Fiber Optic
Fiber Optic
Choosing a Fiber Optic ToolKit
Fiber optic tool kit is a very big category including tools for finishing a variety of jobs in fiber optic industry. So before looking further, please ask yourself: what do I want to do using this tool kit?
There are kits available for traditional epoxy and polishing connector termination, quick connector termination, fusion splicing, mechanical splicing, optic cleaning, fiber optic testing, and many more.
So let's take a quick look at each type and their functions.
1) Traditional Epoxy and Polish Connector Termination Tool Kit
This type of kit sometimes is also called universal connectorization epoxy tool kit. They include all the tools necessary for hand-polishing termination of epoxy optic connectors such as FC, SC, ST, LC, etc. The following list shows all essentials items that should be included.
a) Fiber cable jacket stripper to remove outer jacket from optical cables
b) Fiber stripper to remove fiber coatings (900um tight buffer or 250um UV coating layer) to expose the bare fiber cladding
c) Kevlar scissors to cut the yellow strength member inside fiber jacket
d) Fiber connector crimp tool for FC, SC, ST, LC
e) Fiber scribe tool to scribe the bare fiber
f) Epoxy for fixing the fiber inside the connector, empty syringes for epoxy dispensing into the connector
g) Glass polish plate so you can place rubber polish pad on top of it
h) Rubber polish pad so you can place the lapping films on top of it
i) Lapping films (several grits included, typically 12um, 3um, 1um and 0.5um)
j) Connector hand polish pucks for FC, SC, ST, LC
k) Inspection microscope so you can inspect the quality of your work
l) Heat cure oven to cure the epoxy (either 220V or 110V)
m) Other misc. items for cleaning such as Kimwipes, Isopropyl alcohol, etc.
2) Quick Termination Connector Tool Kit
90% of quick termination connectors don't require polishing. They have a factory pre-polished fiber stub inside the connector body, all you need to do is strip your fiber, clean, cleave the fiber and then insert the cleaved fiber into the connector body, with or without assembly tool assistance, then finally crimp the connector with specialized tool.
There is no universal quick termination connector tool kit, since each connector is designed differently by their manufacturers and requires proprietary assembly tool. The major brands in the market include:
a) 3M Hot Melt connectors
Although 3M Hot Melt connectors are categorized as quick termination, they actually require polishing. The connectors have hot melt epoxy pre-injected in the body, you just heat the connector, insert your fiber, scribe it, let it cool down, and then polish the connector. The process is very similar to traditional epoxy polish connectors, but the epoxy mixing and dispensing steps are removed which reduces termination time to less than 2 minutes. 3M Hot Melt connectors are a popular choice among installers.
b) Corning Unicam Connectors
Corning Unicam connectors are typical pre-polish and mechanical splice on connectors. They have a pre-polished fiber stub inside connector body, with index matching gel inside too. You just strip, clean and cleave your fiber, and then insert the cleaved fiber into the connector body, finally crimp it on with Unicam assembly tool.
They are also very popular among fiber optic installers and contractors.
c) Tyco/AMP LightCrimp Plus connectors
AMP LightCrimp Plus connectors are similar to Corning Unicam. They also pre-polished and mechanical splice on, although designed differently and needs corresponding LightCrimp plus assembly tool. They are less popular than Unicam connectors.
d) There are also many new types of quick termination connectors from AFL, Leviton, Fitel and other manufacturers. So it is worth keeping a close eye on this technology.
3) Fusion Splicing Tool Kit
The next major type of fiber optic tool kits are for fiber fusion splicing.
