Fiber Optic termination kits are an important item for any optic cable installer. Our selection of fiber optic tools and equipment includes fiber optic cleavers, fusion splicers, fiber strippers, and all in one kits that have everything you need to perform terminations. Whether you need to precisely terminate Pretium, standard UniCam, multimode or singlemode, SC, ST, FC or LC fiber connectors, we've got a kit for you. Whether you're working in a local area network (LAN), a data center, or an office, we've got the tools you need to clean, cut, inspect, measure, strip and terminate your fiber cables.
Fiber Optic Termination Kit
Fiber Optic Fusion Splicers and How They Work
What is a fiber optic fusion splicer?
A fiber optic fusion splicer is a device that uses an electric arc to melt two optical fibers together at their end faces, to form a single long fiber. The resulting joint, or fusion splice, permanently joins the two glass fibers end to end, so that optical light signals can pass from one fiber into the other with very little loss.
How does a fusion splicer work?
Before optical fibers can be successfully fusion-spliced, they need to be carefully stripped of their outer jackets and polymer coating, thoroughly cleaned, and then precisely cleaved to form smooth, perpendicular end faces. Once all of this has been completed, each fiber is placed into a holder in the splicer’s enclosure. From this point on, the fiber optic fusion splicer takes over the rest of the process, which involves 3 steps:
- Alignment: Using small, precise motors, the fusion splicer makes minute adjustments to the fibers’ positions until they’re properly aligned, so the finished splice will be as seamless and attenuation-free as possible. During the alignment process, the fiber optic technician is able to view the fiber alignment, thanks to magnification by optical power meter, video camera, or viewing scope.
- Impurity Burn-Off: Since the slightest trace of dust or other impurities can wreak havoc on a splice’s ability to transmit optical signals, you can never be too clean when it comes to fusion splicing. Even though fibers are hand-cleaned before being inserted into the splicing device, many fusion splicers incorporate an extra precautionary cleaning step into the process: prior to fusing, they generate a small spark between the fiber ends to burn off any remaining dust or moisture.
- Fusion: After fibers have been properly positioned and any remaining moisture and dust have been burned off, it’s time to fuse the fibers ends together to form a permanent splice. The splicer emits a second, larger spark that melts the optical fiber end faces without causing the fibers’ cladding and molten glass core to run together (keeping the cladding and core separate is vital for a good splice – it minimizes optical loss). The melted fiber tips are then joined together, forming the final fusion splice. Estimated splice-loss tests are then performed, with most fiber fusion splices showing a typical optical loss of 0.1 dB or less.
With fiber optic components from industry leaders like Corning, Leviton, & Kingfisher, CableOrganizer.com is your online source for all things fiber optic. Check out our incredible selection of fiber optic patch cords, bulk cable, media converters, splice enclosures, connectors, termination kits, consumables and testers.