A photo to illustrate the category of optical fiber measurement tools.

Fiber optic measurement :
full in-line quality certification

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For many years we have been investing in specific R&D programs in close cooperation with fiber producers to best meet their metrology needs and provide continuous improvement for our line of products. CERSA's long-standing investment in research, and the experience we have acquired in production lines, means that our know-how can best serve our customers. CERSA instruments measure at very high flow-through rates which allows data to be analyzed at ultra-fast drawing speeds such as 3500m/min!

We achieved our initial goal of a “full in-line quality certification” by choosing measurement principles and technologies that offer outstanding metrology performance levels and features at ultra-high frequencies. This provides for true, real-time measurement of optical fibers, true product characterization, and process checking and optimization, even on the highest speed production lines!

Optical fiber measurement :

A demand from large companies

The largest and the most demanding companies choose CERSA instruments to certify their production and monitor their processes.

In 2023, more than 600 high-speed lines worldwide have been drawing fibers with
CERSA-MCI instruments.

Our advanced CIM PC software is a complete quality control tool for the production operators.
It comes with our instruments for their configuration, to clearly display the production measurements and any detected defects, and to generate parameters in real-time.
The full option logs all fiber data, such as measurements and events into databases, and is compatible with any system.

A photo of a fiber optic cable for the fiber optic measurement tools page.
A photo that shows the thickness of an optical fiber under control, with many other parameters.

Fiber thickness

under control, along with many other parameters

By implementing these devices throughout the draw tower, operators can monitor and adjust several parameters of the draw tower and of the fiber essentially in real time.

For bare fibers, cladding diameter measurement, airline detection, tension and spinning profile are some of the most important data to analyze. After the coating application, another instrument helps operators measure final diameter, defects in geometry, such as lump and neckdown and internal defects within the coating (bubbles, delamination, particles, and impurities). All these data are displayed on the screen via the CIM software, then recorded, and analyzed for sorting and classifying the optical fiber.

All these data are transmitted via a classic RS232 serial link, or via field buses such as Profinet, Modbus/TCP or EtherNet/IP. Our solution offers a large choice of communication interfaces for industries that are 4.0 compliant.

Our measuring instruments for fiber optic manufacturers

This is the main image of Cersa MCI's LISG product, a measuring instrument for fiber optic manufacturers.

LISG: Laser Interferometric Sensor for Glass

5 in 1 gauge ! Ultra fast detection.

The LISG is designed for bare optical fiber measurements and for checking for defects during drawing. It uses interferometric fringe patterns produced by a fiber when placed in a laser beam.

Primary features :

- Real-time, high accuracy diameter measurements
- Airline defect detection (bubbles in the preform)
- Cladding non-circularity measurements
- Spinning profile and frequency measurements

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This is the main image of Cersa MCI's AIR product, a measuring instrument for fiber optic manufacturers.

AIR: Ultra fine "airline"

100% glass cross-section coverage

The AIR is designed to detect airline defects (bubbles in the preform stretched during drawing) in optical fibers. It uses the interferometric fringe patterns produced by a fiber when placed in a laser beam.

The measurement principle provides ultra fine airline detection, down to 0.3µm. By using 3 measurement axes, the AIR is the only instrument able to detect 100% of the airlines (with or without spinning) by covering 100% of the cross-section. Measurements are fiber position and vibration independent.

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This is the main image of Cersa MCI's NCTM product, a measuring instrument for fiber optic manufacturers.

NCTM: Non Contact Tension Measurement

Purely optical principle!

The NCTM is designed to measure the drawing force (tension) during optical fiber production. It uses a purely optical principle based on birefringence (light polarization).

Measurement capability from start to finish of the drawing process. Range: 0 - 400 grams, uncertainty: +/- 1 gr

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This is the main image of Cersa MCI's CM5 product, a measuring instrument for fiber optic manufacturers.

CM5: Coating Monitor 5 axes

All-in-one! Diameter and lump & neck detection

The CM5 is designed for coated optical fiber measurements and for checking for defects during drawing.

With its 5 measuring axes that cover 100% of the surface, and its exceptional measuring speed, the CM5 is the perfect instrument for a complete inspection of the coated fiber :

- Measurement of the outer diameter of the coated optical fiber
- Continuous detection of lump and neckdown flaws
- Detection of internal and surface defects and impurities in the cladding
- Detection of flaws, bubbles, delamination within the coated layers
- Measurement of the asymmetry of the glass within coating layers.

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Our software solution
for fiber optic measurement

CIM Software - Instrument manager

Our advanced CIM PROD PC software is a complete, production quality management tool for operators.

It comes with our instruments to provide their parameter settings, to clearly display the production measurements as well as any detected defects, and to generate real-time parameters and record all the measurements and events in a data base.

The PROD Full version has been developed for IN-LINE fiber optics measurements. Adjustment of tolerances, triggering threshold, and spool replacement are specific features for the production environment.

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Our articles concerning
optical fiber measurements

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