AFL to Launch a New Generation of Fusion Splicing Fiber Preparation Equipment at SPIE BiOS/Photonics West 2023

Spartanburg, S.C. – January 24, 2023 | AFL, an industry-leading manufacturer in fiber optic cable, fusion splicers and accessories, will debut a new lineup of specialty fiber preparation equipment at SPIE BiOS and Photonics West, January 28-February 2, at The Moscone Center in San Francisco. Visit booth #8029 (BiOS) and #3029 (Photonics West) to see these newly-released recoaters and cleavers along with other products including LAZERMaster® glass shaping and splicing system, Fujikura 90R and 90S+ Fusion Splicers, Fujikura FSM-100P/P+ specialty fiber fusion splicer and PCS-100 Polyimide Coating Stripper. AFL’s Specialty Optical Fiber division will also feature its “Small Form Factor Microbundle” (SFF) at Photonics West.

AFL's LAZERMaster® LZM-125A+ Splicing System

Designed with capability and performance in mind, AFL’s new recoaters and cleavers will enhance fiber preparation and protection for fusion splicing as well as service the complex needs of those utilizing specialty optical fibers. These high-performance tools help improve reliability and reproducibility, resulting in a higher degree of confidence for those who utilize these products.

AFL’s LZM-125A+ LAZERMaster Splicing System is a glass processor and fiber ablation machine that uses a CO2 laser heat source to perform splicing, tapering, lensing ablation and other glass shaping operations with glass diameters from 80 µm up to 2.0 mm. The high-resolution optical analysis system works in conjunction with on-board firmware for fully automatic glass shaping processes. The LZM-125 splicing system also includes a self-contained workstation.

Both shows will host demonstrations of the Fujikura 90R Ribbon Splicer with replaceable V-grooves and the Fujikura 90S+ Core Alignment Splicer with Active Fusion Control (AFC) technology. The Fujikura 90R is the splicing solution to manage increased traffic, higher fiber counts and greater data demand. With automated splice start, tube heater, wind protector, cleave tracking and blade rotations for up to two cleavers at a time, this splicer frees up operator time for other fiber preparation steps. Additionally, user-replaceable V-grooves allow technicians to keep the splicer in the field for a longer period of time. When V-grooves can no longer be cleaned after extended use, or are accidentally damaged, technicians can resume splicing in minutes by installing the spare set included with a 90R.

AFL will also feature the Fujikura FSM-100P/P+ specialty fiber fusion splicer, which includes a new observation method for fiber rotational alignment referred to as the IPA2. This method provides an enhanced alignment technique for shaped and multi-core fibers and keeps the previously existing FSM100P/P+ alignment capabilities.  

Made with superior heat and chemical resistance to conventional UV curable coating material, AFL’s PCS-100 Polyimide Fiber Coating Stripper uses a mechanical stripping method which provides a safe, consistent and quick stripping solution. The blade of this flexible tool is applied to the fiber with specific tension and the coating is precisely planed along the fiber automatically, resulting in an efficient and swift process. Operating this tool is also safer than other methods since this stripper does not use hot acid. Additionally, the fiber quality degradation is kept at a minimum as the glass surface is not damaged by oxidization of the coating during burning or arcing.

The SFF Microbundle has a diameter of 400 µm and contains three distinct stranded bend-insensitive 80 µm single-mode fibers (SMF). The microbundle can easily be stripped to reveal the three fibers inside, allowing the user to triple the amount of data that could be transmitted compared to a single SMF without requiring three times the space. For sensing applications, the three fibers can be used to monitor temperature, strain, and acoustics. The SFF microbundle is like a multi-core fiber, but without splice loss or crosstalk problems. Splicing the 80 µm fibers to other fibers is also simple with the Fujikura 90S+ fusion splicer.

About AFL
Founded in 1984, AFL is an international manufacturer providing end-to-end solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale and industrial markets. The company’s products are in use in over 130 countries and include fiber optic cable and hardware, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectivity, test and inspection equipment, fusion splicers and training. AFL also offers a wide variety of services supporting data center, enterprise, wireless and outside plant applications.
Headquartered in Spartanburg, SC, AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For more information, visit www.AFLglobal.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and read our blog.

Contacts
Michael Hetrick
National Sales Manager - Industrial and Energy, AFL
410-937-8048
Michael.Hetrick@AFLglobal.com    

Bailey Verreault
Public Relations Specialist, AFL
864-433-5554
Bailey.Verreault@AFLglobal.com