Rent or Own a Fusion Splicer?

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To
rent or to own? It’s a question we regularly encounter in our daily lives,
whether we’re looking at homes, vehicles, boats or even machinery or tools.

 

In
the world of cabling and connectivity, that question doesn’t arise too often.
But there are a few instances when you may need to decide whether you want to
rent or own a piece of equipment to complete a job like fusion splicing.

 

What
is Fusion Splicing?

 

Fusion
splicing uses an electric arc or heat to fuse two optical fibers in
an automated process. It’s a procedure often used to:

 

Repair
broken fiber links

Connect
250 µm OSP fiber to 900 µm fiber at the building entrance

Restore
severed underground fiber optic cables

Fuse
connectorized pigtails

Terminate
fiber with splice-on connectors

Fusion
splicing results in a strong, secure and high-performance connection of two
cables to ensure excellent signal transmission from one to the next. The
process works like this:

 

Fiber
is stripped of its outer jacket and polymer coating

Fiber
is cleaned and cleaved

Fiber
is placed into a holder in a fusion splicer’s enclosure

A
fusion splicer aligns fibers, burns off impurities and fuses fiber ends
together to create the permanent splice

The
Importance of a Fusion Splicer

 

As
noted in No. 4, you need a fusion splicer to complete fusion splicing. And this
is where the “rent or own” question comes into play during the process.

 

Using
a fusion splicer requires training, but installers pick up on the process
quickly and can be ready to splice in the field after some simple preparation
work. Much of the “craft sensitivity” or installer skill required for
traditional mechanical splicing is removed with fusion splicing, making it easy
for novices and experts to use splice-on connectors. Because splicers are
automated, most notify the technician when a splice is successful (and when
it’s not so the splice can be corrected).

 

Historically,
some installers shied away from fusion splicing because the cost of the splicer
was too high (several thousands of dollars – and sometimes even tens of
thousands of dollars). Choosing the highest-quality (and often most expensive)
splicer possible was key to ensuring a proper connection.

 

Over
the past few years, however, splicer tools have come down in price significantly,
making their purchase more affordable; many splicer rental options are now
available, too.

 

As
fiber optic cable quality continues to rise, the performance of splice
connections relies less on the splicer itself and more on overall cable and
connector quality. When following proper instructions and keeping up with
equipment maintenance, lower-cost splicers can create reliable fiber splices
when combined with high-quality cable and connectors.

 

Given
the fact that splicers have come down in price and are simple to use, how do
you decide whether to lease or purchase your own?

 

Renting
or Leasing a Fusion Splicer

 

Renting
is typically considered an operating expense because you’re not purchasing the
equipment outright. You pay for it while you use it; when you’re done, you
return it. You can rent a splicer for weeks, months or longer (freight is often
included in these costs).

 

Renting
the equipment may cost you more over time if you lease vs. own, but that
depends on how much splicing you’re doing and whether you’re charging that
rental expense back to a job.

 

In
our opinion, there are a few good reasons to rent or lease a splicer:

 

You’re
not sure how much fusion splicing you’ll be doing

You’re
completing several small projects

You’re
just getting started with fusion splicing

You
want to try out a new type or brand of splicer

You
don’t know what kind of splicer you want to purchase yet

You
want to train on the fusion splicing process

Owning
a Fusion Splicer

 

As
opposed to renting, purchasing a fusion splicer is a one-time capital expense
that will continue to pay for itself over time. The more you use it, the more
you’ll make on your investment.

 

In
our opinion, there are a few good reasons to own a fusion splicer:

 

You
know you’ll be completing lots of fusion splicing projects

You
have several large jobs that call for fusion splicing

You
don’t want to hassle with remembering to lease a splicer every time you need
one

You
want to be responsible for upkeep and maintenance on the equipment so you know
it’s in proper working order