What is fiber cleaving?
Cleaving is the process by which an precision cut is made in fiber optic cable. A precise cut is essential when working with fiber optics. Otherwise the two fibers will not butt up against each other. If done improperly the ends of the fiber will diffuse light. Not a result you are looking for. You need a precision splicer to make the correct cleave. A cheap clever will only cost you additional money as you will be throwing away expensive connectors.
It is always extremely important to cleave a fiber correctly. Cleaving is the method by which an optical fiber is broken with precision. The fiber is not actually cut. It is scored by scratching the fiber surface. By stressing the fiber along the score it is snapped with a clean break.
A good cleaver should hold the fiber under a firm tension and produce a consistent break regardless of the technician that is using the cleaver. A fully automatic cleaver is usually the best tool to use. All the tech has to do is place the fiber in the correct position, clamp it and let the cleaver do the rest. If a cleaver is not fully automatic it requires a bit more skill as the operator must apply the pressure to snap the fiber. This method is a bit less accurate.
Why should you invest in a good quality cleaver? That answer is simple. Less wasted time more precision breaks. Precise cleaving is very important. Without these precise breaks the fiber will not connect properly. When this happens the fiber ends will not butt up against each other causing a refraction or diffusion causing a loss of light. A quality cleaver will help avoid this loss time and time again
A field cleaver, while much less expensive than a precision cleaver, will produce adequate cleaves, however they are less consistent. Mechanical cleaving does require additional skill. An inexpensive cleaver, in the hands of an unskilled or moderately skilled installer, can be problematic. This produces substandard cleaves and additional product waste. A good tool makes all the difference.
If you plan on doing a good deal of cleaving, it is worthwhile to pay for a cleaver that does the job correctly the first time. Saving money on an inadequate cleaver only presents a problem later on by producing unacceptable IL (Insertion Loss) or ORL (optical return loss) levels in the fiber link. Throwing away expensive connectors is never a good financial decision.
What is fiber splicing?
The performance of a fiber optic splice is determined by a number of factors, including the quality of the fiber, the cleanliness of the splice, and the techniques used to make the splice. Intrinsic factors, such as the refractive index of the fiber, are those that are inherent to the fiber itself. Extrinsic factors, such as the presence of microbends, are those that are external to the fiber. Core diameter mismatch is a type of extrinsic factor that can cause significant loss in a splice.
By understanding the factors that affect splice performance, you can make informed decisions about the type of splice to use and the techniques to employ. This can help you achieve the best possible performance from your fiber optic splices.
What is it that gets spliced onto a fiber optic cable strand or strands? We call it a fiber-optic pigtail. A fiber optic pigtail is a fiber optic cable with one end terminated with a factory-installed connector and the other end unterminated. As a result, the connector side can be connected to equipment, while the other side is fused in the case of fusion splicing and a mechanical connection in the case of mechanical splicing optical fiber cables. Fiber optic pigtails are used to connect fiber optic cables using fusion or mechanical splicing.
Why splice?
Fiber splicing is one way to join two optical fibers together so the light energy from one optical fiber can be transferred to another optical fiber. A fiber splice is the permanent connection of two optical fibers. Once the two optical fibers are joined with a splice, they cannot be taken apart and put back together, as they can if you join them using connectors. Fiber splices are typically employed for one of four reasons: to repair a damaged cable, extend the length of a cable, join two different cable types, or attach a pigtail. We'll talk about fiber pigtails later on in the article.
An important thing to note and keep in mind is that optical fibers are not perfect, and variations between optical fibers can affect splice performance. These variations are referred to as intrinsic factors.
The performance of a fiber splice can also be affected by alignment and optical fiber mating issues that have nothing to do with the optical fiber. The factors that affect the alignment and mating of the optical fibers are referred to as extrinsic factors.
Intrinsic/ Extrinsic Factors(upcoming)
How well a fiber splice performs depends on many variables. These variables can be broken into two groups: intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors.
