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  What Is Fiber Optic Cleaver? A cleave in an optical fiber is a deliberate, controlled break, intended to create a perfectly flat end face, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. A fiber optic cleaver is a tool that holds the fiber under low tension, scores the surface at the proper location, then applies greater tension until the fiber breaks. Usually, after the fiber has been scored, the technician will use a cleaver either bend or pull the fiber end, stressing the fiber. This stress will cause the fiber to break at the score mark, leaving a 90-degree flat end if all goes well. So the cleaver doesn’t cut the fiber. In fact, it just breaks the fiber at a specific length.   Two Types of Fiber Optic Cleavers We know that the closer to 90 degrees the cleave is, the more success you will have with matching it to another cleaved fiber to be spliced or mated by a connector. So it’s important to use the proper tool with good technique to consistently achieve ...

  THE POLISHING MACHINE   When it is time to purchase a mechanical polishing machine there are a number of questions that should be asked:   1. Are the operating functions simple to use? 2. Does the unit offer easy connector interchangeability? 3. Are the polishing platens easy to access? 4. Is there a pressure-setting feature? 5. Does the polishing motion attack the connectors from all sides equally? 6. Can the machine perform angle polishes? 7. Does the manufacturer have the capability to supply custom fixturing if needed? 8. Are the end results meeting and/or exceeding current end-face standards?   A quality production polisher will answer “yes” to all of these questions.   In detail, a fiber polishing machine will have: 1. Timer–a settable timer allows a pre-defined timed sequence of operations techniques to be used. Timing has proven to be critical in obtaining connector performance specifications. A timer should have time s...

Polarization Maintaining Isolator is also known as Fiber Optic Isolator which allows light to travel only in one direction. For any state of polarization, it minimizes the back reflection and back scattering in the reverse direction. It is a two port micro-optic device built with PM panda fiber. Polarization Maintaining Isolator is used widely in amplifier systems, fiber optic systems, and lasers. It prevents unwanted feedback into an optical oscillator and the device operations are dependent on the Faraday ’ s effect turn.   Faraday rotator is the main component of the optical isolator. The polarization dependent isolator mainly consists of 3 parts like an input polarizer, a Faraday rotator, and an output polarizer. The output polarizer is known as the analyser. Input polarizer vertically polarizes the light traveling in the forward direction. Using the analyser, the light traveling in the backward direction becomes polarized by 45°. The polarization dependent isolators are ma...

What Is Fiber Optic Coupler? Fiber optic coupler is one type of fiber optic component that allows for the redistribution of optical signals. It covers a wide range of fiber optic devices such as optical splitters, optical combiners, and optical couplers. A fiber optic coupler is a device that can distribute the optical signal from one fiber among two or more fibers, or combine the optical signal from two or more fibers into a single fiber.   Usually, optical signals are attenuated more in an optical coupler than in a connector or a splice because the input signal is not directly transmitted from one fiber to another, but divided among the output ports. For instance, with a 1 x 2 fiber optic coupler, each output is less than one-half of the power of the input signal (over a 3dB loss).   Different Fiber Optic Coupler Types A basic fiber optic coupler has N input ports and M output ports. N and M typically range from 1 to 64. The number of input ports and output port...

  In fiber optic cable installation, how cables are attached to the system is vital to the success of network. If done properly, optical signals would pass through the link with low attenuation and little return loss. Fiber optic pigtail offers an optimal way to joint optical fiber, which is used in 99% of single-mode applications. This post contains some basic knowledge of fiber optic pigtail, including pigtail connector types, fiber pigtail classifications, and fiber pigtail splicing methods.   Fiber Pigtail Specification Fiber optic pigtail is a fiber optic cable terminated with a factory-installed connector on one end, leaving the other end terminated. Hence the connector side can be linked to equipment and the other side melted with optical fiber cables. Fiber optic pigtail are utilized to terminate fiber optic cables via fusion or mechanical splicing. High-quality pigtail cables, coupled with correct fusion splicing practices offer the best performance possible fo...

  Polarization maintaining (PM) fiber optic patch cord is a kind of special fiber patch cord. It can be used in many areas. Here's what you need to know about PM fiber patch cords if your designs require them.   What is a PM Fiber Patch Cord?   A PM optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber in which linearly polarized light, if properly launched into the fiber, maintains a linear polarization during propagation, exiting the fiber in a specific linear polarization state. PM fiber patch cord is a fiber optic cable made with PM fiber and terminated on both ends with high-quality ceramic fiber connectors. PM fiber patch cord is a base device of optical passive component.   Characteristics of PM Fiber Patch Cords   If the polarization of the input light is not aligned with the stress direction in the fiber, the output light will vary between linear and circular polarization (and generally will be elliptically polarized). And the exact polarization...

To rent or to own? It’s a question we regularly encounter in our daily lives, whether we’re looking at homes, vehicles, boats or even machinery or tools.   In the world of cabling and connectivity, that question doesn’t arise too often. But there are a few instances when you may need to decide whether you want to rent or own a piece of equipment to complete a job like fusion splicing.   What is Fusion Splicing?   Fusion splicing uses an electric arc or heat to fuse two optical fibers in an automated process. It’s a procedure often used to:   Repair broken fiber links Connect 250 µm OSP fiber to 900 µm fiber at the building entrance Restore severed underground fiber optic cables Fuse connectorized pigtails Terminate fiber with splice-on connectors Fusion splicing results in a strong, secure and high-performance connection of two cables to ensure excellent signal transmission from one to the next. The process works like this:   Fiber...

