Fusion splicing

Video of optical fiber fusion splicing

INNO VIEW 7 SPLICER ON A TRIPOD AND WORK TABLE

Fusion splicing is the act of joining two optical fibers end-to-end using heat. The goal is to fuse the two fibers together in such a way that light passing through the fibers is not scattered or reflected back by the splice, and so that the splice and the region surrounding it are almost as strong as the virgin fiber itself. The source of heat is usually an electric arc, but can also be a laser, or a gas flame, or a tungsten filament through which current is passed.

Process

The process of fusion splicing normally involves using localized heat to melt or fuse the ends of two optical fibers together. The splicing process begins by preparing each fiber end for fusion.

Stripping the fiber

Stripping is the act of removing the protective polymer coating around optical fiber in preparation for fusion splicing. The splicing process begins by preparing both fiber ends for fusion, which requires that all protective coating is removed or stripped from the ends of each fiber.

Fiber optical stripping is usually carried out by simply passing the fiber through a mechanical stripping device similar to a wire-stripper. Otherwise, a special stripping and preparation unit that uses hot sulphuric acid or a controlled flow of hot air is used to remove the coating. Under a process patented by Edward J Forrest, Jr (7,125,494) and assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Glenview, Illinois, there is a timed chemical removal process that does not require use of hot sulphuric acid or hot air. The process is patented as a "solvent capture method" primarily conceived to remove the "matrix" that holds individual fibers and creates a "ribbon fiber". This same procedure can be "timed" to remove not only matrix, but also coatings and claddings. Cleaning the stripping and cleaving tools is also important.

Cleaning the fiber

The customary means to clean bare fibers is with alcohol and wipes. However, high purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is hygroscopic: it attracts moisture to itself. This is problematic as IPA is either procured in pre-saturated wiper format or in (host) containers ranging for USA quart to gallon to drums. From the host container the IPA is transferred to smaller more usable containers. The hydroscopic nature of IPA is such that the highest quality at 99.9% is also the most hygroscopic. This means that moisture absorption into both the host container as well as the actual user's container begins with the time the original container is opened and continues as amounts are transferred and removed from both. A 2003 laboratory study by ITW Chemtronics noted that 99.9% IPA began to absorb moisture (at 72F and 65% Relative Humidity) within fifteen minutes. Since there is no provision to deter this, this unique quality of IPA makes it less desirable than chemicals such as HFE-7100 based products or precision hydrocarbons. There is work being done to qualify aqueous based cleaners for this application.

Cleaving the fiber

The fiber is then cleaved using the score-and-break method so that its end-face is perfectly flat and perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. The quality of each fiber end is inspected using a microscope. In fusion splicing, splice loss is a direct function of the angles and quality of the two fiber-end faces. The closer to 90 degrees the cleave angle is the lower optical loss the splice will yield. The quality of the cleave tool you are using is critical.

Splicing the fibers

Fiber spliced, still unprotected

Current fusion splicers are either core or cladding alignment. Using one of these methods the two cleaved fibers are automatically aligned by the fusion splicer^[1] in the x,y,z plane, then are fused together. Prior removing the spliced fiber from the fusion splicer, a proof-test performed to ensure that the splice is strong enough to survive handling, packaging and extended use. The bare fiber area is protected either by recoating or with a splice protector. A splice protector is a heat shrinkable tube with a strength membrane.

A simplified optical splicing procedure includes:

Characteristics of placement of the splicing process.
Checking fiber optic splice closure content and supplementary kits.
Cable installation in oval outlet.
Cable preparation.
Organization of the fibers inside the tray.
Installing the heat shrinkable sleeve and testing it.^[2]

Hardware

The basic fusion splicing apparatus consists of two fixtures on which the fibers are mounted and two electrodes. These fixtures are often called sheath clamps. Inspection microscope assists in the placement of the prepared fiber ends into a fusion-splicing apparatus. The fibers are placed into the apparatus, aligned, and then fused together. Initially, fusion splicing used nichrome wire as the heating element to melt or fuse fibers together. New fusion-splicing techniques have replaced the nichrome wire with carbon dioxide (CO₂) lasers, electric arcs, or gas flames to heat the fiber ends, causing them to fuse together. The small size of the fusion splice and the development of automated fusion-splicing machines have made electric arc fusion (arc fusion) one of the most popular splicing techniques in commercial applications.

Alternatives to fusion splicing include using optical fiber connectors or mechanical splices both of which have higher insertion losses, lower reliability and higher return losses than fusion splicing.

Governing standards

ANSI/EIA/TIA-455

References

↑ "AFL - Fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test and inspection equipment, training services". aflglobal.com. 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
↑ "fiber optic splicing". fiberstore.com. 2013-07-11.

Methods of Removing Matrix from Fiber Optic Cable" Patent 7,125,494