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Gratings
Fabrication & Optical Fusion Splicing Preparation: 3SAE
Technologies, Inc. in Boston, MA has introduced breakthrough
technology for FBG manufacturing and fusion splicing applications. This
new technology eliminates the need for mechanical stripping blades, lasers
and acid stripping and cleaning tools. 3SAE's new burst technology
achieves near virgin fiber strength using super heated air to remove the
polymer jacket. Research has proven that the heated air has no effect on
the optical fiber cladding or the fiber core. This non-contact approach
opens the door to efficient and high-volume manufacturing. As
part taken part in an optoelectronics packaging research effort sponsored
by an international consortium of photonics industry leaders. Universal
Instruments Corporation, Flip Chip and Optoelectronics Packaging
department in Binghamton, NY conducted the research. As
stated by Antonio Prats, Process Research Engineer at Universal
Instruments Advanced Process / SMT Laboratory, "Universal Instruments
is developing the experimental and theoretical means to assess the
consequences of damage induced in optical fibers in handling and
packaging. 3SAE's
patented burst stripping technique appears to offer an advantage over
traditional methods in terms of these. This was assessed by tensile
testing of single mode fiber samples in Universal Instruments' process
laboratory. One set of samples was stripped and cleaved using 3SAE's
AutoPrep unit while another set of control samples was prepared using a
conventional mechanical cleaver and thermo-mechanical stripper. Both
sets were then spliced and recoated using identical equipment and process
parameters. Both the mean and the width of the strength distribution
obtained for the control samples were similar to values usually obtained
with these traditional methods. The
mean strength of fibers prepared with 3SAE's AutoPrep unit was over 50%
higher and the standard deviation was less than half. Depending on the
service conditions, the corresponding predicted mean life in service might
be more than an order of magnitude larger." Fiber
preparation and window stripping are of the most critical elements in
optical component manufacturing, Fiber Bragg gratings fabrication and
outside plant fiber splicing. The process of stripping, cleaning and
cleaving an optical fiber while maintaining maximum fiber strength is
essential for producing long service life in optical components. 3SAE's
burst stripping technique, which does away with the use of mechanical
blades or ultrasonic chemical cleaning, sets a new standard in opto-electronics
packaging and handling. In a further effort to improve outside plant field
fiber splicing, 3SAE will incorporate this new technology into a low cost,
compact field version in 2003.
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