  Over the past several months, VIAVI has been taking a closer look at Multi-Fiber MPO connectors and how the continued growth of this technology is changing the dynamic for contractors. As data centers are rapidly scaling up their networks to support 40G and 100G speeds, multi-fiber MPO connectors are being used throughout the network architectures. From QSFP ports on servers and switches to patch cords, patch panels and backbone links, MPO connections are everywhere.   In a previous blog, VIAVI covered the Top 3 Testing Challenges with Multi-Fiber MPO Connectors and how these challenges connect back to the equipment that technicians are using. Most contractors own fiber test equipment that have either LC or SC ports on them. While it is possible to use this equipment for testing networks with MPO connections, the process is complex and time-consuming.   The recent release of new purpose-built MPO test solutions has become a game changer for many contractors. To...

  When testing for fiber optic cable, there are two tools commonly used: OTDR & power meter. What might be surprising is that they can yield completely different results. While an optical power meter tests the received optical power, an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) provides length and loss by utilizing backscatter reflection.   Optical Power Meter Why does that make such a difference? With a power meter, you’ll know if the fiber is cut or damaged along the way because you’ll note a level of wastage. With OTDR, you’ll know the distance to the break or if it made it to the test point desired. The downside is that if the level of wastage is needed, OTDR is not as accurate as a power meter. Another benefit of a power meter is that OTDRs can sometimes miss a source of signal loss, such as a fiber misalignment. You’ll also get different readings between an OTDR & power meter if there is a launch cable present.   Both an OTDR & power meter have ...

What Is OTDR?   OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer) is used to test newly installed fiber links and detect problems that may exist in fiber links. The purpose of it is to detect, locate, and measure elements at any location on a fiber optic link. An OTDR needs access to only one end of the link and acts like an one-dimensional radar system.   What should we look for in an OTDR?   Fiber testing plays a significant role in ensuring the network is optimized to deliver reliable and robust services without fault.   For different test and measurement needs, there exist a great number of OTDR models, then how to select the right one? A comprehensive understanding of OTDR specifications and the application will help make the choice. Moreover, based on your specific need, you should answer the following questions before looking for an OTDR:   What kind of networks will you be testing?   -P2P,P2MP,PON etc.   What fiber type will...

  With the rapid development of datacom, 10Gbps is no longer enough for massive data transmission. Many data center managers set their sights on 10G to 40G migration. However, it is not possible to upgrade all 10G equipment in the cabling system because of the high cost. Therefore, finding a cost-effective solution for the migration has become a hotspot. We know that MTP cable gains great popularity among data center managers since it can provide fast installation, high density and high performance cabling for data centers. By using MTP trunk cable and MTP breakout cable respectively, there are two solutions for 10G to 40G migration. And this article is going to share these two solutions with you: MTP trunks and MTP breakouts.   Overview of MTP Trunk Cable and MTP Breakout Cable Before we come to the migration solutions, let’s have a brief overview of MTP trunk cable and MTP breakout cable. MTP trunk cable, terminated with MTP connectors at both ends, can create the perm...

  Network cables are maximum absolutely wanted in conversation. They are used to hold indicators from one point to some other. However, many humans have show extra than just any everyday pleasure with the use fiber optic community cable. However, you have to know which you are about to get excited too once you may understand that these fiber optics to your network cable are not simply your common cable that deliver the sign to facilitate verbal exchange.   This fiber optics can do greater in your network cabling efforts. They are so not like your common network cable that contains confined velocity and also have obvious flaws that make more room for development. You should realize more of the things that you will reap from these cables. For one, fiber optics already use light waves as the alerts on your community cable. Thus, you could do away with faltering signal. You can handiest assume outstanding sign with speedy velocity, as rapid as light. There are many blessings i...

MPO/MTP technology has led to the adoption of 40/100GbE, however on of its challenges is with regards to proper polarity of these array connections.   Maintaining the correct polarity across a fiber network enables signals from any type of active equipment to be   directed to the receive port of a second piece of active equipment – and vice versa. To ensure the MPO/MTP systems work with correct polarity, the TIA 568 standard suggests several methods.   MPO Connector   First on the list is the MPO connector usually consisting of 12 fibers. 24 fibers, 36 fibers and 72 fibers Each MTP connector has a key on one of the flat side added by the body. When the key sits on the bottom, this is called key down. When the key sits on top, this is referred to as the key up position.   In this orientation, each of the fiber holes in the connector is numbered in sequence from left to right and is referred as fiber position. The orientation of this key also determines th...

  With ever-greater bandwidths and network connections to deal with in data centers, conventional dual-fiber patch cables like LC cable can no longer meet the demands. To solve this problem, MTP/MPO cables accommodating more fibers in one multi-fiber MTP/MPO connector came into the market, which proves to be practical solutions for 40G/100G/400G high-density cabling in data centers. This article is going to introduce different MTP/MPO cable types and their applications.   MTP/MPO Cable Overview MPO (Multi-Fiber Push-on) is the first generation of clip clamping multi-core optical fiber connector. MTP® is a registered trademark of US Conec Ltd. , which is an advanced version of MPO, with better mechanical and optical performance. They look alike and are completely compatible and intermateable. MTP/MPO cables are composed of MTP/MPO connectors and optical fibers. MTP/MPO connectors have a female type (without pins) or a male one (with pins) as shown in Figure 1. The posit...