AIR: Ultra fine "airline"
Goal: internal flaw detection in optical fibers
If during the glass drawing process, the glass contains tiny bubbles, these turn into long hollow cylinders, several centimeters or even meters in length.
These flaws can compromise the service-life and performance of the optical fiber. Many optical fiber manufacturers have added an AIR to their conventional measurement equipment to obtain 100% certification of production quality.
Airline detection with or without spinning
With its 3 measuring axes, each spaced by 120°, the AIR is able to cover 100% of the cross-section of the optical fiber measured and to detect airlines and their position in the fiber using the principle of interferometry. High range detection capabilities: down to 0.3µm diameter. This is possible even if there is no spinning of the fiber (rotation on itself) during the drawing process!
AIR features (400 measurements/s):
- Detection of airlines inside the glass (3 axes of detection)
- Minimum diameter airline detection : 0.3μm
- X&Y position sensors with uncertainty of +/- 0.1mm help in aligning on the draw tower
Digital and analog inputs and outputs, RS232 output, fieldbus options, are used to connect the AIR to the tower PLC for measurement analysis.
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.
Our other fiber optic measurement tools
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
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
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.
Our accessory tool for fiber optic measurement
CS-FO
The CS-FO is an accessory specially designed for calibrating and testing our fiber optic measurement equipment.
At the request of our main customers, we have marketed this accessory, which can be used to check the correct behavior of each measuring instrument, and to adjust the nominal diameter or tension (drawing force) for a specific fiber.
Articles related to the measuring device for optical fiber category and AIR product
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