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Fiber Splicer Education

Welcome, let's brush up on some Fiber basics.

As  fiber first rolled out, fiber splicing was as much art as  function,   microscopes and cameras were bulky, LED's were expensive and  each   fusion splicer hand tuned.  The machines modernized with the  industry with better CCTV cameras, smaller mirrors, more automatic positioning techniques -- the original form may have shrunken but has remained virtually unchanged as economy of scale techniques have been used to bring down overall system prices.


Not  a huge surprise when you consider most product testing is done in a lab  environment by lab techs for white coat inspectors. In our service lab   we see a dozen different splicers from as many as seven different   manufacturers every day: profile alignment, LID, core  alignment,  V-groove, 60 pound beasts from the early days, and even today's small "handhelds" that splice a dozen times and then beg for a new battery.    

With brighter LED's why are there still mirrors to clean? With the advent  of better definition CCTV chips why are multiple cameras still required?   With a steady movement toward uniformity of raw fiber  production, why are all the dust attracting gels, sprays and clamps even necessary anymore? 


A fiber splicer's laboratory is their truck, or its tailgate on a good weather day.  With the plethora of units available for sale these   days, it's hard to determine what features and tech you need.


If you’re new to fiber or just brushing up before your next project bid, here are some common fiber optic basics. Let's dive into some Fiber basics to help you become more familiar.

EasySplicer MK2 Arc-Fusion Fiber Splicer

EasySplicer MK2 Arc-Fusion Fiber Splicer

Table of Contents

Fiber Optic Fundamentals ● Glossary of Terms ● Tools of the Trade

Fusion Splicer Education

What is Optical Fiber?

Fiber is made up of a core surrounded by a cladding layer. Both are glass but each has its own index of refraction.


Basic Types of Optical Fiber 

In use today are two general types of optical fiber:

 

Singlemode (SM) fiber is designed  for use with a signal of one wavelength of light,  typically at invisible  1310, 1480, 1550 or 1625nm wavelengths. Most  often with a core diameter  of 250µ (micron), singlemode fiber is  commonly used for long distance  regional or inter-city transmissions of data.

 

Multimode (MM) fiber is based on the ability to combine different wavelength signals  in the same fiber path, typically at invisible 850 or 1300nm  wavelengths. Most often with a  core diameter of 900µ (micron),  multimode fiber is commonly used for  short distance curb to house, or  patch cable transmissions of data.

How light travels through a fiber optic cable

How light travels through a fiber optic cable

Fiber Optic Fundamentals

Fiber Optic Fundamentals Icon

Fiber Optic Lines

Fiber optic lines are made up of a core surrounded by a cladding   layer. Both are glass but each has its own index of refraction.   The light signal is applied to the end of the optical fiber and then  bounces  down the optical path.


Singlemode fiber is designed for  use with a signal of one wavelength of light,  typically at an invisible  1310 nm, 1480 nm, 1550 nm or 1625 nm  wavelengths. 


Multimode fiber is based on the  ability to combine different wavelength signals in the  same fiber path,  typically at an invisible 850 nm or 1300 nm  wavelength.


Common  signal connection between transmission systems use ST or SC  for  multimode (generally jacketed in orange protective cabling), ST, SC,  FC  and LC for singlemode (generally jacketed in yellow protective  cabling).  Angled connectors are also prevalent in cable video   applications: ASC or AFC (generally color coded green for quick  identification).


Typical multimode connection losses are 0.2 to 0.5 dB, singlemode   connection losses typically  0.5 to 1.0 dB -  this is why even today so   many inside applications show a preference for multimode connections  requesting pig-tailing.

Joining Fiber Optic Cables

There are two ways to join fiber optic cable (working with glass fiber, of course, you can't twist it together or tie it in a square knot):  


Mechanically - Two finely polished fiber ends are mated in a mechanical device with a small amount of index matching gel.  


Arc fusion -  Simply cleaving and melting the two fiber ends into one solid glass fiber to ensure minimal loss.


