Products HomeTemporary Fiber Splices
- Reusable Splices Preloaded with Index Matching Gel
- Index Matching Gel Available Separately
- One-Time-Use Splice Protector Sleeves Available
G608N3
Index Matching Gel
TS126
Fiber Splice, 2 per Package
SPS40
Splice Sleeve Shown with Spliced Fiber
(Fiber Not Included)
Please Wait
Features
- Reusable Mechanical Fiber-to-Fiber Splices Offer Fast Splicing
- Index Matching Gel Minimizes Losses When Mechanically Joining Fibers (Also Available Separately)
- Splice Protector Sleeves Fit Fiber Outer Diameters Up to 900 µm
Thorlabs offers reusable, mechanical fiber-to-fiber splices that are designed for splicing two single mode or multimode fibers. The TS126 Mechanical Fiber-to-Fiber Splice is compatible with fibers that have cladding sizes between Ø125 µm and Ø140 µm. They are easy to use, providing a quick solution when performing emergency fiber optic splicing. Each splice comes preloaded with Thorlabs' G608N3 index matching gel that provides an overall typical splicing loss of 0.2 dB. Additional index matching gel can be used for improved performance when reusing the splice; the G608N3 gel is available for purchase separately. For additional fiber termination products, please see our connector mating sleeves, single mode connectors, and multimode connectors.
Our Splice Protector Sleeves (SPS40 and SPS60) can fit fibers with an outer diameter up to 900 µm, protecting the spliced fibers from bending or flexing at the splice joint. They provide rigid support and can be used as a replacement for the original fiber cable jacket. Please note that they cannot be cut due to the steel rod that provides support for the splice joint. Custom lengths are available, please contact Tech Support for more information.
Thorlabs also offers splice-ready connectors, fiber-to-fiber splice kits, fiber cleavers, and stripping & crimping tools for splicing fibers. Alternatively, our Vytran® fiber recoaters offer flexible, low-profile splice protection.
| G608N3 Index Matching Gel Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Refractive Index | 402 nm | 1.4995 |
| 589.3 nm | 1.4646 | |
| 980 nm | 1.4462 | |
| 1550 nm | 1.4378 | |
| Refractive Index Temperature Coefficient (25 °C to 60 °C) |
-3.5 x 10-4 per °C | |
| Refractive Index vs. Wavelength (Cauchy Fit)a | 1.4338 + 10520 λ-2 | |
| Optical Absorption (450 - 750 nm) | <0.003% per µm | |
| Apparent Viscosity (25 °C) | 10 600 poises | |
| Oil Separation (24 hrs at 100 °C) | 0.2% | |
| Evaporation (24 hrs at 100 °C) | 1.0% | |
| Specific Gravity (25 °C) | 1.06 | |
| Thermal Coefficient of Expansion | 0.0006 cc/cc/°C | |
| Microscopic Particulate Contamination | 10 - 34 µm | <300 Particles/cc |
| ≥35 µm | 0 Particles/cc | |
| Index Matching Gel Absorption (%/mm) | Click for Graph | |
| Splice Protector Sleeve Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | SPS40 | SPS60 |
| Sleeve Length | 40 mm | 60 mm |
| Stainless Steel Rod Length | 35 mm | 55 mm |
| Inner/Outer Tube Material | Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate | |
| Dimension After Shrinking | Ø3.2 mm x 40 mm | Ø3.2 mm x 60 mm |
| Temperature Range After Shrinking | -40 to 80 °C | |
Click to Enlarge
Each splice protector sleeve is composed of an outer shrink tube, an inner tube, and a stainless steel rod to provide rigid support for the splice joint.
Fiber Splice Assembly
Required Materials
Before beginning a fiber splice, be sure to have the required materials available. This includes the Reusable Fiber-to-Fiber Splice (Item # TS126). Additional needed materials include a fiber stripper, fiber scribe (S90R), 99% pure hospital-grade isopropanol, and Kimwipes®† (KW32). Fibers compatible with this splice unit have cladding sizes between Ø125 µm and Ø140 µm. Therefore, depending on the cladding size, one of these fiber fiber strippers will be needed: T06S13, T08S13, or T08S40. Please visit the links above for additional information about these tools.
