Factory Fiber Processing: Challenging the Industry to Provide Solutions for Low and High-Volume Mix Applications

Published: September 5, 2019

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Fibers that have been designed to meet specific optical properties are used in a variety of applications such as Medical, Spectroscopy, Science, Mil/Aero, Industrial and Telecommunications.

The construction of these specialty fibers varies in types and dimensions of core, cladding and coating and challenges the industry to provide solutions for low and high-volume mix applications.

Processing these fibers, like cutting, splicing and removal of coatings are common processes often related to connectivity. Tapering fiber diameters or increasing fiber diameters using for example capillaries are also common techniques for transitioning to other media.

Last but not least, the ability to shape fiber tips into flat angles, conical or ball lens solutions are techniques to redirect the optical paths are fiber processing examples.

At FOC, we have had customers interested in making short fiber where the coating was removed on a specific section. Some of these coatings are hard to remove, need high temperature or chemicals to remove. Manual operation is difficult if the fibers are short.

We work with 3SAE Technologies who has designed and manufactured a wide range of high performance fiber optic stripping tools for optical fiber coating removal, providing the most advanced line of high strength thermal mechanical strippers, non-contact high strength fiber optic strippers and the industry’s only diameter adjustable thermal fiber stripper.

With several patents for fiber optic stripping, such as Burst™ Technology and the Ring of Fire®, 3SAE’s state-of-the-art non-contact, chemical free coating removal solutions are ideal for the end stripping and mid-span window stripping of optical fiber coatings such as acrylate, PVC, polyimide, carbon, and gold.

The FOC Factory Fiber Processing step focuses on industry standard equipment selection supporting many of the above challenges. Please consult one of our technical experts at Fiber Optic Center for further information.

Additional resources from the FOC team include:

View the Glossary, Acronyms, Military Specifications for Connectors
Q&A Resource: email technical questions to AskFOC@focenter.com
Bookmark the Adhesive/Epoxy Page and Contact Info

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About the Author

Erwin Gelderblom Erwin Gelderblom, EMEA Business Development, Technical Sales
Erwin manages sales and technical support for FOC in the EMEA area. Earlier positions included Toshiba Medical Systems, Framatome, and Amphenol. Erwin joined Molex Fiber Optics in 1997 as European account manager, developing business for optical backplane connectors and optical flex circuit products to become the largest sales area for Molex. Erwin completed a four-year internal MBA program while at Molex, and was responsible for market analyses, growth strategy and business development for Molex Europe.
Following ten years at Molex, Erwin worked for Prysmian Cables in the Netherlands. Since 2009, Erwin has worked with FOC, handling consumables, production and inspection equipment. Erwin graduated in 1987 from MBO college in Gouda, Netherlands with a BS degree in electronics engineering and lives in the Rotterdam area.

About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

For further information contact:

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
Toll Free in US: 800-IS-FIBER or 800-473-4237 . Direct 508-992-6464. Email: sales@focenter.com or fiberopticcenter@focenter.com

For media contact:

Kathleen Skelton, Director of Strategic Marketing, C: 617-803-3014 . E: kskelton@focenter.com

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