Typical  mechanical connection losses are 0.3 dB and fusion are 0.03 dB.  These losses, plus the typical loss of the fiber type you are using should  fall within the loss budget.

Fiber vs. the Twisted Pair

Fiber vs. the Twisted Pair

Fiber vs. the Twisted Pair

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Used  for the greater part of the last century, the “twisted pair” is a  twisted thin gauge copper wire pair that only allows a single analog  data connection. Today, twisted pairs are used in everything ranging  from telephone wires to computer networking cables.


Twisted  pairs rely on the use of hardware switching equipment to combine mass  amounts of data to be carried over distances, and can be susceptible to  interference and/or security concerns.


Revolutionizing  the telecommunications industry, optical fiber strands transmit digital  (binary) data at the speed of light. This throughput allows each  individual fiber to transmit an incredible amount of data, for example  tens-of-thousands of telephone calls. As an added bonus, optical fiber  strands are very secure and immune to radio frequency interference.


However, unlike the twisted pair, to connect two separate fiber strands you  cannot just simply twist them together. A mechanical or fusion splicer must be used to align the fiber cores in order to continue the transfer of data.

Splicing methods

Fiber vs. the Twisted Pair

Fiber vs. the Twisted Pair

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Because fiber is glass, you cannot simply tie two optical fiber ends in a knot.  There are two methods to properly “splice” two fiber ends together. 


Mechanically - Two finely polished fiber ends are mated in a mechanical device with a  small amount of index matching gel. The aligning of cores is very important because core mismatches significantly increase fiber loss. 


Fusion - melting of the 2 fiber ends into one solid glass fiber ensuring core alignment and minimal loss.


1. Two cleaved and cleaned fibers are core aligned between two fusion electrodes.


2. The two fusion electrodes emit a precision arc of electricity to melt and fuse the two fiber ends together.


3. Within seconds the two fiber ends are fused together resulting in a continuous fiber strand.


An ideal core-aligned splice has 0.0 to 0.05 loss.

GLOSSARY OF FIBER OPTIC TERMS

Buffer

Cladding

Cladding

Protective coating applied directly on the fiber.

Cladding

Cladding

Cladding

The lower refractive index optical coating over the core of the fiber that "traps" light into the core.

Core

Cladding

Core

Center of an optical fiber which light is transmitted.

dB

Index of Refraction

Core

A unit of measurement of optical power which indicates relative power.

Index of Refraction

Index of Refraction

Index of Refraction

A measure of/allowance for the speed of light in a material at nm wavelengths.

Jacket

Index of Refraction

Index of Refraction

The protective outer coating of a cable that contains fiber optic lines.

Jumper Cable (Optical)

Jumper Cable (Optical)

Jumper Cable (Optical)

A short fiber cable with connectors on both ends to interconnecting other cables or test devices.

Launch Cable

Jumper Cable (Optical)

Jumper Cable (Optical)

A  reference fiber optic jumper cable of a calibrated length and loss for accurate loss testing.

Loss Budget

Jumper Cable (Optical)

Loss, Connection

Tolerable/acceptable amount of total power lost as light is transmitted through fiber, splices, and couplings.

Loss, Connection

Loss, Connection

Loss, Connection

The total power lost within a physical connection, affected by cleanliness and alignment.

Loss, Estimated

Loss, Connection

Loss, Estimated

An onscreen estimate of a completed splice's loss within a fused fiber.

Loss, Insertion

Loss, Connection

Loss, Estimated

The loss caused by the insertion of a component such as a splice or connector in an optical fiber.

Loss, Microbend

Loss, Microbend

Loss, Microbend

Loss in fiber caused by bent or looped fiber.

Loss, Optical

Loss, Microbend

Loss, Microbend

Actual measured amount of total power lost as light is transmitted through fiber, splices, and couplings.

Loss, Typical

Loss, Microbend

Loss, Typical

Accepted budget loss(es) of cable attenuation inherent to fiber per km by wavelength.

