Mechanical Splicing Flashcards
What are the benefits of using mechanical splices?
- Cost
- Training
- Speed
- Environment
- Reusable
State the drawbacks of using mechanical splices?
- Cost
- Performance
- Strength
What type of gel is used within mechanical splices to remove differences in refractive indexes?
Index matching gel
State two different types of mechanical splices used within the military?
- 3M Fibrlok II
* Corning Camsplice
Explain the general procedure for fitting mechanical splices?
Fibre preparation Fibre cleaving Splice assembly Splice optimisation Securing fibres
Explain how a fibre cleaver provides a deliberate and controlled break of an optical fibre?
It holds the fibre under low tension, scores the surface at the proper location, then applies greater tension until the fibre breaks.
State four common cleave problems and the reasons of why they occur?
Bad Cleave Angle - fibre not being located or secured in the cleaving tool correctly or dirt within the cleaving tool which causes the fibre to sit at an incorrect angle.
Hackle/Burr - when there isn’t a clean break. This could be due to the score not being deep enough or, the cleaving tool was used too roughly and not in a nice smooth action.
Primary Coating not removed - it will prevent proper alignment of the fibres before splicing.
Dirt - can occur if the fibre is cleaned after it has been cleaved, or if after cleaving it was placed onto a work surface.
Explain how a VFL can be used to optimise a mechanical splice?
It is possible to improve the loss of a mechanical splice by withdrawing them slightly, rotating and reinserting, Shine a VFL into the fibre and note the light loss
How many times can a fibre be optimised within a 3M Fibrlok II mechanical splice before replacement is required?
Optimisation can be performed twice before fibres should be re-prepared. Resplice using a new splice.
