New technology in arc fusion splicing systems

IC Logistix (ICL) is an importer and distributor of specialised technology and equipment. It was founded in 2011, when an opportunity opened up to attain the distribution rights for Fujikura, a Japanese group with a popular range of equipment for the fibre-optic telecommunications market. ICL is presently the sole distributor for Fujikura, AFL (American Fujikura) and Optimize Softing, Southern Africa, and it has distributorship for Ripley Tools and AFL Hyperscale. Fujikura also resells several high-end products including PLUMETTAZ.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created a broad market for fibre connectivity in South Africa,” says CEO Zach Yacumakis. The main reason for this demand is the need for virtual connectivity. People are working from home and they need a stable internet link. Speed, stability and uptime is what is required. The key for success is speedy service delivery should downtime occur as well as quick fibre installations for new clients. Inefficient initial installation, fault-finding and redos afterwards steal time and cause delays.

In lieu of this dynamic, the Japanese forerunners in technology, Fujikura has recently launched the new Fujikura 90S+ single fibre core alignment fusion splicer and the new Fujikura-41S+ active cladding alignment fusion splicer with one purpose in mind; to reduce downtime through efficient output. This leads to improved productivity and reduces delays for the contractor on finishing his installation as well as pleasing the end customer with good service.

Factors that play a key role in improved productivity include using proper equipment and aftersales service when equipment breaks down.

These days, many manufactures offer (unscrupulous) deals on ‘specialised’ equipment featuring the same type of specifications as the top manufacturers. These deals are supported with colourful specification sheets claiming true core alignment, fast splicing and robustness for a fraction of the cost of the real deal. Some ruthless distributors offer equipment without any aftersales service. The fact is that cheap is most often nasty. No aftersales means that the units are not serviced or calibrated. This leads to improper splicing and false OTDR test results.

Some splicing machines claim to have core alignment, but don't in fact have true core alignment. These types of machines cause high losses over splices and contractors then have to go out, do extensive fault-finding and redo the job using proper equipment. Some OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer, used in fault-finding) manufacturers claim the same specifications as the top-end OTDRs. This is just not possible considering the cost. The sad part is that many fall for this and then they are sadly disappointed later.

The vision of ICL has always been to supply top brands via the correct channels so that the purchaser will enjoy the full manufacturer’s warranty as well as offering their clients local, fast and excellent aftersales service. ICL offers in-house service, calibration and repairs at its lab in Ferndale, South Africa. The lab is fully accredited by the manufacturer for the Fujikura, AFL and Softing brands and the ICL technical staff are factory trained abroad and specialise in their respective fields. The lab carries a vast amount of spare parts for all models and even serious repairs are usually completed within a maximum three-day turnaround time.

The new core alignment 90S+ and active cladding alignment 41S+ fusion splicers are true marvels of modern technology development. Fujikura did its homework as usual and investigated in its massive world market regarding what causes the most delays when splicing. The company found the answer to be bad cleaves and bad splices, which results in redos.

The fibre strand is precision ‘cut’ in order to splice properly. Keep in mind that the fibre is 250 microns in diameter, roughly the same as a human hair. The equipment doing this precision cut is called a fibre cleaver and is designed and built to be very accurate and is very specialised. It uses a cleaver blade to score the fibre and then breaks it at that point with an anvil. Bad cleaves are an irritation and cause delays in the field when the technician is splicing as his team has to re-prepare the fibre ends constantly until it is within the specification conducive to successful splicing. The cleave angle should typically be close to 90 degrees with a maximum variance of one degree.

The most common cause of bad cleaves are dirt on the blade and also a worn blade. A Fujikura cleaver blade has 16 positions as well as three height adjustments. A Fujikura cleaver blade can do roughly 1 400 cleaves per position, per height adjustment; this means 64 000 cleaves per blade if the unit is looked after. The issue here is that when the blade is worn, the technician often doesn’t know how to adjust it or he doesn’t know when to adjust it.

Splicing is the action of fusing the two fibres together using an 8 000 Volt DC arc across a set of electrodes. This done via an arc fusion fibre splicing machine. The arc is controlled by a complicated (and secret) algorithm. Alignment has to be absolutely precise. Cheap equipment, bad cleaves, non-calibrated equipment and dirt are some of the causes of bad splices. Bad splices are often only detected once the project is complete and testing has started. The technician then has to go out to site again to redo the splice. The testing team then has to come out again and check. This time-wasting effort continues over all the splices, which could be several hundreds, until all the splices ‘pass’ and a sign-off is accomplished. Typical splice loss over a splice should not exceed 0.03db (measured with an OTDR).

Both the core alignment 90S+ and active cladding alignment 41S+ fusion splicers feature these excellent improvements and features.

1. Fujikura's brand is the world leader in fusion splicing since the inception of splicing in 1975.
2. Fujikura’s Smart Management Technology.
3. Automated field diagnostics built in.
4. Training videos built in.
5. Absolute robustness – wind, dust and water resistant.
6. Core Sense measurement of loss across the completed splice system.
7. Award winner for innovative technology and design.

As mentioned, Fujikura developed arc fusion splicing and has been the world leader ever since.

Fujikura’s Smart Management Technology includes ‘Active Blade Management Technology’ (ABMT) and ‘Active Fusion Control Technology’ (AFCT). ABMT utilises Bluetooth communication with the CT50 cleaver to manage intelligent cleaver blade rotation when the blade is worn. AFCT features ‘True Core Alignment’ via ‘Advanced Image Processing Technology’ (AIPT), which is a type of AI technology to enhance splice quality under all conditions. This feature is also used on the 41S+ with cladding alignment. The combination of both technologies provides stable low loss splicing.

The technician can do diagnostics via the on-board auto diagnostics program on the unit if an issue arises, using the on-board videos for assistance. The unique Core Sense system gives a very accurate reading of the loss when splicing is done and a technician can immediately redo the splice if need be. This dramatically reduces delays in completing jobs.

Fujikura splice kits feature user-friendly operation, ultimate robustness, Smart Management Technology, new concept electrodes, universal tube heater, carry case, removable work tray, easy maintenance and fully automated four-step splicing with dual heater oven-element on the 90S.

For more information regarding our excellent products, please contact us at (+27) 11 521 2370/05 or e-mail us at iclsales@icl.co.za. web: www.icl.co.za.