†Kimwipes® is a registered trademark of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
Assembly
Step 1. Strip, clean, and cleave the two fibers to be spliced. Approximately 14 mm of stripped fiber should be present on each end after cleaving. Complete, step-by-step instructions on how to properly cleave a fiber are found in the Guide to Connectorization and Polishing of Optical Fibers, which is available for download here.
Step 2. Separate the gray plastic "clamshell" pieces from the yellow fiber tube (see Figure 1).
Step 3. Insert one fiber into the small hole at the end of the yellow fiber tube (see Figure 2). When the fiber is securely inside the splice channel, it will start to resist movement.
Step 4. Insert the other fiber into the opposite side of the yellow fiber tube. Couple a light source into one of the fibers and attach the other fiber to a power meter. As the fiber tips approach each other, the transmitted power level will rise until it reaches a maximum as the fiber tips touch (average splicing losses are ~0.2 dB). It may be necessary to gently rotate the fibers to achieve lowest losses. Do not continue to press the fibers together, as this could either break the fibers or result in scratches on the end faces that reduce signal strength.
Step 5. (Optional) Reassemble the gray clamshell pieces for mechanical stability (see Figure 3). Make sure that the fiber is placed into the grove of the clamshell piece as it exits the yellow tube. For a permanent splice and added stability, inject epoxy into the two holes of the larger gray plastic piece.
Fiber Splice Sleeve Guide
Step 1. When splicing together two connectorized fibers, thread one of the fibers through the splice protector sleeve before splicing (see Figure 1).
Step 2. Once the fiber has been spliced together, slide the protector sleeve over the splice joint and place in the heating compartment of your fiber splicer. Refer to your operation manual to find the correct settings to properly heat the splice protector (see Figure 2).
When correctly applied, the splice protector will hold firmly in position while the stainless steel rod provides rigid support about the splice joint. This will help protect the splice joint as well as prevent any bending or flexing in or around the splice joint (see Figure 3).
Click to Enlarge
Figure 1
A spliced fiber in a fiber splicer. The splice protector sleeve can be seen in the bottom right of the image.
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Figure 3
A completed spliced fiber with splice protector sleeve.
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Figure 2
A spliced fiber with splice protector sleeve in the heating compartment of a fiber splicer.
| Posted Comments: | |
Larry.Koehler
(posted 2018-10-11 07:49:57.32) MSDS? YLohia
(posted 2018-10-11 09:09:31.0) The MSDS can be accessed by clicking on the red "document" icon on the left side of the part number. Here is a direct link to it: https://www.thorlabs.com/_sd.cfm?fileName=TTN006737-MSDS-en-us.pdf&partNumber=G608N3. dengin
(posted 2016-06-29 07:57:24.373) G608N3
Can we use the index matching gel effectively at 2.0um.
We are want to use the gel in stripping clad light from fibers (Silica).
