Tips for Fusion Fiber Splicing

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 Whether
you need to extend the reach of fiber or repair a severed cable in the field,
fiber splicing is a critical skill for any field tech. Here are a few useful
tips to ensure your splices are done safely and effectively.

 

NOTE:
There are two methods of fiber splicing: fusion
splicing and mechanical splicing. For the purposes of this article, we
will specifically discuss fusion splicing. For mechanical splicing, only the
actual splice is a different process; the preparation and safety tips apply to
each method.

 

Required
Tools

 

Fiber
fusion splicing unit

Fiber
cleaver

Wire
stripper, for removing jacket and tubing

Heat
shrink tubes to protect and cover the splice

Cleaning
supplies, including gauze and alcohol

Important
Tips

 

1.
Control your environment. Only attempt the splicing process (stripping,
cleaving, and splicing) on a stable flat surface. Try to control any moving air
(wind or AC) to minimize the risk of losing dangerous fiber splinters. Most
importantly, keep everything as clean as possible. Wipe the exposed ends of the
fiber thoroughly with gauze and alcohol before cleaving, and make sure your
surface area is free of all dust and debris. As is the case with fiber
connectors, the smallest impurities can introduce significant loss.

 

2.
Handle fiber with extreme care. Handling bare fiber is incredibly dangerous.
Even microscopic splinters can cause serious damage if they enter your
bloodstream. Use a reverse roll of tape to collect any bits of fiber until they
can be disposed of safely.

 

3.
Measure three times, cut once. Check every setting on every tool before use.
Measure out the length of jacket you’ll strip from your fiber ends (Ensure the
fiber type settings on your cleaver and splicer match the fibers you have.
Check the alignment of your fiber holders. Run an arc test on your splicing
device to ensure you have a good cleave. If applicable, make sure your heat
shrink tube is on one end of your fiber before splicing.

 

4.
Respect the tools. A good fusion splicer and cleaver can perform their required
tasks with extreme precision and can cost thousands of dollars apiece.
Therefore, to get the most out of your investment, perform regular maintenance
on these devices as instructed in the manual.

 

Precise
execution of fiber splicing is essential to preserve the integrity of your
network.  To learn more about best
practices in networking care, check out our three-part series on cleaning and
maintenance of your optical transceivers and cables.