Vytran® Fiber Recoaters with UV Curing Lamps

Click to Enlarge
The PTR304 (shown with mold assembly) has a maximum recoat length of 100 mm, while the PTR303 has a maximum recoat length of 50 mm.

• Compatible with Mold Assemblies for Coating Diameters of 280 µm, 430 µm, or 600 µm
• Recoaters for Fiber Lengths up to 50 mm or 100 mm
• Ideal for Low-Volume Manufacturing and R&D
• Compatible with High-Index Recoat Material

These fiber recoaters use a hinged mold assembly (sold below) to form the mold cavity for recoating. This design allows the recoat material to be injected through a cross-channel in the mold's top plate. Intended for low-volume manufacturing and R&D applications, the mold assembly can be easily swapped out and the process parameters can be easily changed, providing flexibility and adaptability, but requires cleaning between each recoat process.

These recoaters feature an automated pump to inject the recoat material. The amount of material dispensed by the automatic injector is controlled by hand via the top-mounted “Inject” button or programmed into the machine by the included tablet controller. The automatic injector is only compatible with high-index recoat material (sold below); however, an add-on unit that can use both low- and high-index recoat materials is available. Please contact Tech Support for more information. 

When selecting one of these recoaters, both a mold assembly and appropriately sized fiber holding block inserts (two top and two bottom, sold below) must be chosen. The mold assemblies are available for coating diameters of 280 µm, 430 µm, and 600 µm and maximum recoating lengths of 50 mm (item # PTR303) or 100 mm (item # PTR304). Customized recoat diameters up to 900 µm are also available; please contact Tech Support for more information.

The PTR303 and PTR304 recoaters include a tablet controller that both allow the user to program and control the recoater unit (see top left image). Adjustable settings include the inject rate, inject amount, cure time, lamp power, and programming custom recipes. An injection calculator provides an estimate of recoat parameters that can be refined by the user. The tablet is shipped preloaded with files for common recoat parameters, but can store an unlimited number of files; please see the Controllers tab for details.

Click to Enlarge
The PTR304B (shown with mold assembly) has a maximum recoat length of 100 mm, while the PTR303B has a maximum recoat length of 50 mm.

• Compatible with Mold Assemblies for Coating Diameters of 280 µm, 430 µm, or
  600 µm
• Recoaters for Fiber Lengths up to 50 mm or 100 mm
• Compatible with High- and Low-Index Recoat Material
• Ideal for Low-Volume Manufacturing and R&D

These fiber recoaters use a hinged mold assembly (sold below) to form the mold cavity for recoating. This design allows the recoat material to be injected through a cross-channel in the mold's top plate. Intended for low-volume manufacturing and R&D applications, the mold assembly can be easily swapped out and the process parameters can be easily changed, providing flexibility and adaptability, but requires cleaning between each recoat process.

These recoaters feature a manual recoat injection system. The user is required to dispense the recoat material into the mold cavity. This manual injection system is compatible with both low- and high-index recoat material (sold below). Additionally, a replacement injector for the PTR303B recoater is available below. 

When selecting one of these recoaters, both a mold assembly and appropriately sized fiber holding block inserts (two top and two bottom, sold below) must be chosen. The mold assemblies are available for coating diameters of 280 µm, 430 µm, and 600 µm and maximum recoating lengths of 50 mm (item # PTR303B) or 100 mm (item # PTR304B). Customized recoat diameters up to 900 µm are also available; please contact Tech Support for more information.

The PTR303B and PTR304B recoaters include a tablet controller that both allow the user to program and control the recoater unit (see top left image). Adjustable settings include the inject rate, inject amount, cure time, lamp power, and programming custom recipes. An injection calculator provides an estimate of recoat parameters that can be refined by the user. The tablet is shipped preloaded with files for common recoat parameters, but can store an unlimited number of files; please see the Controllers tab for details.

Click to Enlarge
Screenshot of VYT300C Controller When Used with PTR303B Manual Mold Fiber Recoater

• Alternative to Tablet Controller
• Provides Full Functionality for Compatible Systems (See Compatible Systems List to the Right)
• Intuitive GUI
• Capacitive Touchscreen
• Smaller Footprint than Tablet Controller

This handset controller is available as an alternative to the tablet controller included with our Vytran Large Diameter Fiber Cleavers, PTR Series Fiber Recoaters, and PTR Series Fiber Proof Testers. One handset controller is included with each PTR403 and PTR403B recoater. A single handset controller can be used with multiple systems; after configuring parameters for one fiber processing unit, the controller can be disconnected and then connected to a different unit, of the same or a different type, to configure its parameters. 

