Optical fiber is enjoying increasing success throughout France. More than ten million people have chosen to take out a subscription with one access provider or another to secure the services of this new communication technology. Because with fiber, data is exchanged quickly, very quickly, since the messages are coded using light pulses before being carried within the fibers. However, new technology also means new problems in the event of a malfunction. For example, poor fiber cleavage can often be the cause of a poor connection. But what does the term “fiber cleavage” mean and how do you cleave an optical fiber correctly?
What does it mean to “cleave an optical fiber” and when do you need to do it?
Cleaving an optical fiber means preparing the end of the fiber by cutting it cleanly to obtain a perfectly smooth surface perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Cleaving an optical fiber is a necessary intervention during several stages of implementation or maintenance of fiber optic networks. First, when creating new connections, the fiber must be cleaved before being merged or connected to another fiber.
Second, when repairing damaged segments of a network, broken or chipped ends require clean cleaving to ensure an efficient connection. Finally, in some situations, precise cleaving is essential to ensure optimal signal transmission and minimize attenuation losses. This is a delicate operation that can only be carried out using a fiber optic cleaver, a high-tech tool designed by professionals such as Comway.
How to prepare the fiber for the cleavage operation?
The arrival of optical fiber in large cities had led to contrasting reactions, between overflowing enthusiasm and anxious distrust. Because if the fiber promised enormous possibilities, the population was particularly worried about not knowing enough about its operating principles. Today, these are better known, just as are the techniques useful for repair. For example, we know that the first step before cleaving an optical fiber is the preparation of the fiber itself.
It starts with stripping the fiber: the operator removes the outer sheath to expose the glass core. To do this, he uses a specialized tool called a fiber fan, which precisely removes the sheath without damaging the inner fiber. Once this is done, it is essential to carefully clean the fiber with a special solution to remove residue and particles that could affect the quality of the cleavage.
How to cleave an optical fiber?
After preparing and cleaning it, it is now time to cleave an optical fiber for good. This is where the fiber optic cleaver is used. This tool has a precision blade that makes a slight cut into the fiber at a very specific angle. Then, with a slight pressure or a slight bending motion, the fiber breaks cleanly at the cut, creating a perfectly flat end.
It is crucial that this break is as clean as possible to ensure efficient light transmission during fusion or connection. From then on, no need to turn to a smartphone app and video game store: if your computer keeps up, you will be able to live unique video game experiences of unparalleled speed.
