Testing Tips: Enhance Your Process, Your Results, and Your Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies

At FOC, we are contacted daily as a resource for test and inspection support for fiber optic cable assemblies. Degraded IL/RL results is a common topic we offer technical expertise for establishing rigorous production controls. As we develop custom procedural guidelines for assessing conditions of test cables, track usage, and reasonable replacement schedules, many helpful tips become highlighted.

For a quick reference, we have compiled a few tips that can help enhance your manufacturing process.

Tip # 1: Check the stability of your test setup after referencing

After performing an IL reference, leave the test lead attached directly to the power meter, and observe IL values as you move your reference cable around the workbench a bit. There should be very little power level variation (0.00 +/- 0.02 or so at most).  If the power level varies when you move your reference cables around, then there is likely a problem in your test layout (either a bend / pinched fiber, or poor adapter connection, etc.).

Tip # 2: Determining cause of high loss

Higher wavelengths are more sensitive to loss due to excessive fiber bending. Lower wavelengths are more sensitive to loss due to fiber misalignment in the adapter. If you are testing a SM cable and having trouble reaching your IL specifications, take a look at the IL results at 1310nm and also at 1550nm. In a perfect world, both results should be “equal” (within about 0.02 dB or so). If the 1550 result is much higher than 1310, then the main cause of the loss is likely excessive fiber bending somewhere in the assembly.  If the 1310 result is much higher than 1550, then the main cause of the loss is likely poor fiber-to-fiber alignment at the connector mating.

Tip # 3: Make sure ferrules are dry before connecting

Alcohol is often used to clean end-faces prior to mating. If any liquid remains on the end-face, it can act as an “index matching” fluid when mated to another connector, giving falsely-high RL values. To ensure accurate RL results, make sure the end-faces are clean AND DRY prior to mating (note: this is another reason why it is always recommended to use 99%+ pure alcohol for cleaning, as lower purities contain higher percentage of water, and will not evaporate as quickly).

Tip # 4:  Negative IL values are IMPOSSIBLE

When you insert light into one end of a cable assembly, there will ALWAYS be LESS light coming out the other side——there is ALWAYS some amount of light lost—it is impossible for a passive cable assembly to create light. If you test IL on a cable assembly, and the result is a negative value (meaning, you are getting more light OUT of the assembly than was put IN by the test-lead), then your setup reference is invalid and needs to be zeroed again.

Tip # 5:  Protect the detector

For accurate IL results, it is critical that your test system’s photo detector is clean and free of scratches or other such defects. The surface of the detector should be inspected periodically, and cleaned as needed (inspecting with a 5x magnification eye-loupe should be sufficient). BUT BE VERY CAREFUL when cleaning, and refer to the test system user manual for proper detector cleaning practices—-some detector surfaces have a film of anti-reflective coating which can degrade if cleaned with alcohol.

A damaged photo-detector can cause major testing problems, and can very expensive and time-consuming to fix. Make sure to check with the equipment manufacturer on recommended photo-detector care.

Tip # 6:  Test Lead Quality

“A chain is a strong as its weakest link”, as they say.  And when it comes to IL and RL test systems, that weakest link is typically the test lead. Even with the best available sources and power meters, if your test lead is of poor quality, your IL results will be of poor accuracy and repeatability. The core-to-ferrule-OD concentricity of the test lead is critical to getting accurate and repeatable IL results—-particularly when testing Singlemode, as the core is so small (~8um) that even small eccentricity will result in significant core-offset when mated to your DUT, giving erroneous IL measurement values.

Test lead ferrules should be of the highest quality and tightest dimensional tolerances you can find, and should be polished to meet or exceed typical industry standards for geometry and visual appearance, and should have a core-to-ferrule-OD eccentricity value of 0.5um or less. (Again, this is more significant for smaller core sizes than larger core sizes, as any eccentricity effects will be more pronounced with smaller core fibers). Consider storing and using a master cable to test your test leads when everything else looks good, but results still seem off.

Tip # 7:  Equipment Connector Check and Cleaning before the test

Prior to testing, it’s important that the equipment interface connector have an “in air reference” Return Loss reading of a minimum of 65 dB pending the dynamic range of instrument. MAPS are usually -75 and below. Checking process depends on equipment manufacturing.  Call us for details.

In addition, the old rule “Inspect and clean” before use is a must. Equipment connectors with dirt and damage to fiber end-face can affect the readings and possibility damage the DUT. A good fitting probe scope and tip is an absolute as most connector interfaces are not easily accessible. You cannot rely on swab cleaning alone.

Clean the DUT!

 

Do you have a specific issue regarding testing and inspection?

We’re here to help! Send us your question, and we’ll do our best to provide guidance. FOC is committed to helping you manufacture the best fiber optic cable assemblies in the world.

FOC is a resource for questions on this and all technical subjects. AskFOC can be found at: https://focenter.com/askfoc/ where our technical experts answer your questions.

 

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About the Author
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.
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