thank you tomjspot-thor
(posted 2014-03-28 10:11:06.46) I was wondering if the Bare Fiber Terminator is used the same way one would make an regular connector just without the epoxy. In particular does one also have to polish the fiber after cleaving? pbui
(posted 2014-04-02 04:48:34.0) First, you would need to strip and cleave the fiber before inserting the fiber into the connector. Then, you visually align the fiber tip with the ferrule hole before clamping down with the BFTU. If you're working with < 500 um core fibers, if the cleave is good, then there's no need to polish. With larger core sizes, you may need to hand polish it. briana.singleton
(posted 2013-11-22 12:27:33.317) Can you please give the material that the BFTU is composed from? I would like to use it in a radiation environment and need to know how it will respond. Thanks. pbui
(posted 2013-11-27 03:36:39.0) Response from Phong at Thorlabs: The BFTU is composed primarily of various grades of Aluminum. Additional internal components include metal springs and dowels. user
(posted 2013-06-27 10:15:54.26) BFTU
The bare fiber connector is useful tool, yet it need s improvement. It presses the fiber bit too hard, so it disturbed the mode. When using with single mode bare fiber, it works OK. However I use Bessel beam and I can see immediately the beam intensity changes to elliptically asymmetric profile after releasing the locker. pbui
(posted 2013-08-05 11:26:00.0) Response from Phong at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry to hear that the BFTU is altering your Bessel Beam's profile. Unfortunately, this is inherent to the design of the BFTU in order to make it universal, since the clamping force is required to secure the fiber in place. We are looking into other designs that don't require as much clamping force so as to reduce the effect it has on the beam's profile. oscar
(posted 2013-02-07 13:01:38.957) Dear Sir/Madam,
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to confirm if the BFU module is compatible with the use of 30126G2-1050 connectors. If not, I also would like to know how to use these connectors in a reusable way.
thank you very much for your kind help.
Sincerely
Dr. Oscar Esteban
Alcala University (Spain) tcohen
(posted 2013-02-21 15:06:00.0) Response from Tim at Thorlabs: The diameter of fiber that your connector would accept is too large for the BFTU. We are currently working to expand the compatibility with different connectors and buffer sizes and I will contact you to discuss this with you further. user
(posted 2011-10-11 11:05:53.0) For the specs of part number BFTU, I think it would be more clear to state which adapters DO work with BFTU in addition to which adapters are not compatible. It's a little bit confusing trying to figure out how to choose the correct adapter for various uses. bdada
(posted 2011-10-11 14:58:00.0) Response from Buki at Thorlabs:
Thank you for your feedback on our web presentation. We will work on making the information clearer so it is easier to tell which connectors can be used with the BFTU fiber terminator. Please contact TechSupport@thorlabs.com if you have any questions. akram
(posted 2007-10-30 08:09:16.0) I want learn about machanicl splice with photo.
Akram technicalmarketing
(posted 2007-12-10 08:18:13.0) This is in response to the post by akram regarding additional detail on the assembly procedure for the TS125/TS128 fiber splice. We are happy to announce the idea posted by you has led us to add a full assembly tutorial, complete with photos, to the presentation information for these parts. By clicking on the "Assembly Tutorial" tab, one can see a step-by-step explanation of the assembly process. We thank you for this constructive input and hope that the posted tutorial meets your needs.
Thanks you,
Technical Marketing Department
Thorlabs, Inc. |
Zoom- Fast Splicing of Fibers
- Self-Gripping Clamshell Design
- Accepts Fibers with Cladding Between Ø125 and Ø140 µm
- Two Mechanical Splices per Package
Thorlabs' TS126 reusable, mechanical fiber-to-fiber splices are designed for splicing two single mode or multimode fibers with cladding sizes between Ø125 µm and Ø140 µm. The fiber channels in the gray clamshell casing (see the photo to the right) are divided into two sections with different diameters. The section closest to the yellow fiber splice tube is Ø250 µm to accommodate the fiber coating, while the outer sections are Ø900 µm. Each splice comes preloaded with index matching gel that provides an overall typical splicing loss of 0.2 dB. Additional index matching gel (G608N3 available below) can be applied to the ends of the fibers before inserting them into the yellow splice tube to improve performance when reusing the splice.
Our mechanical fiber-to-fiber splices hold fiber with a self-gripping clamshell design. They are easy to use, providing a quick solution when performing emergency fiber optic splicing. The yellow splice tube can be used alone for a compact package or with the gray clamshell clamp installed for greater stability. For permanent usage, an adhesive (e.g., Super Glue or epoxy) can be injected into the two small through holes in the bottom section of the clamp to achieve a pull strength of 1.5 lbs. See the image above and to the right for details.
