8
4.4
Grip the fiber near the splice and continue inserting
the fiber to ensure it is fully seated in the splice.
4.5
Follow steps in all of section 3
Fiber Preparation
and
section 4.1 to 4.3 of
Splice Assembly
for preparing
and inserting the second fiber into the 3M
™
Fibrlok
™
Splice.
4.6
For the second fiber, grip the fiber near the splice and
continue to insert until it is fully seated in the splice.
Watch for the first fiber bow to increase. This occurs
when the end face of the second fiber contacts the
first fiber and pushes the first fiber slightly back out
of the splice.
Note: Check that the first and second fiber holders stay
fully end-stopped against the splice when inserting
fibers and adjusting for equal bow height.
Note: Do not pull on either of the fibers following
establishment of the bows in the first and second
fibers. The fiber ends must be held together by the
compressive forces induced by the bows to produce
a low loss splice.
4.7
Slowly push back fiber one to have equal bow height
with fiber two.
If fiber bows are NOT observed to move as
described, repeat steps 4.4 – 4.6 of
Splice Assembly
but do NOT fully remove fibers from the splice. If
bow movement is still not observed, remove fibers,
strip, clean and re-cleave, checking for proper cleave
length. Re-splice per splicing procedure using a new
splice.
Do not attempt to “tune” or optimize the splice
as this may result in higher splice loss. The 3M
™
Fibrlok
™
Splice is not designed to be “tuned”. Fiber
alignment does not occur until the splice is activated.
4.8
Press the lever to activate the splice. A click will be
heard when the splice is actuated.
4.9
Open the fiber holder clamps and covers and remove
the Fibrlok splice from the assembly tool by pulling
on the splice. Do not pull on the fibers.
