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Crystallization in epoxies is a common occurrence –and easy to remedy. If your production facility discovers a container of epoxy that appears cloudy or is nearly solid, there’s no need for concern. In fact, in this technical paper, we hope to dispel the perception that crystallized epoxy is not usable or that its material properties are compromised. In fact, crystallization indicates purity of product. The epoxies supplied by Fiber Optic Center are made with very pure resins, which can be more susceptible to crystallization.
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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 ensure that all fibers in a mated pair of connectors will have good contact. It is intuitive that if all fibers of both ferrules are exactly on the same horizontal plane, then all fibers will likely mate well when connected.
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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 are 4 diagnostic methods that can help to troubleshoot why a connector failed?
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The fiber optic polishing process comes down to 5 basic steps. Note that this article focuses on single-fiber (and not MT) PC ferrules. While much of my advice applies to APC polishing, those connectors require additional considerations…….
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Understand all the geometry parameters that impact Return Loss and Insertion Loss….
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The development of polymer waveguides as an alternate solution….
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Foundational questions to prepare you for a PCT with the right test set configuration for your fiber optic product….
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Tips to polish 3D printed objects and Steps for sanding your 3D printing project….
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There are two types of IEC standards for MT/MPO measurements using interferometry. The first is the “Measurement Standard” and its primary purpose is to try and ensure that different instruments yield the same measurement results. The second is “Performance or Interface Standards” which relate to specific connector styles or groups…….
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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 this article, I decided to share a few answers to some of the questions I hear most often, along with favorite epoxy tips and tricks……
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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 that epoxy package sizes range from 2-gram to 10-gram and higher.) Which package size best suits your process? Given the many considerations, the choice is not as clear-cut as you may think………
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This article addresses commonly asked questions: Why is bond line thickness important? What is the recommended minimum bond line thickness? What is the recommended needle size to dispense epoxy? If the epoxy has filler or glass beads, will that interfere with the strength of the bond – and create the need for a thicker bond line?
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In this article, I’ll share our update regarding epoxy packaging. Next, I’ll present best-practice tips and techniques for epoxy burst pouch/burstable seal bi-packs. You may want to save these tips – and refer to them when training your cable assembly production team.
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| Technical Consulting with Wayne Kachmar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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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 products have moved out of the experimental stage and into commercial markets……..
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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, keep reading. Here are 4 points to consider – and pitfalls to avoid – to win and retain this new business……..
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There are many differences from cable manufacturers’ home markets or even moving from Datacom to telecom type cables and testing. When consulting with manufacturers, I can provide help in understanding not only what is required, but how to actually interpret what is required. This includes guiding them past the many potential pitfalls to develop, test, and successfully qualify their fiber optic cables for the American market….
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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 need? That quickly is followed by How much will it cost and how can I get it quicker? So as a result we are soon discussing used vs. new process equipment.
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Everyone who ever sees the amount of optical cable being deployed seems to think there is a shortage of cable. In reality there are seasonal and market fluctuations that cause shortages. While there are many who want to look at starting a cable operation, there are a few basic questions that need to be answered before you even start to talk to the cable making equipment manufacturers….
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