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Components of the Fiber Optic Patch Cord and Optic Fiber Geometry

Part 1: Introduction to Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Manufacturing

Introduction

Is your company entering the fiber optic cable assembly market? Here at Fiber Optic Center, we believe it’s important to introduce engineers and technicians to various aspects of the production process to manufacture high-performance, world-class fiber optic cable assemblies. Ideally, your finished fiber optic cable assembly will meet all relevant international standards for quality, performance, and long-term reliability.

First, though, you and your team will need to learn the elementary principles of fiber optics, light, and transmission; connector manufacturing procedures; fundamentals of connector polishing and applicable industry standards; as well as diagnostic and troubleshooting techniques.

In this ongoing series of online articles – “Introduction to Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Manufacturing” – we’ll introduce you to a wide variety of topics to accelerate your education. This inaugural article presents an overview of fiber optic cable construction and optic fiber geometry.

Components of the fiber optic patch cord (cable assembly)

The majority of our customers manufacture fiber optic cable assemblies, which are widely known as patch cords. Patch cords can be simplex or duplex. A simplex cable consists of a single strand of optic fiber. A duplex cable is composed of two insulated single-conductor optic fibers. (We encourage you to review the Fiber Optic Center Glossary to familiarize yourself with the wide range of industry terminology.)

Here are the four major components of the fiber optic patch cord:

  • Jacket – The jacket is the external covering of the fiber optic cable. While it offers protection, its primary purpose is not to provide strength. Essentially, the jacket holds all components together: the aramid strength members and buffered fiber, which encompass the optic fiber.
  • Aramid strength members – Aramid yarns are strong, heat-resistant fibers. In the fiber optic cable assembly, the aramid strength members provide tensile strength from the connector and throughout the cable. For example, during the manufacturing process, as you pull the cable onto the connector, the aramid strength members help to assure the cable and the glass optic fiber won’t break. (Note that aramid strength members are often referred to as Kevlar®, which is a trademarked name for a particular brand of aramid yarn.)
  • Buffer coating on the fiber – The glass optic fiber is manufactured with a protective (buffer) coating against damage. Depending on the patch cord’s application, the buffer coating can be a variety of different materials that will offer, for example, resistance to high temperatures or fire resistance. The buffer also protects the acrylate-coated fiber as it is extruded into the jacket as well as acting as a “seal,” if you will, of that acrylate-coated fiber before splicing or connectorization.
  • Optic fiber – Manufactured from glass or plastic, the optic fiber is an optical waveguide comprised of a light-carrying core and cladding, which traps light in the core. Fiber optic communication systems use either single-mode or multimode types.

Optic fiber geometry

It’s helpful to understand that manufacturers of optic fiber pay close attention to certain geometric parameters. It’s extremely important for them to maintain the stated tolerances – the exact physical dimensions – so the optic fiber will provide repeatable results.

Optic fiber has the following geometric parameters:

  • Core-to-clad concentricity – In fiber optics, the core is the transparent section of the glass (or plastic) fiber. The core has a high refractive index through which the light travels by internal reflections. Core-to-clad concentricity is a measure of the relationship between the geometric center of the core of an optical fiber and the geometric center of the cladding. In other words, core-to-clad concentricity measures how centered the core is in the optic fiber.
  • Clad diameter – Fiber optic cladding is a layer of glass (or other material) surrounding the core of the optic fiber. The cladding has a refractive index that is slightly lower than the core and forms a conduit that carries light through the fiber.
  • Mode field diameter – This is the diameter of optical energy in a single-mode fiber. Because the mode field diameter (MFD) is greater than the core diameter, MFD replaces core diameter as a practical geometric parameter.

These geometric parameters are expressed in microns. Plus, the individual specifications of various optic fibers are propriety to each manufacturer of optic fiber. Keep in mind, there are many different styles of optic fiber and physical sizes, which impact the geometric parameters.

Again, we encourage you to review the Fiber Optic Center Glossary to familiarize yourself with industry terminology. And we encourage you to take advantage of the following resources to continue your education:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first article in an ongoing series, “Introduction to Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Manufacturing”:

About the Author
Mario Goduco Mario Goduco, Business Development, Technical Sales Mario has over 25 years in manufacturing, operations and business development with AMP, Thomas and Betts, Aster Corp., and Adirondack Wire and Cable design, manufacturing and sales of fiber optic connectors, fiber optic cable assemblies, optical splitters/wdms. In the last 15+ years with Fiber Optic Center, he has set up and/or optimized manufacturing facilities for fiber assemblies at over 100 companies worldwide. In a previous position as VP-Operations for US Fiber Optics, he created and managed assembly manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and China. He has written 4 papers on the processing of singlemode connectors and remains one of the pioneers in manufacturing low return loss connections. He has worked with fiber assembly operations in Asia, Australia, Europe, India and Africa. Mr. Goduco continues to provide technical consultation in the setup, staffing, operations and qualification of fiber optic assembly manufacturing all over the world.
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