Visit Fiber Optic Center at Booth 2910 During OFC 2023

Presented by: Kelly Barker

Almost all epoxies used in the fiber optic industry are two-part epoxy systems consisting of a resin and a hardener or activator. All the chemicals in these two-part epoxies can cause an allergic reaction, but the component most commonly causing an allergic reaction is the resin. Epoxy resin is the third most frequent cause of occupational allergic dermatitis, or in other simple words, allergic skin reactions.

Discussion topics include:

• When adverse reactions increase and how to minimize
• Differences between the two types of Contact Dermatitis: Irritant and Allergic.
• Step by steps to reduce the risk of either type of dermatitis: preparation and protection

Presented by: Wayne Kachmar

Optical fiber and cable are the key building blocks of the passive plant. Proper construction of the physical layer provides a good foundation for the information highway.

Discussion topics include:

• Transmission standards scaling up from 622 Mbps to 50 Gbps in 25 years
• All ITU and IEEE PON network standards are structured to use the passive plant of previous generations and provide stable performance to support future generations of transmission technology
• How to:
  • Know the cable standards and specifications
  • Know the requirements of your installation and environment
  • Take advantage of the latest “easy-to-use” connectors and splice products
  • Understand their performance factors
  • Know how to troubleshoot

Presented by: Fiber Optic Center Technical Team

Discussion on controls of the bonding process including epoxy mixing, application, curing, and testing.

Discussion topics include:

• Best practices to validate your curing schedule including the starting point, characterizing the oven ports
• Best practices for epoxy preparation and dispensing

Presented by: Wayne Kachmar

Fiber, cable, assemblies, connectors, and other passive products have been in mass production for decades. These must be standard-compliant and produced to the highest-quality.

Discussion topics include:

• What does the physical layer do?
• Cable designs
• How we place cable
• Cable standards
• Matching the cable spec to real life

Presented by: Fiber Optic Center Technical Team

The technical team combines their field experience to demonstrate and discuss how to enhance process, results, and fiber optic cable assemblies.

Discussion topics include:

• Determining the cause of high loss
• The misunderstanding about Negative IL values
• Protecting the detector
• Test Lead Quality Steps
• Why we cannot stress enough the cleaning before the test

Presented by: Fiber Optic Center Technical Team

The exact recipe for polishing procedures depends on certain factors and each will be discussed:

• Materials
• Equipment
• Methods
• Environment
• Goals

Presented by: Fiber Optic Center Technical Team

Full view of both mechanical and fusion methods of splicing and impacts on lowering insertion loss compared to fiber connectors.

Discussion topics include:

• Splicing types
• Benefits and applications for cable assembly houses
• Field installations and severed buried cable solutions

Presented by: Fiber Optic Center Technical Team

The most common questions we receive include what is causing our poor IL/RL, how can we ensure clean fiber connections, and do you have specific cleaning techniques during fiber optic cable assembly manufacturing and installation. This discussion is based on the answers and guidance we provide daily!

Discussion topics include:

• How to verify connector end-faces that meet or exceed industry standards on end-face cleanliness (IEC 61300-3-35).
• How to identify the number of ways in which the end-face can (and do) become contaminated

Presented by: FOC Technical Team

Choosing which process to use in fabricating a rare earth doped fiber is a critical decision that depends on the particular requirements. Solution doping has the advantage of easiest implementation and lowest initial equipment cost with the downside of longer processing time and significant handling of the pre-collapsed preform.

Discussion topics include:

• Solution Doping: this technique starts by first depositing an un-sintered porous layer of silica on the inside of a silica substrate tube using MCVD.
• Vapor Phase Doping: this process uses a volatile rare earth precursor in conjunction with the MCVD process and delivers the rare earth to the hot zone along with the other MCVD precursors (SiCl4, GeCl4 etc.).
• Rare Earth Chelates: these are organometallic compounds that contain a rare earth ion and provide volatility for the otherwise non-volatile metal.
• Rare Earth Halides: these are the standard halides of rare earths (RECl3). Engineering modifications to the MCVD process allow the realization of advantages.

Presented by: FOC Technical Team

Discussion on optical fiber manufacturing processes, providing an overview of coatings for a wide range of standard communication and specialty optical fibers.

Discussion topics include:

• Coating functions and dimensions
• Key properties of optical fiber coatings
• Importance of Tensile Strength
• Coating characteristics and specialty fibers
• Fibers for power delivery

Presented by: Wayne Kachmar of Technical Horsepower Consulting

How marrying fiber optic cable to be transported along medium voltage distribution lines enables the pervasive fiber optic network

Sign up today and schedule your meeting with Paul  Sousa while at OFC.

To sign up, click YES and select to meet between March 7-9, then choose the time that works with your schedule.