With the manufacturing of fiber optic cable assemblies, the most important point to consider is how to adequately prepare the cable before termination. Doing this correctly will make the rest of the assembly far easier for you in the long run, so it’s well worth your while taking care throughout this process.
It can become quite complicated, especially if you’re new to the industry and have little experience with such endeavors, so we have created a step-by-step guide for this process.
Receiving your cable
When receiving your cable from the warehouse, it’s usually already coiled to the length the customer has ordered, so that should save you some time.
Typically, it’ll come in a 3mm, 2mm, or 1.6mm size, either in a simplex or duplex design.
The first step to preparing it for termination
The first step to preparing this for termination is now what many people would think.
Ask the professional cable assembly manufacturers what the first thing to do is, and they’ll tell you it’s to load on the boot and the crimp sleeve. Doing this first, before anything else, makes it easier to complete the manufacturing of the cable after termination.
Ensuring you have the correct strip length
Instructions regarding the strip length will normally reveal how long to leave the jacket, the Kevlar, and fiber.
A true professional would strip the cable by leaving two marks on it. The first mark will show you where to strip the outer jacket. The second mark designates the length of the fiber, so you’re left with a specific length of fiber and Kevlar.
The second mark will show you where to load the components in order to ready the cable for termination.
Why is the strip length so important?
The strip length is important because we want to make sure the Kevlar is long enough to cover the whole cable, so that the components will eventually fit on. Next, remove the buffer which should also be marked according to the manufacturer’s template.
Remove that in small sections. If you try to remove it too quickly in big sections, you’ll tend to remove the fiber. Now all of your components will be at the necessary length.
Cleaning residue
The final step for preparing the cable before termination is to clean the fiber of any residue that has built up, using a moistened wipe. Now it is in the best possible condition for termination.
Although different professionals may have different techniques for preparing cables, following these steps is likely to leave you in a position where your cable is primed in fantastic condition.
For more professional advice on fiber-optic cable assembly manufacturing and to shop a professional range of components, check out the Star Engineering website.
Tags: Cable Assemblies, Cable Assembly, Cable Assembly Manufacturers
