Fiber optic cables provide a reliable and fast method of data transfer. However, it’s simply impossible to make a single fiber long enough to match the length of cable necessary for most networks. This is where fiber fusion splicing comes into play, which is a technique of making fiber joints by fusing fiber ends together, forming a single long fiber. Fusion splicing is a permanent, low-loss, high-strength joint, Fusion splicing your fiber optic cables by using a fiber optic fusion splicer will give you the length you need.
The principle of fusion splicing is that the two bare fiber ends (coatings removed with a fiber optic cleavers) are fused together under the influence of heat. More precisely, the fiber ends are initially brought in close contact, with a small gap in between. After heating them for a short while such that the surfaces melt, they are pushed together, such that the ends fuse together.
Fusion splicer is needed during Fusion splicing. It is a high precision piece of optical equipment used to fuse, or melt, fiber optic strand ends together. Fiber Splices can be required at building entrances, wiring closets, couplers, and between a transmitter and receiver.
There are several types of fusion splicers available on the market, varying in features and capability, and of course cost. They are manufactured by companies such as Fujikura, Siecor, Sumitomo, Ericsson and Fitel.
Full-Featured – Includes machines that are fully automatic, provide extremely low splice losses by aligning the cores of the fibers, and have plenty of special features to make splicing as easy as possible.
Mass – Includes machines that can splice ribbon fibers from 2-24 fibers. Also splice single fiber.
Arc fusion splicer can splice single fibers or 4, 8, 12 and 24 fiber count ribbon fibers at the same time. The small size of the fusion splice and the development of automated fusion splicer machines have made electric arc fusion one of the most popular splicing techniques in commercial applications. The fusion splicers offer sophisticated, computer controlled alignment of Fiber Optic cables to achieve loss as low as 0.02 dB.
Micro – Includes machines that are very portable, yet still maintain many of the features of the full-featured machines. Still fully automatic. Micro splicers typically use Fixed V-groove technology for fiber alignment.
Manual – Includes machines that are not automatic. Require more user skill, but are the least expensive available.
Fujikura fusion splicers from FiberStore Technology are widely regarded as some of the best optical fiber splicers in the industry. They are well known for their extensive features, exceptional performance and dependable reliability. Optical network technicians know that they can depend on them to deliver flawless splices time after time. The Fujikura product line consists of an extensive variety of fiber optic splice kit that will enable you to capably handle all of the possible splicing scenarios you could encounter. It includes everything from single fiber fusion splicers to mass fusion splicers and ribbon splicers. In addition Fujikura offers a variety of portable fiber splicers for field work.
Typical Fujikura fusion splicers are Fujikura FSM-60R Mass Fiber Fusion Splicer and Fujikura Single Fiber Arc FSM-60S Fusion Splicer. The FSM-60S splices a fiber in 9 seconds and heats a 60mm splice sleeve in 30 seconds, for a total cycle time of only 49 seconds. The FSM-60S Fusion Splicer offers construction able to resist shock, dust or moisture and it has a removable sheath clamp for FuseConnect or other fiber holders. The FSM-60S also has automatic arc calibration and fiber indentification, an automatic tube heater, can withstand a 30″ drop and keep on splicing plus the case showed below actually doubles as a workstation!