How to Terminate Fiber Optic Cables?

Since the late 1970s, various connectors and termination methods have been brought to market. Now in the common case, cables are terminated in two ways: use connectors to make two fibers jointed or to connect the fiber to other network gears; use splices to make a permanent joint between two fibers. And for the former method, you may have little confusions to deal with it. So today this paper will teach you how to terminate by taking an example of fiber optic cable using epoxy.

First and foremost, use a proper fiber stripper to carefully slide the jacket off of the fiber to a bare fiber. When you are doing this, be careful that try to avoid breaking the fragile glass fiber. After that, mix the epoxy resin and hardener together and load it into a syringe (If you use the pre-loaded epoxy syringes that are premixed and kept frozen until use, then you don’t do that). And next you must inject the epoxy from the syringe directly into the connector ferrule.

Fiber Stripping Tool

Once you have well prepared the epoxy for your connector, you can insert the fiber cable gently into the terminus inside the connector wall and make the bare fiber core stick out about a half an inch from the front of the ferrule. In the case that your cable is jacketed, you may need a crimping tool, such as Sunkit Modular Crimping Tool, to secure the connector to the jacket and strength the cables. Usually two crimp tools would be perfect to this operation.

Next, you can just wait the epoxy to cure. During this process, in order to make sure the end of the fiber is not damaged while curing, you should place the connected end in a curing holder. And when this is done, just place the cable and curing holder into a curing oven. But you may worry about “wicking” while curing with a conventional oven. All you have to do to avoid that is to make the end face down, which can ensure the epoxy does not come out of the back side of the connector and compromise the strength member of the cable. Remember: your epoxy curing must in accurate times and temperatures.

After the epoxy cured sufficiently, fiber cleaver tools will be in use to cleave the excess protruding fiber core so that it could make the fiber close as much as possible to the ferrule tip in case of fiber twisting. Once cleaved, you have to dispose of the fiber clipping. There is a point you should think highly of that you must use a regular piece of tape to retain your fiber debris, or they will easily end up in your skin or even in your eyes or respiratory system.

High Precision Fiber Optic Cleaver

When you finished the fiber cleaved work, you could need fiber polishing tool to remove the excess epoxy from the ferrule tip and buff out any imperfections on the surface of the fiber. A smooth fiber surface can help to reduce the loss of the light. Last, if you have done all the above work, you may move on to the cleaning of the ferrule and fiber tip. After that, the whole termination procedure is done.

If you want to terminate your fiber optic cables by hands, you can follow the above steps. But before you get down to it, you must prepare the tools first that I have mentioned in this paper. All these tools can be found in Fiberstore with good quality and low price. In addition, Fiberstore also can provide the termination tool kits that may be helpful to you. For more details, you could visit www.fs.com.

Article source: http://www.chinacablesbuy.com/how-to-terminate-fiber-optic-cables.html

Overview of Miller Fiber Optic Stripper

Miller is a diversified global company specialized in high-tech products in development. It’s diverse business involves in welding, cable & wire tools, winery, furniture and even textile. Miller Cable & wireless tools are very famous fiber optic tools that feature top technology and perfect performance.

FiberStore, as the major global fiber optic tools provider, is proud to become the agent for the original Miller fiber optic tools. Our Miller fiber optic tools include fiber scribers, cable Strippers, cutting tools and Kevlar shears.

A precise stripper is utilized to remove the buffer coating of the fiber itself for termination. There are three types of fiber strippers available, known as the Miller Stripper, No-Nik and Micro-Strip. These three can work equally well, and most techs choose the one they are most acquainted with. The Miller striper is used on the left thus has the disadvantage of being “right-handed”, Which is considered to be the most rugged. The No-Nik is careful with the fiber but requires careful cleaning. Check out the original Miller Fiber optic stripper features:

Miller Fiber Optic Stripper FO 103-D-250
New Dual holes models offer he same quality of our standard FO 103-S fiber tool coupled with a second hole
FO 103-D-250: Second hole for stripping 900 micron tight buffer down to 250 micron buffer coating and standard 125 micron fiber stripping (250 micron removal to 125 micron) – allows longer
Stripping lengths without damaging the fiber
Easy-to-read stripping diagrams imprinted on handles
Made in the U.S.A.
Length: 5.375 in (137mm)
Weight: 2.5 oz (71g)

Miller Fiber Optic Stripper FO 103-T-250-J
New three-hole model performs all common fiber stripping functions in one compact tool….
Hole for removal of 2 to 3 mm fiber jackets
Remove 900 tight buffer to 250 micron buffer coating
Standard 250 to 125 micron stripping
Same consistent quality and features found in our standard FO 103-S tool
Made in the U.S.A.
Length: 5.375 in (137mm)
Weight: 2.5 oz (71g)

Miller FO 103-S Fiber Optic Stripper
For stripping 250 micron buffer coating from 125 micron optical fiber
Precision diameter hole & V-opening in blade allow for accurate buffer coating removal
NEW pivot pin, spring and precision handles enhances tool functionality and durability
Factory set, requires no adjustment
Prevents scratching or nicking of optical fiber
All cutting surfaces are precision formed, hardened, tempered and ground assuring precise buffer removal
Made in the U.S.A.
Length: 5.375 in (136.53mm)
Weight: 2.5 oz (71g)

Miller Fiber Optic Stripper CFS-2
For stripping 250 micron buffer coating to expose 125 micron cladding fiber
Second hole for stripping 2-3mm fiber jackets
140 µm diameter hole and V-opening in blade allows removal of 250 micron buffer coating from 125 micron fiber
Pre-set at the factory – no adjustments needed
Will not scratch or nick glass fiber
All stripping surfaces are manufactured to precise tolerances to assure clean, smooth strips
Comfort-grip, ergonomic handles
Lock to hold tool closed when it is not in use
Length 6.43 in (165.00mm)
Weight 4.17 ounces (119.0g)

Most strippers are “sized” for the fiber coatings to be removed. So ensure you have the proper stripper for the fiber being stripped. Whichever stripper is used. Care must be taken to not nick the Fiber during the stripping process as it can cause cracks that may lead to fiber failure sometime in the future. Strippers require careful cleaning and immediate replacement if they become damaged or worn.

Strippers are sized for the fiber coatings to be removed. So ensure you have the proper stripper for the fibers to be stripped. Whichever stripper is used, you must take care to not nick the fiber during the stripping process as it can cause cracks that may lead to fiber failure sometime in the future. FiberStore.com supplies various of high quality fiber optic tools individually or in kits, most of the price is extremely cheap, even the fiber optic tool kit price is with attractive discount rate.