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.
QUESTION: Why is it important to measure Insertion Loss and Return Loss?
ANSWER:
It’s quite simple: Your customers demand it. Your customers need to know that you’ve tested every fiber optic jumper and cable and have acquired accurate IL/RL measurements...
QUESTION:
What is the “weakest link” of a connectorized cable assembly?
ANSWER:
In terms of long-term reliability, the “weakest link” of a connectorized cable assembly is the area within the ferrule which contains the strip “transition point”...
QUESTION: Does FOC has some epoxy curing tips for when issues occur?
ANSWER:
Tips regarding epoxy curing issues:
To validate your epoxy curing process, we recommend following the Telcordia GR-326 adhesive testing standard (section 4.4.4.2).
Avoid...
For a quick reference, we have compiled a few tips that can help enhance your manufacturing process. Tip # 1: Check the stability of your test setup after referencing. After performing an IL reference, leave the test lead attached directly to the power meter...
QUESTION: What happens if you have too much epoxy inside the ferrule holder?
ANSWER:
Too much epoxy inside the ferrule holder can lead to other issues—for example, the inserted fibers will displace the injected epoxy so that it flows out the rear of the...
QUESTION: What size syringe needle should I use for injecting epoxy into connectors?
ANSWER:
Most common connectors are machined to accept buffer tubes of 0.9mm (900um, or 0.036”) diameter. Thus, it is recommended to use similar diameter...
QUESTION:
Are there different geometry parameter measurements for PC ferrules and APC ferrules?
ANSWER:
With PC ferrules, we commonly measure three geometry parameters: Radius, Apex Offset and Fiber Height. With APC ferrules, we measure these three...
QUESTION: Fiber Optic Center promotes/sells the Viavi Sidewinder but I have heard that some people are using and happy with the Sumix Manta. Do you also sell that or know the differences between them?
ANSWER:
FOC has selected the Viavi...
QUESTION:
Where does the contamination come from in the normal polishing process?
ANSWER:
Contamination is primarily a natural result of the normal polishing process. Ferrules are polished on abrasive films or flock-pile pads impregnated with abrasives....
QUESTION:
How are the environments in which copper and optical cable are produced different?
ANSWER:
The environment in which copper and optical cable are produced is different. Dust and contaminants for optical fiber as well as moisture can create...
