Thorlabs offers a family of products to assist customers who would like to connectorize their bare fiber.
Polishing or Lapping Film, similar to sandpaper, is composed of tiny particles glued to a substrate. By moving the connector over the polishing film, the excess material is removed and the fiber end is polished. Different grades of polishing film are used in successive polishing cycles. Each polishing uses a finer grit paper. We offer two types of polishing films: aluminum oxide and diamond. The aluminum oxide, while lower in cost per sheet, can lead to under cutting and each area of the sheet can only be used once to polish a connector. Diamond polishing film, on the other hand, while more expensive per sheet, can be used multiple times (as many as 20 times), and polishes the fiber and ferrule at the same rate preventing undercutting.
Undercutting occurs when the fiber material is removed quicker than the ferrule material creating a dip just above the fiber. When the connector is mated to another connector, instead of getting a good glass-to-glass interface, the air gap created by the undercutting causes a glass-air-glass interface and excess loss which is undesirable.
In order to hold the fiber connector securely and to maintain the proper angle, a Manual Fiber Polishing Puck is used. The puck makes it easier to hold the connector against the polishing film and ensures an even polish. We offer polishing pucks for six different connector types.
Polishing requires a hard, flat surface and we offer a Glass Polishing Plate with rubber feet for this purpose. When polishing PC connectors, a Rubber Polishing Pad should be used to maintain the pre-rounded end.
Instructions on how to polish a connector, including how to glue and cleave the fiber, can be found in our Guide to Connectorization and Polishing of Optical Fibers. A color manual can be purchased, or it can be download here for free.
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Posted Comments:
Poster: Tyler
Posted Date: 2008-10-03 08:40:31.0
A response from Thorlabs to vincent.gosling: After some discussion with the engineers in the fiber business unit we are sending you a new polishing disc just incase the one you have doesnt meet specifications. Some burnt connectors can be repaired by polishing with a diamond polish, however, if the damage is too severe, it may be necessary to replace the connector. Thorlabs provides reconnectorization services, simply contact our technical support department for a quotation. Thank you for contacting us and if the new disk doesn’t solve your problem, please let us know.
Poster: vincent.gosling
Posted Date: 2008-10-01 06:10:24.0
My company recently purchased a polishing kit to repair a "burnt" fc/apc. Unfortunately the fibre doesnt sit proud of the polishing disc and therefore doesnt polish. Could you tell me whether there is another technique to repair fibres or , (as I expect) to confirm if it is beyond repair (without replacing the connector).
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Vince Gosling
The CK03 and CK05 include an additional Rubber Polishing Pad (50 Durometer) that is used to produce PC (radiused) polishes
Thorlabs' Connectorization Kits contain all of the materials for your connectorization needs (connectors and fiber not included). The CK01 is an SMA Connectorization Tool Kit, the CK03 is an FC/PC Connectorization Tool Kit, and the CK05 is an FC/APC Connectorization Tool Kit. The CK03 and CK05 kits include a Rubber Polishing Pad (50 Durometer) that is used to produce PC (radiused) polishes.
To view the German versions of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) associated with the F112 epoxy that is included with these kits, please click on the following links: Data Sheet 1 and Data Sheet 2.
Thorlabs offers diamond lapping (polishing) sheets to polish a connector after the fiber has been glued into the ferrule. Lapping sheets are like sandpaper for optical connectors. Tiny diamond particles are glued to a substrate of polyester with resin. Since we highly recommend a three step polishing process when using diamond sheets, we offer our sheets in three different grit sizes: 1, 3, and 6 µm.
We recommend using diamond sheets over the less expensive aluminum oxide sheets when polishing ceramic or zirconia ferrules because diamond sheets do not cause undercutting when polishing the connector like aluminum oxide can. Even though the cost is higher per sheet compared to aluminum oxide sheets, each area of the sheet can be used up to 20 times greatly increasing its value. Undercutting occurs when the fiber material is removed quicker than the ferrule material creating a dip just above the fiber. When the connector is mated to another connector, instead of getting a good glass-to-glass interface, the air gap created by the undercutting causes a glass-air-glass interface and excess loss which is undesirable.
These 6” x 6” sheets should be used with our glass polishing plates and rubber mats (see below).
Note: The diamond sheets are sold in packages of 5.
Thorlabs offers aluminum oxide lapping (polishing) sheets to polish a connector after the fiber has been glued into the ferrule. Lapping sheets are like sandpaper for optical connectors. Tiny aluminum oxide particles are glued to a substrate of polyester with resin. Since we highly recommend a four step polishing process when using aluminum oxide sheets, we offer our sheets in four different grit sizes: 0.3, 1, 3, and 5 µm.
Typically, each area of each sheet can only be used once to polish a single connector. Also, care should be taken when polishing your connector as these sheets can cause undercutting especially with ceramic or zirconia ferrules. Undercutting occurs when the fiber material is removed quicker than the ferrule material creating a dip just above the fiber. When the connector is mated to another connector, instead of getting a good glass-to-glass interface, the air gap created by the undercutting causes a glass-air-glass interface and excess loss which is undesirable.
These 13” x 9” sheets should be used with our glass polishing plates and rubber mats (see below).
Note: The aluminum oxide sheets are sold in packages of 10.
Polishing discs simplify the fiber polishing process by aligning the fiber tip for proper polishing. Discs are specific to the type of connector so that the connector is securely held and aligned in the disc. The following list shows our polishing discs.
SMA Connector Polishing Disc This polishing disc will accommodate both SMA type 905 and SMA type 906 connectors. Each disc is factory set to produce the correct ferrule length after polishing is complete. The D50-SMA polishing disc can be recalibrated using our D50-A calibration pin, which is included with the D50-SMA polishing disc.
FC/PC and SC/PC Connector Polishing Disc This polishing disc will accommodate both flat and pre-radiused (PC style) connectors.
FC/APC Connector Polishing Disc This polishing disc is designed to polish ferrules at 8° while securing the connector key in the proper orientation with respect to the polish angle.
ST Connector Polishing Disc The polishing disc is designed to allow the connector to float. This design allows the polishing of both flat and pre-radiused (PC style) connectors.
LC Connector Polishing Disc This polishing disc is designed to allow the connector to float. This design allows the polishing of both flat and pre-radiused (PC style) connectors.
Polishing of fiber optic connectors requires a flat hard surface. The glass plate is produced from safety glass with all edges and corners rounded. Rubber feet help to ensure the plate will not mar the work surface and keeps the plate from sliding.
Polishing Pad (Pictured Right)
This rubber polishing pad (50 Durometer) is required when polishing PC style pre-radiused connectors. When used with our glass polishing plate, the pad helps to maintain the geometry of the connector tip during polishing.
Guide to Connectorization and Polishing of Optical Fibers
The FN96A Polishing and Connectorization Guide are easy to follow, step-by-step instructions that shows the reader how to properly cleave a fiber, assemble a cable and connector, and polish the connector. A color manual can be purchased below, or it can be download here for free.
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CK01
- SMA Connectorization Tool Kit
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