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Articles by FOC FAQ

Articles by FOC FAQ

Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.

Decreasing and Increasing Radius Values

QUESTION: How can you decrease and increase Radius values?   ANSWER: Generally speaking, the smaller your average Radius value, the smaller the deviation in results will be. It is usually a good idea to aim for the lower end of the Radius specification...
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Guidance for Developing a Fiber Optic Polishing Process

QUESTION: Do you have guidance for developing a fiber optic polishing process?   ANSWER: While there are many details to consider when developing a fiber optic polishing process, it comes down to 5 basic steps: Step 1. Define your objectives, especially...
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What Industries Need a Fiber Optic SMA Today?

QUESTION: What industries need a fiber optic SMA today?   ANSWER: If you remove the communications applications and markets for fiber optic connectors, what is left?: something less than .1% of the market. What are the applications? Medical: laser...
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For Bi-directional Testing: Run the Test in Both Direction and Not Have to Swap the Cable and Run the Test Again?

It’s fair to say most assembly houses test the optical loss of a single mated pair using a launch cable connected to the DUT with the far end of the DUT plugged directly into the power meter via the adapter cap. To complete the test, the DUT is flipped and ...
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A Real Need for 3D Printing Polishing Film Beyond Sandpaper

QUESTION: Is there a real need for 3D printing polishing film beyond sandpaper?   ANSWER: There is a need for 3D printing polishing film. This fine-grit, abrasive material provides a smooth, mirror-polish finish – well above and beyond sandpaper. As...
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How Many Categories There Are for Buffered Fibers

QUESTION: How many categories are there for buffered fibers?   ANSWER: As one looks at individually buffered fibers there are two general categories. First a loose tube which is typically a large rigid tube whose ID is many times the diameter of the coated...
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Information on SMA Connector Over Polishing

QUESTION: Where can I get some information on SMA connector over polishing?   ANSWER: For other types of actively used connectors, SMA for example, the design intent of this connector has a specific pre-polish length and final after-polish length of...
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Which Epoxies Cause Allergic Reactions and Which Do Not

QUESTION:  Which epoxies cause allergic reactions and which do not?   ANSWER: Almost all epoxies used in the fiber optic industry are two-part epoxy systems consisting of a resin and a hardener or activator. All the chemicals in these two-part epoxies...
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How Can I Identify Crystallization in Epoxies?

QUESTION: How can I identify crystallization in epoxies?   ANSWER: If you put a glass of water in the freezer for a few minutes, you’ll see ice crystals begin to form as the water changes to ice (its solid state). Similarly, crystals often form in epoxies....
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What Happens if You Undermix Epoxy?

QUESTION: What happens if you undermix epoxy?   ANSWER: In fiber optic cable assembly applications, most epoxy package sizes are quite small – just a few grams – so undermixing is typically not an issue. While mixing the resin and hardener (Part A and...
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