Workstation for fiber optic splicer
Workstation for fiber optic splicer
A portable workstation for splicing fiber optics has slots that slip over a side of a bucket of an aerial bucket truck. The slots provide for a secure attachment of the workstation to the bucket. The workstation has hand slots so that the workstation is easily manipulated for attaching or removing the workstation to/from the bucket. Within the workstation is a pocket having a cavity for securely holding a fusion splicer. The workstation has a work area, adjacent to the fusion splicer, for holding splicing tools and other materials used for making a .
In general, a technician that fiber cleaver such channels works in a variety of environments, which range from inside areas with controlled environments to outside areas with extreme weather conditions. The equipment used to provide splices and the physical channel being spliced need an environment suitable for providing a good splice and a safe situation for the technician. Because the demand for bandwidth continues to increase and cost of optical fiber has decreased, a fiber communication channel is considered a great value for providing high bandwidth. Hence technicians are busy with installations of fiber that require splicing of optical fibers. Fusion splicers have been developed for splicing a first fiber optic to a second fiber optic.
Several steps are necessary to splice optical fibers including stripping the coating off the two fibers to be spliced together and then cleaning the fibers. Next, each fiber is cleaved so that its endface is substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Then the two endfaces of the fibers are aligned. After the fibers are aligned, the two fibers are fused together. Finally, the bare fiber area is protected either by recoating or installing a splice protector. In addition, it is often desirable to perform a proof-test to ensure that the splice is strong enough to survive handling, packaging and extended use.
Alternatives to fusion splicing include using optical fiber connectors or mechanical splices. Such alternative splicing techniques generally produce a splice having higher insertion losses, lower reliability and higher return losses than the splice provided by a fusion splicer.
Fusion splicing machines or fusion splicers for fiber optic splicer cables are relatively expensive, and historically fiber splices were performed in stable, controlled environments such as insplicing trailers, portable splicing labs, or in cable vaults.
A portable workstation for splicing fiber optics has slots that slip over a side of a bucket of an aerial bucket truck. The slots provide for a secure attachment of the workstation to the bucket. The workstation has hand slots so that the workstation is easily manipulated for attaching or removing the workstation to/from the bucket. Within the workstation is a pocket having a cavity for securely holding a fusion splicer. The workstation has a work area, adjacent to the fusion splicer, for holding splicing tools and other materials used for making a .
In general, a technician that fiber cleaver such channels works in a variety of environments, which range from inside areas with controlled environments to outside areas with extreme weather conditions. The equipment used to provide splices and the physical channel being spliced need an environment suitable for providing a good splice and a safe situation for the technician. Because the demand for bandwidth continues to increase and cost of optical fiber has decreased, a fiber communication channel is considered a great value for providing high bandwidth. Hence technicians are busy with installations of fiber that require splicing of optical fibers. Fusion splicers have been developed for splicing a first fiber optic to a second fiber optic.
Several steps are necessary to splice optical fibers including stripping the coating off the two fibers to be spliced together and then cleaning the fibers. Next, each fiber is cleaved so that its endface is substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Then the two endfaces of the fibers are aligned. After the fibers are aligned, the two fibers are fused together. Finally, the bare fiber area is protected either by recoating or installing a splice protector. In addition, it is often desirable to perform a proof-test to ensure that the splice is strong enough to survive handling, packaging and extended use.
Alternatives to fusion splicing include using optical fiber connectors or mechanical splices. Such alternative splicing techniques generally produce a splice having higher insertion losses, lower reliability and higher return losses than the splice provided by a fusion splicer.
Fusion splicing machines or fusion splicers for fiber optic splicer cables are relatively expensive, and historically fiber splices were performed in stable, controlled environments such as insplicing trailers, portable splicing labs, or in cable vaults.