To say that the creation of fiber optics paved the way for a brand new era of telecommunication would be quite an understatement. Since their development, fiber optics has changed the world as now they are being implemented in machines both big and small. Even the quantum encryption tech uses fiber optics as one of their basic components. All of this has become possible due to phenomenon of total internal reflection that is the basic principle on which these optical fiber cables are built. The optical fibers are built in such a way that an outer layer called the cladding reflects the light towards the interior of the cable and a central core which the light uses as a pathway to travel long distances until it reaches its destination. Not only can the light travel for longer distances but the large bandwidth of these cables allow for a higher rate of data transfer. Where copper cables may megabits of data to be delivered, fiber optics may turn this number into gigabits. Fiber optics have been the driving forces for the increase in digital services as video streaming and other similar tasks have become easier due to higher data rates now available.
But fiber optical cables don’t work alone as there are multiple other components installed throughout the whole transmission route to avoid energy losses and other mishaps. An example of one of these components is the repeaters. The repeaters are basically linkers that help in linking kilometers of optical fibers laid throughout the oceans of the world. They also act as boosters and amplifiers so that the signal strength isn’t affected in any significant way. This article will focus on fusion splicers, one of the devices that is used in constructing the general pathway that the travelling light signal uses.
What are Fiber Optic Fusion Splicers?
So what exactly is a fiber optic fusion splicer you ask? The hint is in the name as fusion splicers are instruments that are used for joining, connecting or fusing two optical fibers together. The splicer generates an electric arc which is then used to splice the ends of two cables. An electric arc is usually generated by electrical breakdown of a sample gas. The arc sort of welds the two optic fibers into one long continuous fiber. The process of splicing is beneficial as it allows the travelling light signal to directly travel from one fiber to another and to keep losses of any kinds to a minimum. Splicing is a good way of combating attenuation, which is loss of signal strength. There are two types of splicing techniques that are used while working with optical fiber cables. Fusion splicing is the common one as it has broad implementations, being used with any form of optical fiber cables. The second technique is called mechanical splicing which is limited to only multimode fibers. Multimode fibers are known for their large core sizes and are mostly used for transmitting light signals over short distances.
How fusion splicers work?
Before we move towards to the actual splicing, there are some tasks that need to be performed to prepare the cables for splicing. First all the outer coatings have to be removed from the ends which are to be spliced so that the central fibers are bare and visible. The length of coat removed depends upon the cable. Next up make sure to clean the fibers to remove any impurities. The last preparation step involves cutting the ends to form smooth ends. Once you are done with these, place the ends of both fibers in the slots of the fusion splicer and begin the process. Following steps will follow:
- The device first aligns the both ends to make sure they are in a perfect alignment. This serves two main purposes. First, it reduces the chances of attenuation. Second, it makes sure that the end product looks as seamless as possible. Fusion splicers often have scopes or cameras that allow this process to be visualized.
- As mentioned above, it is important to clean the fibers thoroughly before inserting them in the splicers. This is done because even minor impurities can adversely affect the transmitting capability of the fiber optic. To combat this, most splicers come with built in cleaning equipment that removes impurities by burning them away with a spark.
- The last step, of course, deals with the fusion of the two bare ends together. An electric arc is generated which melts the two ends before fusing them. The fusing process is carefully deigned to avoid the melting of core and cladding into each other. After this, tests are usually performed to make sure that the process was a success or not.
Where to get a fusion splicer?
The answer to this question is a simple one: the internet. With online stores being the rage these days, it is very easy to look for products by a simple click from the comfort of your home. There are multiple companies that manufacture fusion splicers and other fiber optic products and sell them online. We will delve into Fiber optic fusion splicer 6481B just for the sake of this article. If any of you is interested in purchasing this product, you can do so by visiting Qiirun (an online store that sells fiber optic related products with a 30 day return policy). So let’s go over a few features of this fusion splicer:
- A powerful 6800 mAh battery which lasts a long time. Can carry out 220 splicing operations in one charge which makes it perfect for field work.
- Resistant to dust, water, shock and high temperature to avoid any malfunctions.
- Feature a good quality cleaver which can cut single mode, multimode, dispersive or non-dispersive fibers. Can also cut up to 3.0 mm jumpers, 0.9 mm pigtails and 2.0 mm sheathed fibers.
- Comes packed with accessories like miller stripper, extra electrodes and a silica gel protective pad.
- Intelligent heat shrink which ensures the heater only works during fiber input, supports dual directional fusion, a 4.3 inch touch screen with friendly UI and other quality features.
Once again, the final decision is always yours but if you are looking for a good quality fusion splicer with a guaranteed return policy, try giving Fiber optic fusion splicer 6481B a chance. If you are looking for similar products, also check out the AI-9 fusion splicer.
