SC185 Hands-on Polishing, Inspection and Testing of Connectors

Monday, March 23, 2009
1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Jason Sloan¹, Steve Baldo², Neal Wagman³; ¹Light Brigade Inc., USA, ²Seikoh Giken Co. Ltd., USA, ³Norland Products, USA
Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description

This course consists of three stand-alone segments that are supervised by a fiber-optic experts specializing in each particular discipline. Each segment includes both knowledge and skill (hands-on) components. The first segment, fiber-optic polishing, focuses on mass-production termination techniques that work with fiber optic connectors including SC and LC connector types with UPC and APC polishes. Learn how to achieve low insertion loss, low reflectance, optimum end-face geometry and improved production yields. The second segment, fiber-optic end-face inspection, explains the principles of microscopy and interferometry as they relate to the inspection and testing of fiber-optic plugs and termini. Hands-on demonstration will show how microscopes and interferometers help to control the polishing process by checking for scratches and measuring end-face geometry. The third segment, connectorization testing, reviews the test equipment used for attenuation and reflection testing after the polishing process is complete. The assemblies manufactured in the course are used in the testing to allow the course attendee to follow the production from assembly through testing processes.

Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

  • Measure and understand optical attenuation measurements and expected variations at 1310/1550/1625nm.
  • Measure optical return loss and define its relationship to connector polishes, polishing procedures and test methods.
  • Identify contaminants, their cause, and how to resolve contamination issues with a variety of cleaning products.
  • Identify and discuss the fundamentals of the polishing processes and their impact on attenuation and reflection.
  • Identify and determine how to adjust variables that affect end-face geometry.
  • Measure scratches using automatic analysis equipment.
  • Apply the criteria for pass/fail in quality assurance programs and applications.
  • Determine how the immediate feedback from the interferometer will help control the manufacturing process, creating higher performance terminations and increased production yields.

Intended Audience

This course is applicable to those involved with fiber optic terminations from the novice to production engineers and managers involved with laboratory, manufacturing, and field disciplines. A basic knowledge of fiber optics is expected.

Biography

Since 1987, The Light Brigade (TLB) has instructed more than 35,000 attendees in its classes on fiber optic design, maintenance and testing, including topics such as OSP, networking, FTTx, DWDM and PMD/CD. TLB has worked with OSA since 1990 to provide a variety of special events at OFC/NFOEC and CLEO conferences. Norland Products Inc. has been manufacturing novel products to meet critical customer needs for more than 40 years. One of its specialties is 3-D interferometric testing and inspection of fiber-optic connectors. As the leader in this area, it has been actively involved in providing the optimum methods to achieve higher quality and cost savings. Seikoh Giken (SG) provides high performance interconnectivity solutions for network systems and chip level applications. For networks and testing, Seikoh Giken provides premium patchcords (SMF and PMF), adaptors and attenuators. For manufacturers, SG manufactures ferrules, tunable connectors, polishing equipment, and films and photonic packaging technologies.