FOC Blog
Insertion Loss Troubleshooting Tip: Singlemode 1310 vs. 1550
In standard Singlemode cable assembly, the two wavelengths used for Insertion Loss testing are 1310nm and 1550nm. All Singlemode fibers work very similarly in either wavelength—that is, you don’t need to buy fiber based on wavelength, one fiber fits all. ...Keeping with the Founder’s Vision
Taking stock on our 25th anniversary: As Fiber Optic Center moves into the future, we will build on our strong foundation to provide enhanced support to customers and suppliers As Fiber Optic Center celebrates its 25th anniversary,...FOC 5 Core Principles of Customer Service
These are times of positive change at Fiber Optic Center, Inc. (FOC) and with change comes opportunities and aspirations. This is my first official blog as the Customer Service Department Manager and going forward I will be sharing FOC CS...Fiber optic cable specifications: With so many specs, which ones should you qualify to?
One of the questions I often get from fiber optic cable manufacturers is: “Which specifications do I have to qualify to?” Additionally, I often hear: “Why is it that this particular specification is not good enough? Why can’t one spec...Optical cable measurements: Why don’t OTDR and jacket length markings agree?
One of the questions I get asked about regarding optical cable measurements is: “Why don’t my OTDR and jacket length markings agree?” The answer depends on the type of cable being made. In the old days (when you and I...Why isn’t there one standard polishing procedure?
This blog is authored by the FOC TEAM including: Marcel Buijs, EMEA Business Development, Technical Sales; Erwin Gelderblom, EMEA Business Development, Technical Sales; and Dan Rocheleau, Business Development, Technical Sales In a perfect world, there would be...FOC’s vintage sign at 23 Centre Street: Honoring history, restoration and new beginnings
When growing up, my favorite book was Rebecca, and I always loved the opening line: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” I have often borrowed a portion of this sentence to describe my first visit to the...Why use AngstromLap lapping film over other manufacturers?
This blog is authored by the FOC TEAM including Donna Brodie, Business Development, Films, Technical Sales; Dan Rocheleau, Business Development, Technical Sales; and Mario Goduco, Business Development, Technical Sales When fiber optic cable assembly process...Test cables don’t last forever: How to assess quality, condition, usage limit, and replacement schedule
I frequently hear customers complain that although nothing has changed in their fiber optic cable assembly production process, the measured Insertion Loss (IL) and Return Loss (RL) values of their product aren’t as good as they once were. Is something...APC Polishing Advice to Improve Apex Offset and Angle Measurements
Of the two common ferrule shapes involved in APC polishing – conical and step – the step ferrule is by far the easiest in terms of controlling geometries. Step ferrules are more expensive than conical ferrules. However, from a purely...Using Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) to polish MT ferrules and get repeatable, predictable results
I’ve been watching the development of Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) since the 1980s, when this polishing process was first used in the semiconductor industry. Of course, my interest in CMP became more personal when this process was introduced to the...Patch cord gain: Shedding light on this perplexing issue
Here is a question several customers have asked me. Have you experienced this issue? “When measured on my properly calibrated IL/RL meter, some of my patch cords show ‘gain.’ How can this be possible? Since a patch cord cannot have...Trade show best practices, improved processes and a little pixie dust.
The best laid plans of the FOC February Marketing Blog fell to a delay by irony. This month’s topic of trade shows is posting in March due to the logistics of our shows usurping much of the past month. One...Looking at our industry from a systems perspective: The future of cable is inextricably tied to connectivity.
For years, connectivity in the cable industry was considered a “throw it over the wall” issue with a focus on leaving the problem to others who then became responsible for the convenience of connecting the cables designed to the outside...Looking at key benefits of the FastMT fiberscope and a discussion on automated vs. manual optical inspection
In your fiber optic cable assembly facility, when an operator visually inspects one of your connectors – and sees a defect on a fiber – will the operator define it as a defect or call it a scratch? It’s a...Cablers: Advice to efficiently reconfigure fiber optic process lines for add-on products – without resulting in suboptimized products
When I was a process engineer at a large cabler, we could reconfigure our fiber optic process lines in about 20 minutes. In a 3-shift day, we could produce 8 different products. Unfortunately, most cablers don’t enjoy this level of...Cablers: Are you looking to work with specialty cables or furcation tubes? If so, here are key points to consider.
