics West - Schedule your meeting with a member of the FOC team now

FILM: Tips

Scratches and Final Film

When scratches appear after using the final film, this typically relates back to earlier operational steps. It’s important to isolate and correct problematic issues throughout the assembly process. At Fiber Optic Center, we developed the ÅngströmLap Final Polish...
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3D Printed Objects – Steps for Sanding Your 3D Printing Project

Start with the largest grit to remove all pits, bumps, and scratches. Most polymers are easy to sand, so don’t overdo it. However, it is important to sand until you can’t see any odd divots or bumps. Sand evenly across the surface in small circular movement ...
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3D Printed Objects – Wet-sanding Offers More Luster

Wet-sanding offers more luster To achieve a smooth, glossy finish for 3D printed objects, wet-sanding offers a significant advantage. As an example, think about automotive paints and their mirror-smooth look. Wet-sanding is the key to achieving that luster....
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Notes on Suppliers, Specs and Best Practices

Connector supplies with any quality supply their UPC or pre-angled APC connector ferrules within the Telcordia spec for Radius of Curvature and Apex Offset. Depending on the size of the ferrule and the amount of damage or reforming that needs to been done, this is...
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3D Printed Objects – Gradually Decrease Grit Size When Sanding and Polishing

Gradually decrease grit size when sanding and polishing – Whether the composite polymer is a type of thermoplastic, metal, or rubber, the sanding and polishing process is similar to sanding wood. The rule of thumb is to gradually decrease grit sizes until you...
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How Lapping Film Is Typically Used

Here is how the lapping film is typically used: After the epoxy is cured and the fiber is scribed it must be denubbed. This step usually requires a rough grit silicon carbide film, something between 16 um and 5 um, depending on the bead size. This allows for a...
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3D Printed Objects Start With a Good Print Job

Start with a good print job – Use the 3D printer’s smallest layer height (highest resolution). On most printers, this is 0.1mm or less. This is especially important for the outermost layer. Sanding and polishing will remove some material from the surface, which...
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When Scratches Appear After Using the Final Film

The four different versions of ÅngströmLap Ultimas Final Polish Lapping Film (Ultimas-P, Ultimas-U and two Ultimas Flock versions) can address multiple requirements and needs. Here is a very brief overview of the different types of ÅngströmLap Ultimas Final...
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Abrasive Lapping Films

Abrasive lapping films are coated with precision graded abrasives on a polyester film. The raw materials used to make up the abrasives and the adhesives used to secure them onto the backing need to be controlled.  The coating process should be carried out in a...
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