Assembling Optical Fibers in Mechanical Splicing Mode

Procedure

1. Assemble an optical fiber.
   1. Use a flat drop cable stripper to remove the unwanted fiber jacket. Note that using fiber stripper pliers may damage the optical fiber and is therefore not recommended.

      The bare fiber must be at least 50 mm long, without any damages.

      Replace the flat drop cable stripper if it is not sharp enough to cut off the steel wire or damages the optical fiber.

      Ensure that the cut surfaces are neat and even, the optical fiber is not damaged, and the steel wire in the jacket is not bent.

   2. Bend the bare fiber to an angle greater than 60º in the upward and downward directions, three times in each direction.

      If the optical fiber is broken during the bending, start from the very beginning to assemble the optical fiber.

2. Clamp the optical fiber.
   1. Open the fiber clamp and insert the optical fiber.

      Vertically place the optical fiber inside the fiber clamp, with the narrow side facing the notch.

      Ensure that there is no gap between the fiber clamp and the cut surfaces. (See the red dotted line.)

   2. Close the fiber clamp and press it tight.

3. Strip the optical fiber.
   1. Place the assembly inside the fiber holder and close the buckles.

   2. Place the fiber holder (with the assembly) inside the fiber coating stripper.

      Ensure that there is no gap between the fiber holder and the fiber coating stripper. (See the red dotted line.)

   3. Press the fiber coating stripper and pull out the fiber holder at an even speed to remove the fiber coating.

      Be sure not to tilt the fiber holder when pulling it out. Otherwise, the optical fiber will break.

4. Cut the optical fiber.
   1. Bend the bare fiber to an angle greater than 60º in the upward and downward directions, three times in each direction.

      If the optical fiber is broken during the bending, start from the very beginning to assemble the optical fiber.

   2. Clean the bare fiber using fiber cleaning papers with absolute alcohol.

      Do not break the optical fiber during the cleaning.

   3. Place the fiber holder on the fiber cleaver, ensuring there is no gap between them.

      If the cutting is not completed at a time, start from the very beginning to assemble the optical fiber.

      If the cutter blade is worn out, replace it immediately.

   4. Cut the optical fiber.

   5. Take out the assembly from the fiber holder.

   6. Use the fiber holder to check the fiber length. If the lengths of the bare fiber without coating and the bare fiber with coating exceed the scale on the fiber holder, start from the very beginning to assemble the optical fiber.

5. Assemble the optical fiber.
   1. Press the wedge unit and ensure that the wedge unit is firmly seated on the LC connector. Press the wedge unit first at part 1 and then at part 2. Then follow directions indicated by numbers 1 and 2 on the wedge unit.

   2. Insert the optical fiber until the fiber clamp is entirely within the LC connector (you will hear a click).

      Do not squeeze the wedge unit during the assembly.

   3. Inspect the bare wire on the LC connector. The bare fiber should be slightly bent and should not protrude from the LC connector.

6. Remove the protection cover of the wedge unit, and release the wedge unit by squeezing it.

   Do not overly bend the optical fiber near the LC connector.

7. (Optional) Disassemble the optical fiber.

   If the optical fiber fails the performance test, disassemble and re-assemble it.

   1. Seat the wedge unit on the LC connector.

   2. Press the wedge unit first at part 1 and then at part 2 until you hear a click.

   3. Place the fiber clamp release tool at the hole on the connector and slide it to withdraw the fiber clamp.

   4. Pull out the optical fiber.

      If the length of the bare fiber without coating is less than 10 mm, it can be determined that the fiber is broken inside the connector. In this case, the connector can no longer be used.