All steps can be found in the FOC article, How to Develop a Fiber Optic Polishing Process that Produces Consistent Results but here we highlight:
Step 3. Conduct a trial run, following our recommended procedures.
Fiber Optic Center offers Recommended Polishing...
When interpreting APC geometry results in order to modify the polishing process to improve results, it is important to understand Apex Offset - namely, that Apex Offset (for both PC and APC ferrules) is really the result of two components: Angle and Key...
Step 2. Ensure you have the proper equipment.
The precision of polishing equipment dimensions (both the fixturing as well as the machine itself) play a vital role in determining your process capabilities. Properly maintained polishing machines should last for...
This mainly applies to fixtures for polishing ferrule only (as opposed to connector polishing). The ferrules must protrude the same amount from the bottom of the fiber optic polishing fixture, to ensure consistent pressure being applied to all...
Understanding and controlling APC ferrule geometry values get a bit more complicated than with PC ferrules. Not only are the ferrules polished at an angle, but that angle must be oriented in a specific rotational orientation (relative to the connector...
Single-fiber PC ferrules, developing a polishing process:
Step 1. Define your objectives, especially measurement criteria and process yields.
When developing a polishing process, it’s important to clarify your acceptance criteria and targeted yields – and have...
Focus on preventive action, not corrective action – As you develop your fiber optic polishing process, I encourage you to implement a statistical process control system.
For example, over time, rubber pads and fixtures will wear out, and yields will begin to...
This mainly applies to fixtures for polishing ferrule only (as opposed to connector polishing). The ferrules must protrude the same amount from the bottom of the fiber optic polishing fixture, to ensure consistent pressure being applied to all...
Contamination within the ferrule bore is preventing the ferrule from sliding freely within the bore: This mainly applies to connector polishing (as opposed to ferrule-only polishing) where the connector’s spring force is relied on to present equal downward...
Determining over polishing of the connector is difficult to gauge. For the most part, manufacturers of connectors specify critical lengths of the end of the ceramic ferrule to the base of the metal flange. This critical length then translates to the correct exposure...
