Resource Library
The IEC 61300-3-35 in Section 5.1 defines the 'contact zone' for single fiber connectors as a diameter between 130µm to 250µm for both multi-mode and single-mode fibers. If there are any residues in the contact zone, the residues will transfer and cross-contaminate both connectors when they are mated together or plugged into an optical transceiver. The…
Dust is a real problem with fiber optics. It's granular in nature and resists compression. It often is opaque and completely blocks the optical signal. Getting rid of the dust is a top priority.There are two basic sources of dust-based contamination: 'wear debris' and 'environmental.Wear DebrisThe most common source is wear debris caused by the…
Modern fiber optic networks have unbelievable capacity and capabilities. But these fast networks are fragile, so cleaning is critical to the reliability and performance of any network.For companies that generate revenue from their data, such as Netflix or Amazon, downtime can be amazingly costly. Evolven computes that for certain companies the cost of a single…
This microphotograph compares four different types of contamination In very general terms, the contamination found on termini end-faces will fall into three basic categories: particulates, oils and salts. Each requires specialized methods for proper removal.Particulates are solids usually held on the end-face by electrostatic attraction. Static charges will actually attract dust particles in the same way…
There are many products that can be used to clean fiber end-faces, and they're made by many different companies to many different standards. So let us be blunt: just because they can be used doesn’t mean they should be used.In our experience, the very cheapest swabs are made from 'reticulated foam.' Google it. Foam is…
John Wooden used to ask his players at UCLA, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, when ARE you going to have the time to do it right?” It makes enormous sense, technically and economically, to do a job right the first time. That particularly applies to cleaning fiber optic…