A growing trend in the fiber optic industry is the increasing use of specialty fibers. Clearly, telecommunications and data communications applications are the high-volume users of fiber optics, yet other areas are burgeoning. In fact, many specialty fiber optic...Helpful Epoxy Tips (and a Few Tricks)
In the fiber optic cable assembly process, working with epoxy generates a lot of questions. When I visit fabrication facilities, we discuss the finer points of mixing the material, loading syringes, minimizing waste, heat-treating crystallized epoxy, and more. For...Advice for raw material suppliers planning to sell to the optical cable industry: 4 points to consider – and pitfalls to avoid
In the “dog-eat-dog” world of raw materials, competition is stiff. Margins are tight. Opportunities are rare. Is your company eying fiber optics as a new market? If you’re a raw material supplier looking to sell to the optical cable industry,...MT Ferrule Geometry Specifications: Minus-Side Coplanarity in IEC 61755-3-31:2015
In regards to MT ferrule geometry measurements, Minus Coplanarity (or Minus-Side Coplanarity) is one way to describe how “flat” or “co-planar” an array of fibers is. To ensure minimum optical performance requirements of the telecom world, it is important to...Which passive component tester to purchase? Start by answering 7 basic questions to get correctly configured fiber optic test equipment
Is your company entering the fiber optic cable assembly business, and you’re “setting up shop”? In your research, you may be discovering that most equipment is not offered as a one-size-fits-all, universal solution. In fact, a key piece of fiber...Ideas to adjust your epoxy process: Recommendations to reduce waste (and save money) in your fiber optic cable assembly process
For fiber optic cable assembly manufacturers, bi-packs of 2.5-gram and 4-gram are typical package sizes for epoxy. While these packages contain a very small amount of material, they support the fabrication of quite a few cable connectors and assemblies. (Note...Are polymer waveguides in the future for the fiber optic industry?
Since the early 1970s, the demand for higher communication and information traffic has caused the optical fiber network to burgeon. In fact, the modern fiber optic network comprises a large part of the Internet backbone. This includes long-distance communication...Why do fiber optic connectors fail? Cross-sectioning offers a view inside connectors – and insight into why they fail
How many times have you asked yourself: Why did this connector fail? I’ve been in the fiber optic industry since the 1980’s and – despite amazing technological advances – this issue continues to plague our industry. Did you know there...Advice for Cable Manufacturers Looking to Enter the US Fiber Optic Market
I’m seeing a trend in the fiber optic industry: Cable manufacturers around the world are looking to develop and qualify cable designs in order to enter the US fiber optic market. Unfortunately, I’m witnessing another trend: Many cable manufacturers don’t...Fiber Optic Center Marketing Blog: the city that lit the world, our home.
The city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, also known as Fiber Optic Center’s home, is a special place for many reasons. A simple lunch stop this week at Freestones City Grill reminded me of all that our community shares with a …Fiber Optic Center Customer Service Blog: Shipping has new construction, improved software systems, and a new employee…
Shipping, for our company, is a lot more than getting products from point A to B. It is an important, complicated and strategic part of our business. With focused attention towards our fulfillment strategy and how it directly drives overall …Bond Line Thickness & More: Answers to Common Epoxy Questions
When I meet with customers, I field a variety of questions regarding epoxy processes in many applications, including fiber optic cable assemblies. This article addresses commonly asked questions: Why is bond line thickness important? What is the recommended minimum...Buying used vs. new equipment: challenges in optical cable manufacture and new extrusion line business
Many times I have had the conversation about how to get started in cable manufacture or get a new extrusion line up quickly. Invariably two questions come up: How quick can I be in production and what equipment do I...How to Build Your Own “Modally Transparent” Multimode Test Leads
I believe every fiber optic manufacturing company should build its own test leads. Of course, these test leads must provide accurate, repeatable Insertion Loss (IL) test results. This article offers guidance to confidently build and use your own EF-Compliant “modally...How to Develop a Fiber Optic Polishing Process that Produces Consistent Results
Frequently, my customers ask for guidance to develop a fiber optic polishing process. While there are many details to consider, the process comes down to 5 basic steps. Note that this article focuses on single-fiber (and not MT) PC ferrules....Sanding 3D Printed Objects: How to Get a Mirror-Polish Finish
Since attending the RAPID 3D event this summer, I’ve been fielding questions related to sanding 3D printed objects. Thanks to our expertise in abrasive films, several engineers and technicians at 3D printer manufacturers and 3D printing production houses – as...
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