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Tyrosys Corp

Quality Craftsmanship, Passionate Experts, with Texas Hospitality

Quality Craftsmanship, Passionate Experts, with Texas HospitalityQuality Craftsmanship, Passionate Experts, with Texas Hospitality

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 his or her 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 Pro MK2 Fiber Splicer

EasySplicer Pro MK2 Fiber Splicer

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 FiberIn 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.

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Fiber Optic Fundamentals

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 pigtailing.

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

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

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 (mismatches 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

Jumper Cable

Jumper Cable

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

Launch Cable

Jumper Cable

Jumper Cable

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

Loss Budget

Jumper Cable

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

MultimodeBuffer

Loss, Typical

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

MultimodeBuffer

MultimodeBuffer

MultimodeBuffer

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

MultimodeBuffer

MultimodeBuffer

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

Singlemode

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

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

OTDR

Splicer Kits

Splicer Kits

OTDRs come in three basic versions. Full size OTDR’s, the highest  performance with a full complement of features like data storage and  printers. 


MiniOTDR’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

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

Precision cleaning for low loss fiber ends.

Talk Sets

Light Sources

Light Sources

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

Light Sources

Light Sources

Light Sources

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

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

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

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

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Tyrosys Corp 

10921 E Crystal Falls Pkwy, STE F-300
Leander, Texas 78641


Office Phone: 512-686-0469

Fax: 903-640-4951


Walk-in Hours: 10:00 pm to 3:00 pm Tuesday - Friday

Office Hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday - Friday