Hello, everyone!
Today, I will finish explaining fusion splicing. In this last article, I will explain mass fusion splicing. Let’s get started.
Ribbon cables have a large number of optical fibers. Individual fusion splicing would take a lot of time, which is why ribbon cables prepare several optical fibers at the same time - 12 optical fibers. Certain fusion splicers are used, and the fusion splicing procedure is similar to that of fusion splicing of individual optical fibers.
In the case of ribbon cables, 12 optical fibers are prepared for fusion splicing at the same time using special tools, after which all optical fibers are introduced into the fusion splicer at the same time. In the next figure, we can see a fusion splicer for ribbon cables.
Figure 1. Fusion splicer for ribbon cable
Preparation of ribbon cable (12 optical fibers) begins by inserting the optical fibers into a special holder for ribbon cables. This can be seen in Figure 2. The next step is to remove the primary buffer coating. A special fiber stripper is used for this, as shown in figure 3. This tool simultaneously removes the primary buffer coating with 12 optical fibers.
Figure 2. Special holder for ribbon cable
Figure 3. Special fiber stripper for ribbon cable
After that, a special holder with 12 optical fibers is introduced into the fiber cleaver. This is where all the optical fibers are cut at the same time. In the following figure, we can see this process.
Figure 4. Special optical cleaver for ribbon cable
This way 12 optical fibers are prepared for splicing. We introduce these optical fibers with a special holder into the fusion splicer and start the fusion splicing process. First, the fibers are checked and positioned. After that, fusion splicing begins. And finally, check all the splices - attenuation and strength of each splice. We can follow the whole procedure on the display fusion splicer.
Figure 4. Optical fibers in fusion splicer
This process significantly speeds up the splicing of ribbon cables, which can have a huge number of optical fibers. Individual fusion splicing would take days.
This is the end of this topic. I hope you learned something new.
Thank you!
