Step Five of Single-Fiber PC Ferrules, Developing a Polishing Process

Published: March 1, 2019

, Last updated: September 11, 2025

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Single-fiber PC ferrules, developing a polishing process:

Step 5. Conduct a visual inspection.

Your customers will require some type of visual inspection. (Clearly, you cannot ship a connector with a shattered fiber.) After achieving desired geometry values, measure the visual appearance of the end-face, looking for 2 types of defects: pits and scratches. Typically, pitting can be resolved by increasing time during the intermediate (diamond) polishing steps. Consistent appearance of a large quantity of fine scratches (the “skating rink” appearance) is likely due to insufficient time and/or pressure on the final polishing step. Sporadic appearance of a few scratches is likely caused by contamination, due to insufficient cleaning.

READ ALL THE STEPS and THE FULL BLOG ARTICLE HERE: How to Develop a Fiber Optic Polishing Process that Produces Consistent Results

Additional resources from the FOC team include:

Category Resource:
- FOC Polish Page
View the Glossary, Acronyms, Military Specifications for Connectors
Q&A Resource: email technical questions to AskFOC@focenter.com

Have questions about this FOC Tip?

Contact FOC with questions at: (800) 473-4237 / 508-992-6464 or email: FiberOpticCenter@focenter.com and we will respond ASAP.

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FOC Tips 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.

About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

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