The handset controller must be connected via the included cable in order to use it. The controller automatically turns on when the connected system is turned on. Upon startup, the handset controller will always read parameters from the connected system; i.e., the parameters that appear on the screen will always be the parameters that have been uploaded to the connected unit. If the parameters read from the unit match the parameters of the most recently opened file on the handset controller, the screen will display the file name.

The suite of tools available through the handset controller includes a record of the total cure time of the machine (under Process Counters) that is not shown on the tablet controller. This value may be reset each time the bulbs are replaced.

The handset controller can open, save, delete, export, and import files containing parameters for compatible systems. Exporting or importing a file will require a memory device to be connected to the Program Port of the handset controller.

Instructions for using this controller can be found in the manuals for the compatible Vytran systems.

• Mold Assemblies Compatible with Thorlabs' Manual Fiber Recoaters
• Three Available Mold Coating Sizes: Ø280 µm, Ø430 µm, and Ø600 µm
• 50 mm or 100 mm Maximum Recoat Length
• Comes Installed from Factory when Purchased with Manual Recoater

The Mold Assemblies are composed of split quartz mold plates which, when closed, form the cylindrical mold cavity around the exposed section of the fiber being recoated. They are available for Ø280 µm, Ø430 µm, or Ø600 µm fiber coatings and in maximum fiber recoat lengths of 50 mm (compatible with item #s PTR303 and PTR303B) and 100 mm (compatible with item #s PTR304 and PTR304B). Custom mold sizes up to Ø900 µm are available; please contact Tech Support for more information. Mold assemblies with a 50 mm recoat length feature a lever to assist with opening or closing the mold.

Recoat material (sold below) is injected into the mold assembly by either an automatic or manual injection system. Then, UV light cures the recoat material. Cure times are dependent on the mold size and recoat material, but they range from approximately 12 - 15 seconds for the RM280A mold assembly with high-index AB950200 recoat material to 30 - 60 seconds with the low-index PC373 recoat material. 

When purchasing a manual fiber recoater for the first time, it is necessary to choose a mold assembly that is appropriate for the desired fiber coating diameter. Additional mold assemblies may also be purchased and swapped out by the user. The assembly simply screws to the top of the device, making the removal and install simple and easy. Because of this, our manual recoaters are adaptable and flexible in the field and can be modified to accept varying diameters of fiber quickly. It is also necessary to order the proper inserts (sold below) that best match the fiber diameter being used, whether purchasing a fiber recoater for the first time or updating a current recoater for a different fiber diameter. 

• Fiber Block Inserts for Thorlabs' Fiber Recoaters
• Compatible with Fiber Coating Diameters from 90 µm to 990 µm
• Choose Two Top Inserts and Two Bottom Inserts

For all the recoaters sold above, the proper set of inserts needs to be selected. A total of four inserts (two top and two bottom) are required for a full unit. The inserts are seated in and secured to the fiber holding blocks. They can easily be swapped out for different sizes, allowing our recoaters to adapt quickly should different fiber coating sizes be desired. These inserts are compatible with fiber coatings ranging from Ø90 µm to Ø990 µm.

Custom sizes are available; please contact Tech Support for additional information.

• AB950200: High-Index Recoat Material
• PC373: Low-Index Recoat Material

Thorlabs offers UV-curable acrylate recoat materials to be used in our PTR series fiber recoaters. We offer both high-index (item # AB950200) and low-index (item # PC373) material in 1 oz bottles. The high-index material can be used in all recoaters (except the PRL201), whereas the low-index material can only be used in recoaters with the manual injection pump option.

• Replacement UV Bulbs for Manual Recoaters Listed to the Right
• 10 W Tungsten-Halogen Lamp
• Replacements Sold Individually
  • Four Bulbs Used in 50 mm Length Recoaters
  • Eight Bulbs Used in 100 mm Length Recoaters

The UVRB is a replacement bulb for the Vytran fiber recoaters listed to the right. Recoaters with a 50 mm recoat length are shipped with the four bulbs required for operation and recoaters with a 100 mm recoat length are shipped with eight bulbs.

