Information on SMA Connector Over Polishing

by: FOC FAQ

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Published: September 21, 2018

, Last updated: September 10, 2025

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QUESTION:

Where can I get some information on SMA connector over polishing?

ANSWER:

For other types of actively used connectors, SMA for example, the design intent of this connector has a specific pre-polish length and final after-polish length of .3860”-.3863” this is a critical length to maintain as both connectors in mating adapters would contact each other and provide repeatable insertion loss readings. If one of the connectors was over-polished by even .0001” a non-contact would occur and create a high loss mating. This after-polish length also applies to the old ATT Biconic style connector that required the finish polish to be held to .0003”.

READ THE FULL BLOG ARTICLE HERE: “How can I tell I have over-polished a connector?“ asked more often than you might think…

ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

Category Resource:
- FOC Interconnect Page
- FOC Polish Page

Find More Information in this Blog:

Answered by AskFOC Technical Team September 21, 2018

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FOC FAQ Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.

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Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment, materials, and supplies known for helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over three decades. Material property consultation is provided by technical experts for lapping film, epoxy, adhesives, optical coatings, and optical plastics during application specific material selection. Technical process expertise is offered in several key technology areas. Specialized expertise includes cable assembly line mastery, fiber broadband field installation best practices, and technical advancements in telecom, datacom, data centers, and hyperscale. Optical cable specification development includes design and quality testing. FOC's impact reaches the network physical capabilities through fiber manufacturing process expertise from preform fabrication and shaping, fiber drawing, and coating requirements for double clad fibers used for high power fiber laser applications to solution doping, vapor phase doping, rare earth chelates and halide recipe consultation. Fiber Optic Center is the preferred choice for the world’s fiber professionals as 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

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