Introduction
Note: Before attempting fiber fusion splicing, ensure you have the necessary training, equipment, and safety precautions. This process requires precision and can be complex.
Materials and Equipment Needed:
- Fiber Fusion Splicer
- Fiber Cleaver
- Fiber Strippers
- Alcohol and Cleaning Wipes
- Fiber Protection Sleeves (Heat-Shrink Tubes)
- Fiber Optic Cables to be spliced
Steps:
- Preparation: Ensure your workspace is clean and well-lit. Power on the fusion splicer and let it warm up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Clean the fibers’ ends that you plan to splice using alcohol and cleaning wipes to remove any contaminants.
- Fiber Stripping: Strip the protective coating from the fiber using fiber strippers. Be careful not to nick or damage the glass fiber. Strip the coating to expose the bare fiber for the appropriate length. This length will be specified by the splicer’s manual.
- Fiber Cleaving: Use a fiber cleaver to create a clean and flat end face on the fiber. This step is crucial for achieving a low splice loss. Follow the cleaver’s instructions to cleave the fiber. The cleave angle and length are critical for a successful splice.
- Fiber Loading: Open the fusion splicer’s fiber holders and gently place the prepared fibers into the holders, ensuring they are aligned with the splicer’s alignment marks.
- Alignment and Fusion: Close the fusion splicer’s lid, and the machine will automatically align the fibers. Once the fibers are aligned, the splicer will initiate the fusion process. The machine will melt the fiber ends together using an electric arc or laser.
- Splice Verification: After fusion, the splicer will display splice loss and other information. Ensure the splice loss is within acceptable limits. Visually inspect the splice for any visible abnormalities or issues.
- Protection Sleeve Installation: Slide a heat-shrink protection sleeve over the spliced area.Use a heat gun to shrink the sleeve, providing mechanical protection to the splice.
- Final Inspection: Perform a final visual inspection to ensure the splice and protection sleeve are properly installed. If everything looks good, your fusion splice is complete.
- Documentation: Many splicers offer options to store data and create splice reports. Make sure to document each splice for future reference.
- Repeat: Repeat the process for each pair of fibers you need to splice.
Remember that this is a general overview of the steps involved in fiber fusion splicing. The specifics can vary based on the type of splicer you’re using and the manufacturer’s instructions. Always refer to the user manual provided by the manufacturer of your fusion splicer for detailed and accurate instructions.