wrightfrank447Terminating a Fiber Optic Cable

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Terminating a Fiber Optic Cable

• How to ensure minimal insertion loss and material
  wastage.

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Introduction

• Fiber optics are becoming an indispensable part
  of any high bandwidth network structure. Owing to
  the small structure and immunity to
  electromagnetic interferences, fiber optic cables
  can be inconspicuously hidden with overhead
  ducts, conduits, or buried underground.
• However, since the medium of transmission is
  light waves, it is crucial to have the ends
  terminated properly.
• Improper fiber termination can result in
• Significant Transmission Loss
• High Light Loss i.e., high insertion loss
• Dirt or dust can enter into the exposed ferrule.
• Complete signal loss due to internal breakage
• High Optical return loss

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How to Terminate a Fiber Optic Cable
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Step 1 Gather Materials

• Fiber optic termination, just copper wire
  termination, requires certain precision tools and
  specialized materials along with the fiber optic
  spool.

• Other materials required during termination
• Safety Glasses
• Protective gloves
• Disposal bin
• Iso-Propyl Alcohol or any other stripping agent
• Epoxy or Adhesive

• Some of the tools to keep in handy are
• Cable jacket stripper
• Polishing puck or film for face end polishing
• Shears or Scissors
• Tester Microscope
• Fiber cleaver

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Step 2 Strip the Cable

• Measure the cable length you will need. Leave
  additional one inch on either sides before
  cleaving the ends.
• Score the end using a cleaver tool once and bend
  the cable to break the ends cleanly.
• Using the jacket stripper to remove the outer
  jacket and expose the inner fiber core.

• Jacket Stripping Tool

• Fiber Cleaving Tool

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Step 3 Remove any stains or debris

• Using a shear or scissor remove the aramid yarn
  around the glass core.
• Most of the times, field terminations may lead to
  dust, dirt, and stains to gather on the exposed
  core.
• Remove them by dipping the cable in
  hydrofluoroethers (HFE) and hydrofluorocarbons
  (HFC) based cleaning solutions

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Step 4 Attach the connector and cure the Epoxy

• Based on the application, place the connector on
  the exposed core. Ensure there is at least a half
  inch glass strand exposed on the other side of
  the connector.
• Once in place, pour some epoxy on the end of the
  connector. The epoxy acts an adhesive, bonding
  the connector to the ferrule core.
• Place the cable in an oven with the connector
  facing down. This prevents the epoxy from wicking
  down to the cable.

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Step 5 Cleave the end and Polish it

• The final steps in fiber optic cable termination
  is cleaving the cable end to the right face.
• There are 4 type of polished ends you can achieve
  in fiber optic cables
• Flat polish
• Physical Contact
• Ultra Physical Contact
• Angled Physical Contact
• Use a polishing puck to achieve the right type of
  polished end.
• All that remains is to test the cable and you are
  one cable down.

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(Image Source Fiber Optic Tutorial)
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Contact Us
FalconTech specializes in providing a large
portfolio of leading brands for IT, voice, video,
and data network cables and connectivity products.
Business Hours Office Monday - Friday 730 am -
500 pm CST Will Call / Receiving Monday -
Friday 700 am - 500 pm CST
Business Details Falcon Technologies, Inc.
St. Louis Office and Showroom Location2631
Metro Blvd. Maryland Heights, MO 63043
https//falcontech.com/pages/pre-terminated-fiber
-optic-cable-assemblies