Unit 8 Lab 1
Fiber Optic Connector Assembly
Oven-Cured Epoxy Application and Connector Assembly:
1. Set the curing oven to the temperature recommended by the epoxy manufacturer.
2. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for mixing the epoxy.
3. Secure needle to the syringe and load the syringe with epoxy while ensuring it is free of air pockets.
4. Insert the needle tip into the back of the connector until it bottoms out against the ferrule. Maintain pressure and slowly inject epoxy until a bead appears on the end of the ferrule tip and continue to inject epoxy until the bead covers approx. 1/3 of the ferrule diameter end.
5. Wait 5 seconds after releasing pressure on the plunger before removing the needle.
6. (Optional) If required by the company, place the cure adapter over the connector ferrule.
7. Feed the optical fiber through the connector while ensuring the strength member fans back as the fiber is pushed forward.
8. Crimp the connector using crimpers (follow manufacturer’s data sheet).
9. Place the connector in the curing over and follow the manufacturers’ cure schedule for curing the epoxy.
10. Once epoxy has cured, remove the connector and allow it to cool. Proceed to polishing the connector.
Clearly, following the manufacturer’s instructions with handling the epoxy, syringes and using the curing oven will avoid possible hazards and sloppiness will affect the connectivity of the optical cables and will make it difficult to polish in the next procedure, overall affecting the performance of the cable.
Cable and Optical Fiber Preparation:
1. Have all tools ready.
2. Cut the cable 2” longer than you’ll need.
3. Install strain relief boot on cable end, small diameter first; must be placed on the cable first before connector.
4. (Optional) Install crimp sleeve if one is provided with the connector.
5. Locate appropriate strip chart from the connector manufacturer.
6. Use the strip chart to appropriately mark the cable jacket, cut jacket w/stripper, and remove the jacket from
Oven-Cured Epoxy Application and Connector Assembly:
1. Set the curing oven to the temperature recommended by the epoxy manufacturer.
2. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for mixing the epoxy.
3. Secure needle to the syringe and load the syringe with epoxy while ensuring it is free of air pockets.
4. Insert the needle tip into the back of the connector until it bottoms out against the ferrule. Maintain pressure and slowly inject epoxy until a bead appears on the end of the ferrule tip and continue to inject epoxy until the bead covers approx. 1/3 of the ferrule diameter end.
5. Wait 5 seconds after releasing pressure on the plunger before removing the needle.
6. (Optional) If required by the company, place the cure adapter over the connector ferrule.
7. Feed the optical fiber through the connector while ensuring the strength member fans back as the fiber is pushed forward.
8. Crimp the connector using crimpers (follow manufacturer’s data sheet).
9. Place the connector in the curing over and follow the manufacturers’ cure schedule for curing the epoxy.
10. Once epoxy has cured, remove the connector and allow it to cool. Proceed to polishing the connector.
Clearly, following the manufacturer’s instructions with handling the epoxy, syringes and using the curing oven will avoid possible hazards and sloppiness will affect the connectivity of the optical cables and will make it difficult to polish in the next procedure, overall affecting the performance of the cable.
Cable and Optical Fiber Preparation:
1. Have all tools ready.
2. Cut the cable 2” longer than you’ll need.
3. Install strain relief boot on cable end, small diameter first; must be placed on the cable first before connector.
4. (Optional) Install crimp sleeve if one is provided with the connector.
5. Locate appropriate strip chart from the connector manufacturer.
6. Use the strip chart to appropriately mark the cable jacket, cut jacket w/stripper, and remove the jacket from
References: Oliviero, A., & Woodward, B. (2011). Connectors. In A. Oliviero, & B. Woodward, Cabling: The Complete Guide to Copper and Fiber-Optic Networking (4 ed., pp. 679-683). Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons,Inc.