30
Small core alignment
The small core alignment
process is a special hot core
alignment process, recom-
mended for use when splic-
ing small core fibers that has
highly eccentric cores. Com-
pared with single mode fiber,
small core fibers with high
eccentric cores requires a
higher degree of accuracy
during alignment in order to
avoid high splice losses. This
is achieved by combining the
hot core alignment process
with functions that helps to
overcome the problems of
misalignment and surface
tension.
Small core alignment control parameters
PULLING DISTANCE
is the distance in micro
meters (
m
m) that the
two fibers
is to be pulled.
GAP CLOSE INTENSITY
is used for initating FUSION
CURRENT 2 before the fiber
ends touch to soften the
fibers ends even more than
during the FUSION CUR-
RENT 1 phase.
The value of the parameter
specifies the measured light
intensity from the FSU 995 FA
lamp when the fiber ends are
aligning. If you set a high
parameter value, the gap
between the fiber ends will
be wide when FUSION CUR-
RENT 2 is initiated, and vice
versa.
The control parameters used for the small core alignment process are the same as for the hot
hot core alignment process. However, the parameters MAX. ECCENTRICITY and ACCEPT-
ABLE OFFSET incorporates, besides their initial function, other parameters which functions
are described below (see also p. 38).
ECF FACTOR
stands for Eccentricity Com-
pensation Function factor
and allows you to offset the
the core alignment to com-
pensate for surface tension.
current 2
current 1
RTC cur
pre-fuse
current
Fiber
distance
gap
overlap
rough align
pre-fusion
fine align
make a gap to remove hysteresis
pre-heat before fiber touch
start Current 2 according to
Gap Close Intensity
Pulling starts
time
pre-heat
take
warm images
to find core offset
take 3 warm images
time 2
measure touch point
A typical splicing sequence for the small core alignment process
ADVANCED OPERATION - Splicing program structure: Splicing process