Fusion splicing is simpler than fiber connector termination. So they require less tools but the tools are sometimes pretty expensive, especially the high precision fiber cleavers. The following list shows the essential items in fusion splicing tool kits.
a) Fiber cable jacket stripper to remove outer jacket from optical cables
b) Fiber stripper to remove fiber coatings (900um tight buffer or 250um UV coating layer) to expose the bare fiber cladding
c) Kevlar scissors to cut the yellow strength member inside fiber jacket
d) High precision fiber cleaver (this is the most expensive item)
e) Fusion splice protection sleeves
f) Fiber disposal unit to dispose the scrap fibers
g) Other misc. items for cleaning such as Kimwipes, Isopropyl alcohol, etc.
h) Optional visual fault locator to visually check the quality of your splicing
4) Optical Cleaning Tool Kit
Fiber optic cleaning tool kit is pretty simple since they don't include tools but just some cleaning supplies. They mostly include:
a) Canned air (optic grade)
b) 2.5mm foam swabs for cleaning FC, SC, ST connectors, mating sleeves and adapters
C) 1.25mm foam swabs for cleaning LC and MU connectors, mating sleeves and adapters
d) Lint free Kimwipes
e) Pre-soaped alcohol wipes
f) Fiber connector reel cleaners for FC, SC, ST, LC, MTRJ, etc.
g) Isopropyl alcohols
Since cleaning tool kits usually include alcohol, in most times, they are ground shipment only.
5) Fiber Optic Testing Tool Kit
Basic fiber optic testing usually only involves insertion loss testing, visual fault location, and optional return loss testing.
You can buy fiber testing kit with or without fiber stripping and cleaving tools. The most essential items are actually the light source, power meter, and optional visual fault locator. You can always get fiber stripper, cable jacket stripper, etc from tools kits you may already own, such as an universal epoxy connector termination tool kit.
Fiber optic patch cables, power meter adapters should also be included in the kit to facilitate testing of different connectors, such as FC, SC, ST, LC, MU, etc.
About the Author
Exfiber Optical Technologies Co.,Ltd.
http://www.exfiber.com/
Address: Zhongmin Building, No.8 Guodongyuan Rd, Hangzhou, China
Email: sales@exfiber.com
Do the digital audio fiber optic to digital audio coaxial converters work well? Any quality loss?
I have a PS3. It has a digital audio fiber optic output. My Surround Sound system has digital audio coaxial input. They make converters, are they worth the money? I currently have the PS3 plugged into the surround sound system with the RCA plugs, but I don't think I'm getting the digital clarity. Do I get a converter, or new surround sound system?
I've used one and it worked well. Certainly optical >> coax will give you superior sound to analog. And it will be surround.
Fiber Optic
Fiber optic cables: How they work
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FIBER OPTIC TERMINATION KIT $1209.99 FIBER OPTIC TERMINATION KIT |
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SCSI FIBER OPTIC EXTENDER $2089.99 SCSI FIBER OPTIC EXTENDER |
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FIBER OPTIC STRIPPER $48.99 FIBER OPTIC STRIPPER |
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FIBER OPTIC HEX DIE $49.99 FIBER OPTIC HEX DIE |
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Fiber Optic Source-(850/1300) $590.99 FIBER OPTIC SOURCE-(850/1300) |
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Fiber Optic Wires $29.99 Fiber Optic Wires - Photographic Print |
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Fiber Optic Cables $29.99 Fiber Optic Cables - Photographic Print |
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fiber optic connector $16.99 FIBER OPTIC COUPLER STF/SCF DUPLEX |
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Fiber-optic storage ring $59.99 Black Box - Fiber-optic storage ring |
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fiber-optic cleaning kit $38.99 Black Box - Fiber-optic cleaning kit |
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Fiber Optic Wires in Light $29.99 Fiber Optic Wires in Light - Photographic Print |
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FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT PROFESSIONAL $826.99 FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT PROFESSIONAL |
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FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT STARTER $488.99 FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT STARTER |
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2M FIBER OPTIC PATCH CABLE $19.99 2M FIBER OPTIC PATCH CABLE |
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STANDARD FIBER OPTIC CLEANKING KIT $221.99 STANDARD FIBER OPTIC CLEANKING KIT |
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FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT BASIC $732.99 FIBER OPTIC INSTALL KIT BASIC |
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DELUXE FIBER OPTIC TOOL KIT $1459.99 DELUXE FIBER OPTIC TOOL KIT |
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COAX RG174/8281 FIBER OPTIC DIE $49.99 COAX RG174/8281 FIBER OPTIC DIE |
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UNIVERSAL FIBER OPTIC DIE SET $34.99 UNIVERSAL FIBER OPTIC DIE SET |
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Black Box Fiber Optic Repeater $224.99 Black Box Fiber Optic Repeater |
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Black Box Fiber Optic Cleaver $1026.99 Black Box Fiber Optic Cleaver |
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Greenlee Fiber Optic Termination Kit $1129.99 Greenlee Fiber Optic Termination Kit |
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Black Box Fiber Optic Stripper $41.99 Black Box Fiber Optic Stripper |
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Black Box Fiber Optic Connector $15.99 Black Box Fiber Optic Connector Black Box - Fiber optic connector - ST multi-mode (M) - fiber optic |
The Secret Of Successful Fiber Optic Cable Management
Why is proper fiber optic cable management so critical?