Margin

Pigtail, Optical

Loss, Typical

The calculation of any additional amount of loss that can be tolerated in a tested link.

Multimode Fiber

Pigtail, Optical

Pigtail, Optical

A fiber with a core diameter larger than the wavelength of transmitted  light allowing many modes of light to propagate. 


Used with LED sources  for shorter distance links.  Typical Loss: 850nm 3.5dB/km, 1300nm  1.5dB/km

Pigtail, Optical

Pigtail, Optical

Pigtail, Optical

A connectorized short length of fiber attached to a fiber for termination.

Singlemode Fiber

Splice, Arc Fusion

Splice, Arc Fusion

A fiber with a small core that only allows one mode of light to  propagate. 

Commonly used with laser sources for high speed, long  distance links.  Typical Loss: 1310nm 0.35dB/km, 1550nm 0.22dB/km

Splice, Arc Fusion

Splice, Arc Fusion

Splice, Arc Fusion

An instrument that splices fibers by fusing or welding them, typically by electrical arc.

Splice, Mechanical

Splice, Arc Fusion

Splice, Mechanical

A physical connection between two fibers made with an index matching fluid or adhesive.

Termination

Visual fault locator

Splice, Mechanical

Preparing the end of a fiber to connect to another fiber or an active device,  also called connectorization.

Visual fault locator

Visual fault locator

Visual fault locator

A visible light source that allows visual tracing and finding jacketed fiber breaks and bends.

Wavelength

Visual fault locator

Visual fault locator

"Long wavelength" generally calls for 1310/1550nm singlemode, "Short wavelength" 850/1300nm multimode

Tools of the Trade

Splicer Kits

Splicer Kits

Splicer Kits

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Join the fiber and also provide a loss measurement of the splice, typically .02 db.

OTDR

Splicer Kits

Splicer Kits

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDR) come in three basic versions: 


Full size OTDR’s - the highest  performance with a full complement of features like data storage and printers. 


Mini-OTDR’s - provide the same type of measurements as a full  OTDR, but with fewer features to trim the size and cost.


Fault finders - use the OTDR technique, but are greatly simplified to just  provide the distance to a fault, making the instrument even more affordable and easier to use.

BRT or ORL

Splicer Kits

BRT or ORL

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Measure  the ratio between the optical power into a component or system to its  reflected optical power (back reflection), in units of dB. 


ORL's measure actual insertion loss, so a low number is good. BRT's display  return loss so the higher the number the better.

Polishers

Light Sources

BRT or ORL

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Precision cleaning for low loss fiber ends.

Talk Sets

Light Sources

Light Sources

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Verify, with a crystal clear connection, communication with another servicer at the other end of the fiber.

Light Sources

Light Sources

Light Sources

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Chosen for compatibility with the type of fiber in use (singlemode or multimode with the proper core diameter) and the wavelength desired  for  performing the test.  A signal source for an optical loss  measurement.

Power Meters

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Calibrated  to read in linear units (milliwatts, microwatts and nanowatts) and/or  dB referenced to one milliwatt or one microwatt optical power. 


The best meters offer a relative dB scale for laboratory  loss measurements.

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Attenuators are precision adjustment of the level of signal in fiber.


Fiber Scopes are hand held microscope with a universal adapter to inspect connectors more closely.

Visual Fault Locators

Attenuators & Fiber Scope

Visual Fault Locators

Fusion Fiber Splicers EasySplicer

Cable breaks, bending losses caused by kinks in the fiber, bad  splices,  etc. can be quickly detected visually with a visible light  source.


Tyrosys Corp  |  FiberSplicer.com


Office Phone: 512-686-0469


Tyrosys Corp 

10921 E Crystal Falls Pkwy, STE K-800

Leander, Texas 78641


Toll-free: 1-877-TYROSYS (1-877-897-6797)

Fax: 903-640-4951


Office Hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm (CST) 

Tuesday thru Friday


FiberSplicer.com is a division of Tyrosys Corp


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