Based on a schedule of 2000 recoats per month with 15 seconds per recoat, we recommend replacing the bulbs monthly. Instructions for bulb replacement are provided in the manual for each recoater or workstation (available from our website by clicking the red Docs icon next to each base unit item #).

Please note that any fingerprints on the surface of the bulb will shorten the bulb's life; avoid handling the glass envelope of the bulb. If the envelope is touched, clean with a soft lens tissue wetted with acetone or alcohol.

System Compatibilitya
Recoater Item #	Replacement Parts
	PTRRRM Manual Injector	RRMTA Injection Tube	RRMS Syringe Barrel
PTR303B
PTR304B	-	-
PTR306B
PTR307B
PTR403B

• These replacement parts are also compatible with the discontinued PTR203B, PTR206B, and PTR207B recoaters.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge
The PTRRRM is mounted to a recoater via two 4-40 mounting screws. 

• Replacement Manual Injector for Dispensing Recoat Material into the Mold
  • For Vytran Fiber Recoaters with Manual Injectors that Use 50 mm Manual Mold Assemblies (See List to the Right)
  • Accepts PC373 and AB950200 Recoat Materials
• Replacement Injection Tube for Recoaters with Manual Injectors that Use 50 mm Manual Mold Assemblies
• Replacement Syringe Barrel for Manual Injectors

The PTRRRM Manual Injector and RRMTA Injection Tube are available as replacement parts for Thorlabs' Vytran Fiber Recoaters with Manual Injectors that use 50 mm manual mold assemblies; compatible systems are listed to the right. We also offer a replacement syringe barrel that is compatible with all of our Vytran fiber recoaters with manual injection systems.

The injector can be mounted to compatible fiber recoaters via two 4-40, 3/32" hex screws on the recoater housing (see photo to the right). To connect the PTRRRM to the recoater mold, tighten the connector at the end of the green plastic tubing, then loosen by a 1/4 turn to allow for rotation.

The injector is equipped with a distribution valve and two-position selection lever for directing the flow of recoat material. A knurled dispensing screw with an internal plunger acts as a syringe for the recoat material. To fill the syringe, point the lever downward (i.e., toward the recoat bottle), then rotate the knurled dispensing screw counterclockwise until it spins freely to fill the syringe (shown in the photo to the right). Then, to inject the recoat material into the mold, point the lever horizontally (i.e., facing the knurled screw) and rotate the screw clockwise until near the end of the travel range is reached. Avoid bottoming out the dispenser as this may damage the internal plunger; also take care when re-engaging the threads to avoid cross threading the dispensing screw. Several fill/inject steps may be needed until air is displaced within the system. Use lens tissue and an acetone or alcohol cleaning solution to collect any excess recoat material that flows from the mold.

The RRMTA injection tube and RRMS syringe barrel are available as replacement parts for the PTRRRM manual injector. The injection tube should be changed out if the knurl fitting breaks off the end, it leaks recoat material, or a clog forms that cannot be cleared with acetone. If the syringe no longer injects or an excessive number of air bubbles are visible in the recoat material (even after flushing the system), the syringe barrel should be replaced. A 5/16" thin spanner wrench is required for securing the syringe onto the recoat injector. Detailed installation instructions are provided in the support documentation, which can be found by clicking on the red documents icon () next to each item number.

• Replacement Injection Tube for Dispensing Recoat Material into the Mold
• Compatible with Vytran Fiber Recoaters with Manual Mold Assemblies that Use Automatic Injectors (See List to the Right)
• For Use with AB950200 and PC373 Recoat Materials

This replacement injection tube is compatible with Thorlabs' Vytran Fiber Recoaters that use Manual Mold Assemblies and Automatic Injection Systems (Item #s listed to the right). Though each system comes with an injection tube installed, it may need to be replaced if the knurled fitting breaks off the end, it leaks recoat material, or a clog forms that cannot be cleared with acetone.

Detailed installation instructions for the RRATA injection tube are provided in the support documentation, which can be found by clicking on the red documents icon () next to the item number.