Service providers have deployed more and more fiber optic cables for their high bandwidth, low costs, greater reliability and flexibility. But just deploying is not enough; a successful fiber network also requires a solid infrastructure based on a professional fiber optic cable management system.
Fiber optic cable management affects a network's reliability, performance, cost and maintenance. It provides the ability to reconfigure network, restore service and implement new services quickly.
Four goals to achieve with professional fiber optic cable management
1. Protect fiber optic cable from microbends and macrobends loss
Microbends are small deformities in the optical fiber and macrobends are larger bends of the fiber cable. Fiber bends beyond the specified minimum bending radius can cause signal loss or even break the fiber, causing service disruption.
As a rule of thumb, the minimum bending radius should be bigger than ten times the outer diameter of the fiber cable. Telcordia recommends a minimum 38mm bending radius for 3mm fiber optic patch cords.
Fiber optic cable management system should provide bend radius protection at all points where a fiber optic cable makes a bend. This helps ensure the network's long-term reliability; thus reduces the network operation cost by reducing network down time.
2. Well defined fiber optic cable management routing paths
The leading cause of fiber optic cable minimum bend radius violation is improper routing of fibers by fiber installation technicians.
In a proper fiber cable management system, routing paths are clearly defined and easy to follow; such that the technician has no other option but to route the cables properly.
Well defined routing paths reduce the training time required for technicians and increase the uniformity of work done. It also makes accessing individual fibers easier, quicker and safer.
3. Easy access to installed optical fibers
Allowing easy access to installed fibers is critical in maintaining proper bend radius protection. The system should be designed to ensure that individual fibers can be installed or removed without inducing a macrobend on an adjacent fiber. Accessibility is critical during network reconfiguration.
4. Physical protection of installed optical fibers
Well defined fiber optic cable management system physically protects the fibers from accidental damage by technicians and equipment throughout the network.
Fiber optic cable management system procurement
When making the decision on purchasing your fiber optic cable management systems, the goal is getting the most cost-effective system that provides the best cable management, flexibility, and growth capabilities.
Going with the cheapest approaches for fiber optic cable management can cost more money in the long run. A strong fiber cable management system will enable you to extract the maximum value from your installed optical fiber networks.
Specifying Fiber Cable Management Systems: Cost and Value
As a means of keeping operational costs down, service providers around the world are increasingly turning to systems integrators to install their networks.
This practice allows the service provider's technicians to focus on operations and maintenance, rather than network installation. There is, however, an inherent risk in this practice.
As the purchasing decision for the fiber cable management system moves from the service provider's engineering group to the systems integration prime contractor, the cable management features of the distribution system are generally not specified.
What can happen, then, is the equipment installed may lack key features and functionalities. In light of the importance of proper cable management within the ODF, the service provider needs to specify the basic requirements for the cable management system.
There are several industry-standard specifications that can assist service providers in writing specifications for their cable management systems. Two of these specifications are:
• Telcordia Generic Requirements for Fiber Distribution Frames GR-449-CORE, Issue 2, July 2003
• Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Generic Equipment Requirements, TR-NWT-000063
About the Author
Colin Yao is the sales manager at
Fiber Optics For Sale Co.
and specializes in
Fiber Optic Cable Management System
. We also carry many more
fiber optic cabling products
Fiber Optic