By STEPHEN HARDY, Lightwave -- Fujikura Europe has brought the 90R mass fusion splicer range to the European market. Use of the splicers can significantly reduce overall work time, improve network performance, increase capacity, and reduce network congestion, the company states.
The members of the 90R series significantly shorten overall work time compared with the company’s earlier 70R+ models, according to Fujikura Europe. The new line comprises three members:
1. The 90R4 will splice up to four-fiber ribbon cables simultaneously
2. The 90R12 will splice simultaneously ribbon cables with up to 12 fiber
3. The 90R16 will splice up to 16-fiber ribbon cables simultaneously
The line features a new V-groove assembly that is designed to be quickly and easily fitted in the field. Members of the 90R family also can splice both 250-µm and 200-µm pitch fibers as well as single fibers, standard encapsulated ribbons, and Spider Web Ribbon types.
Other enhancements include improved reaction time of the automated wind protectors and automated heater. The 5-inch LCD touch screen, which enables engineers to make use of Fujikura’s Active Blade Management Technology, can now connect to two CT50 cleavers simultaneously.
“In mass fusion splicing, it is a longstanding issue that glass particles which have evaporated and subsequently cooled as part of the fusion splicing process can stick to both the discharge electrode and V-groove area. This in turn can lead to fiber offsets and high losses if they are not regularly cleaned, adding to the overall process time,” commented Neil Bessant, Fujikura Europe’s fusion splicer divisional manager.
He added, “It can prove challenging to remove the glass particles that accumulate within the V-groove area, which often makes it necessary to return the assembly to a repair center for removal of these glass particles. The 90R series solves this longstanding issue with a first of its kind, user-replaceable V-groove assembly which incorporates electrodes to make this issue a thing of the past. This is supplied as standard with the 90R range," Bessant concluded.
STEPHEN HARDY is Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of CI&M's sister publication, Lightwave.