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6.8 Polish Fiber End
Multimode and Singlemode
Caution: Contaminates on polishing materials can cause scratches on the end face of the
fiber/ferrule. Throughout the entire polishing process, keep work area and all polishing
materials clean. Clean polishing papers between each step using a wipe moistened
with alcohol. This is especially true for the type F (yellow) and type K (gray) polishing
papers because they can be repeatedly cleaned and reused.
Note 1: Tables A for multimode and B for singlemode provide a quick reference for polishing.
Note 2: Cut one sheet of type J polishing paper (purple) into four pieces.
Step 1. Remove Fiber Stub
a. In one hand, hold one of the cut pieces of type J polishing paper (dull side down).
b. In the other hand, hold the connector with the tip pointing upward.
Note: When performing the following step, be careful not to break the fiber stub.
c. Air polish using light circular motions about 1 inch in diameter; carefully polish off fiber stub.
d. Use canned air to clean the back and front of a full piece of type J polishing paper (purple).
e. Saturate a wipe with isopropyl alcohol (>91% 2-pr water).
f. Obtain a glass plate and a polishing tool (T2000A or T2001A) from D-182959 Upgrade Kit.
g. Clean the glass plate and polishing tool with the saturated wipe.
h. Use canned air to blow dry the glass plate and the polishing tool.
i. Insert
the
LC connector into the T2000A or T2001A polishing tool.
Step 2. Remove Excess Epoxy
a. Place one clear spacer sheet on the glass plate, then place a sheet of type J polishing paper
(purple) on the glass plate with the dull side up.
b. Gently place the polishing tool and connector onto the polishing paper.
Note: In the following step, you should not feel any drag between the fiber and the paper.
Start with light pressure and use figure-8 strokes that are approximately 2 inches high
and 1 inch wide. The figure-8 strokes must be well rounded to ensure complete
removal of the epoxy from the end of the ferrule.
c. Using light pressure, polish the connector for 20 figure-8 strokes.
Danger: Optical fibers may emit radiation if the far end is connected with a working laser or
Light-Emitting Diode (LED). Never view the fiber end of a cable or plug with the
naked eye or any optical instrument until absolute verification is established that
the fiber is disconnected from any laser or LED source.
d. Using a 7X eye loupe or LC microscope supplied in the D-181259 Upgrade Kit, check the tip
of the ferrule. No excess epoxy should surround the fiber.
Type J polishing
paper (purple) with
dull side down
