Rev. C 7-29-05
21
P/N 840259
b. Slide the fiber disk, tapered end down, over the fiber bundle. Snap the fiber disk into the fiber disk support
posts on the ferrule.
CAUTION
Make sure there is enough slack in the cable(s) to be put in place. There should be about 3-4 in. of slack in the fiber bundle. If
not, readjust the ferrule accordingly. This will provide ample fiber for future trimming of bundle required about every 5 years.
C. Cut the fiber, see Pictures on page 20.
1. Place the Cutting Shield onto the ferrule assembly and thread on until it bottoms out.
2. Hold the cable and ferrule assembly so the support posts are at the top and bottom (not on the sides), keeping
the cable and fiber bundle as straight as possible.
3. Place the FiberKnife blade against the Cutting Shield guide
ring at a 10-15 degree angle starting at the top Support
Post.
IMPORTANT
Press with a light to moderate constant pressure using the cutting shield
ring as a guide. IMPORTANT: Do not rush - allow 3 – 4 minutes to cut
600 fibers.
DO NOT use too much force - Let the heat of the knife do the
cutting.
DO NOT saw, wiggle or rotate the blade back and forth.
On the larger fiber bundles, it may help to rotate the handle side
of the blade downward slightly.
a. Ease up towards the end of the cut to keep the last few
fibers from folding over.
4. Remove Cutting Shield and wipe the fiber face with an optic
prep pad or clean cloth. This removes any residual powder.
WARNING
Shield may be hot. Exercise caution when removing it. Failure to do so
could cause burns.
5. Inspect the cut.
a. The cut should be smooth and flat, with no visible lines or surface bubbles. When training and performing
your first cuts, use of a small magnifying glass can help see imperfections that may be difficult to see with the
naked eye.
b. A good professional cut is critical to the performance of the fiber optic system. There are several things
which can cause a bad cut:
• Sawing or wiggling the blade during cutting.
• Holding the blade at an incorrect angle.
• Burrs on the edge of the cutting shield.
• The FiberKnife is not warmed up enough. Allow enough time between cuts for the knife to reheat, and
keep it out of the wind while it is heating.
• The blade needs replacing (about every 15 - 20 cuts. Pack of 3 blades, P/N 21005600).
Fiber Disk
Support Posts
Ferrule
Mounting
Flanges
Grommet
Compression Nut
Ferrule Body
Fiber Disk
Ferrule Insert
(less than 425 fibers)
Figure 7.
