The beauty of fiber optics has been and continues to be the tremendous amount of data throughput the medium provides. When businesses and networks started migrated to fiber optics in the 1980s, it was a massive game changer that made the speed of the Internet possible years later. Originally intended to make phone lines with far greater capacity, fiber optics became the backbone of the digital age, starting with phone networks and expanding from there. Today, the medium still continues to be the fastest, largest data capacity transit available.
However, with how widespread the medium is, maintenance and repair are a must, and that also means using the right tools for the job. Similar to the cabling that fiber optics was originally modeled after, various connections have to be spliced, routed, topped off, repaired, stripped and everything else one typically had to do with traditional wiring. That requires effective tooling for the job, and knowledge of how to do the various treatments correctly.
Splicing fiber optic cables has long been a must with the fact that the product is only fabricated in set lengths. Granted, 5 km is a really long cable length, but longer distances are the norm, requiring the stitching together of multiple segments to create one longer fiber optic route. In addition, different types of fiber optic cables have to be connected at times. It’s quite common to need to make a connection between a 12-fiber cable to a 48-fiber cable and so on. Again, splicing in the go-to method of attaching different segments together. And, no surprise, segments can go bad. Rather than dig up the existing segment, a new one can be routed, leaving the bad segment buried where it is, a common strategy with underground networks. Again, splicing allows the reconnection of ends that otherwise would be missing a linking stretch.
The mechanical splicing approach is very much a physical job that requires tooling to help provide accuracy as well as alignment. Long story short, the technician has to take two fiber ends, and then hold them in place with each other via assembly. That means tools need to include a specialized alignment component as well as one that allows application of the assembly holding the fibers together. In addition, an index matching gel has to be applied to help the light transfer from one fiber end to the other at the joint. This is a common approach for quick fixes and temporary joins of fiber ends. Why such a weak-sounding approach? This temporary splicing method is usually applied during installation prior to permanent completion so that everything can be tested. It can be easily removed with little loss or cost, and it doesn’t require expensive tooling for the connection part of the job.
Fusion splicing, no surprise, involves a permanent connection of two fiber ends, ergo fused. This is a far more permanent approach, and the expectation is that the connection provides a solid bridge for the fiber optic light to travel with consistent performance for a long duration. It too requires specialized tooling to apply the fusing and ensure that the connection is made, complete and reliable. Of course, this option is not practical for experimenting or testing a system. It can be very expensive and costly to go about replacing fused connections all over again if a mistake was made in planning.
Tool supply companies provide an array of fiber optic compatible tools but working with the right equipment from the start is simply smart business.
A stripping tool is a must for preparation of a fiber optic cable for any kind of treatment. Ideally, one should use a high-quality hand-strip tool for the job, which guarantees that the cable will be completely prepped and the inner exposed as needed for the next step in either type of splicing or modification. Working with a reputable online tool supplier is an advantage here, avoiding poor quality tools that can botch a job badly.
Second, a fiber cleaver should be able to provide an accurate, clean cut through the cable to provide workable ends for splicing. The cutter should be able to apply a severance without any stripping, splitting or shredding. Ideally, a scalpel style effect is ideal. The cut should be perpendicular in a 90-degree fashion and consistently cut every time.
For temporary connections, a mechanical splice unit is the standard of the trade. The ends are inserted and the index matching gel provides the bridge for the ends in a manual splice. Some older type tools use an epoxy, but the best tools used should be using an index matching gel setup.
Splice trays and splice closure help protect temporary manual splices. Ideally, the connection is held together with the splice itself, but the addition of the tray and closure helps prevent problems with moisture intrusion as well as any kind of separation from jarring or similar.
The fusion splicing approach requires the application of a fusion splicer, period. The ends simply can’t be fused together without it. This tool effectively heats up the ends so that they melt and bond together at a molecular level. This tool is exact and will flag problems if there is poor alignment, the cut is bad from the cleaving, or residual contamination is present. When complete, the tool also provides an attenuation reading to confirm a good connection.
While it is know-how and experience that primarily helps produce successful fiber optic repairs, good tools make a huge difference in the outcome. Even for beginning technicians, learning involves also knowing what to work with correctly. Start out right with the equipment for the job, and the repairs become far easier, even if involving challenging scenarios.
