Every fiber technician has heard the terms “on-site polishing” and “factory polishing”, but what is the difference between them? Why is the choice of polishing method so important for your application? When you compare on-site termination There are many factors when cables and factories are terminated with plug-and-play solutions.
The terminal is just a peculiar way to say that you connect a connector to a certain fiber; it can be a single-mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber. The fiber pattern can only serve as a deterrent
Mine what kind of connector do you need, but not the kind of termination you have to do. When choosing a method for an application, each method has advantages and disadvantages to consider. There are many factors that will affect the reason why you choose a certain termination method. If you are using MTP or MPO connectors, it is wisest to choose factory terminals, because these connectors are very complex and do require a certain amount of expertise. If you use more common connector styles in your projects, such as LC, SC, ST, or FC, then you can use the field terminal method instead of outsourcing the factory terminal to a cable assembly plant.
Options for factory termination:
- Custom manufactured cable assemblies or stock patch cables
- Fiber pigtail
- Connect the connector
- Factory termination of pregnancy
- Custom manufactured cable assemblies and stock patch cables
The factory terminal usually uses traditional epoxy and polished assembly methods. The cable assembly must be ordered in the length required to complete the fiber operation. Factory polishing assemblies usually have the best performance, and they have stricter quality standards than field terminals, making them the best solution for applications requiring low loss and high performance. Most assembly parts that are terminated by the factory carry the manufacturer’s test results, so you know that you get the best quality and superior performance from the assembly parts you buy.
The patch cable customized by the cable assembly company can be customized according to any special requirements of your application. This makes them become customers who need special performance standards, special fibers, or customized color jackets in their patch line. These solutions generally reduce the time required to install them, because when they arrive, they are ready to be plugged in and start working immediately. The technician does not need to do any operation on the patch cable, just remove the sheath cap and clean the connector end face. Very little technical knowledge is required; technicians only need to insert the components into the correct ports and patch panels on the equipment.
One possible disadvantage of factory polishing is that they do take time to manufacture, and delivery times can be very long, depending on the manufacturer. In addition, the cost of patch cables is usually higher because custom labor requires a separate assembly order. When making a decision, you should also consider the network interruption time. If you are in a situation that requires a quick response, such as a broken connector, and need immediate attention to bring the network back online, then you may not have time to wait for a customized assembly.
1. Fiber pigtail
The braid that will be spliced to the existing fiber is also a factory polished connector, but it is only terminated on one side of the fiber, leaving the other side exposed to the splice. For technicians with fiber splicing experience and a fusion splicer, braids are a good and economical choice. Horsetails usually have a fixed length and are “off-the-shelf” among the most widely used connector styles. This does add some extra working time because of the splicing and labor involved in this process, but not as much time as it takes to install epoxy and polish connectors.
2. Spliced in the connector
Splicing on the connector is also a factory polished option. By using a fusion splicer and some consumable parts, it can be applied in the field. They come in a variety of styles, including single-mode and multi-mode fiber types. SOC is quick and convenient to install on-site, and the price of each connector is very reasonable. They do require a fusion splicer and some additional tools to terminate, as well as some knowledge about the termination of the SOC (splicing on the connector) process. They are single-use connectors. Once they are terminated, they can no longer be used.
Options for field termination:
- Fiber pigtail
- Connect the connector
- Mechanical connector
We have discussed braids and splices on the connectors above. These factory-polished options are the most common optical fiber attached to the field, so they also belong to the field terminal category.
3. Field terminal
Field wiring can also use mechanical connectors. In this case, the optical fiber is cut to a specific length, and the field optical fiber is paired with the fiber short section inside the factory polished mechanical connector through the index matching gel. These connectors are fast and reliable field terminals. They are available in multiple configurations and are suitable for multi-mode and single-mode applications.
Depending on the connector manufacturer, special tools are sometimes required to terminate the mechanical connector, and these tools can be somewhat expensive. But once purchased, they have a long lifespan, and only consumables need to be replaced.
Mechanical connectors are very easy to terminate, and technicians on-site can quickly learn the process, but they also have disadvantages. These connectors have higher reflectivity and loss than their SOC or braid counterparts. Therefore, if your job requires optimal performance, these connectors may not be the best solution.
There is currently no MTP/MPO mechanical connector on the market. The most likely reason is that the MTP/MPO connector has three recognized industry-standard polarities. They are called Type A, Type B, and Type C. Type A is also called straight-through type. In this polarity, fiber 1 is in position 1 of the two MTP/MPO connectors in the cable assembly. The second polarity, type B, is called reverse. This means that optical fiber 1 is in the first position of one connector and the 12th position of the second connector. The last type of polar C that is generally accepted is called a flipped pair. In this configuration, optical fiber 1 is mounted on connector 1 while connector 2 is mounted on connector 2. The optical fiber 3 is in the third position of the first connector, in the fourth position of the second connector, and so on.
Whether you choose a field or a factory termination solution, each option has advantages and disadvantages, as described above. Hope some of the information here can help you choose the solution that best suits your application.