For additional fiber termination products, please see our Connector Mating Sleeves, Single Mode Connectors, and Multimode Connectors.
Zoom- Minimize Losses When Mechanically Joining Fibers
- Refractive Index @ 589.3 nm: 1.4646
- Electrically Non-Conductive
- Gel Packaged in 3 cc Syringe
Thorlabs' G608N3 is a crystal clear, gel-like, optical coupling compound intended to reduce signal attenuation in wave guide assemblies at connections. The presence of air at the junction of two optical fibers causes significant signal refraction due to the large differential optical impedance that exists between air and the signal-carrying wave guides. The optical coupling compound G608N3 has been formulated with the requisite optical properties of clarity, purity, and refractive index to minimize signal losses while allowing pliable mechanical connections between rigid parts. Unlike a rigid optical epoxy, this pliable gel is viscoelastic and can take up the differential thermal expansion of precision optical parts without inducing excessive stresses or delamination.
In many devices, these materials serve an additional function: they help seal out ambient dust or fluids from sensitive optical components. This gel is formulated to be ultraclean, non-yellowing, and unaffected by x-ray, ultraviolet, or sunlight exposure. It has extremely low outgassing and volatility characteristics and is free from light-absorbing microscopic particulates. This optical product is a chemically stable, non-toxic, synthetic material with wide temperature serviceability and is suitable for designs with high reliability and long service life. Each syringe comes with 3 cc of index matching gel. To remove the gel, use acetone or an alcohol such as isopropanol to clean the area of application.
This index matching gel can also be used to eliminate possible air gaps between fibers when mating connectors using a mating sleeve. We also offer a fiber index-matched Light Trap for temporarily coupling light out of a fiber.
ZoomClick to Enlarge
Splice Protector Sleeve in Fiber Splicer
Click for Details
Effects of Heating on Splice Protector Sleeves
- Fits Fiber Outer Diameter Up to 900 µm
- Available in Either 40 mm or 60 mm Lengths
- Ø3.2 mm After Shrinking
- Sold in Packs of 25
Thorlabs' Splice Protector Sleeves are designed to protect splices in fibers with an outer diameter up to 900 µm. These fusion splice protector sleeves are an economic solution that offers reliable and solid protection for splice joints. An outer shrink tube holds the tube through which the fiber is threaded as well as the strength member, a solid steel rod that provides rigid support for the splice joint. This design not only provides a replacement for the original fiber cable jacket, but also provides excellent rigidity around the splice joint, preventing the spliced area from bending or flexing.
To use, thread the fiber through the inner fiber tube of the sleeve. Position the sleeve so that the splice joint is in the middle. The sleeve must then be heated causing the outer shrink tube to contract to Ø3.2 mm. Proper heating is required to ensure an accurate fit and function of the splice protector sleeve. The image to the left illustrates the effects of proper and improper heating on these sleeves. The top image shows normal heating; here the shrink tube is uniform across the splice, providing permanent and rigid protection. The middle image shows excessive heating; here the shrink tube shows evidence of blemishes and melts in the tubing. The bottom image shows insufficient heating; here the shrink tube is not uniform across the splice, resulting in loose or poor protection for the splice joint. A fiber splicer can be used to ensure proper heating of the sleeve (refer to the operation manual of your splicer for correct heating settings). The image to the right shows a properly heated splice protector sleeve in a fiber splicer (see the Fiber Splice Sleeve Guide tab for more information).
The clear outer tube of the splice protector sleeves allows the color of the optical fiber itself to be seen. These sleeves come in two standard sizes of 40 mm and 60 mm. They cannot be cut due to the steel rod that provides support for the splice joint. Custom lengths are available; please contact Tech Support for more information.
Thorlabs offers splice-ready connectors, fiber-to-fiber splice kits, fiber cleavers, and stripping & crimping tools for splicing fibers. Alternatively, our Vytran® fiber recoaters offer flexible, low-profile splice protection.
Temporary Splice