As a core precision device in optical fiber communication engineering, the fiber splicer has become the preferred tool for optical fiber splicing operations with its technical advantages of micron-level alignment and fast splicing. However, the operation precision of a fusion splicer is affected by multiple dimensions such as operation, maintenance and environment. Combined with the official operation manual of TFN’s fiber splicing machine, we sort out 7 core precautions to ensure that the splicing loss of the device is controlled within the standard range of 0.02 dB for SM and 0.01 dB for MM, and extend the service life of the device at the same time. Some precautions for welding machines apply universally. I hope this article proves helpful to you.
1. Optical Fiber Preparation: Strictly Control Cutting Length and End Face Cleaning
Optical fiber pre-processing is the foundation of splicing and directly determines the splicing effect of the TFN fiber splicing machine. During operation, follow the manual requirements to strip 30~40 mm of the coating with a fiber stripper to ensure no residue remains; then clean the optical fiber surface with cotton paper dipped in pure alcohol with a concentration of more than 99% to avoid dust adhesion. A high-precision cleaver must be used in the cutting process to strictly control the cutting length within 8-16 mm, and the bare fiber end face must not touch any objects after cutting to prevent contamination or burrs. If the end face cutting angle exceeds the set limit, the TFN fusion splicer will automatically alarm, and the optical fiber must be re-prepared at this time to avoid excessive splicing loss.
2. Mode Selection: Match Optical Fiber Type and Operation Scenario
The TFN fiber splicer is pre-set with 41 splicing modes and supports various optical fiber types such as SM, MM, DS and NZ/NZDS. Selecting an adaptive mode is the key to ensuring splicing precision. When only splicing SM (ITU-T G.652) optical fibers, priority should be given to the SM MODE, which can achieve 6-second fast splicing; when splicing mixed connections of different types of optical fibers, switch to AUTO MODE. Although the splicing speed is slightly slower, it can automatically adapt to optical fiber parameters. The heating mode must match the specification of the heat shrinkable sleeve. The device is pre-set with five heating modes corresponding to 20/30/40/50/60 mm sleeves. If customizing heating parameters, the temperature and time must be controlled within the reasonable range calibrated in the manual to avoid insufficient shrinkage of the heat shrinkable sleeve.
3. Environmental Adaptation: Stabilize Electrodes and Calibrate Discharge
The adaptive discharge function of the TFN fusion splicer can fine-tune parameters according to temperature and air pressure, but when the environment changes suddenly (such as altitude changes), it is necessary to manually perform 「Electrode Stabilization」 and 「Discharge Calibration」. During operation, put the prepared optical fiber into the device, start the function through the system maintenance menu until the screen displays 「Execution Completed」. Skipping this step will lead to unstable discharge intensity, causing problems such as fiber core axial offset and air bubbles, which directly increase splicing loss. In addition, the device must be kept away from open fire, rain and humid environments, and windproof measures should be taken during operation to avoid the impact of air flow on arc stability.
4. Equipment Operation: Standardize Optical Fiber Placement and Splicing Process
When placing the optical fiber into the TFN fiber splicing machine, the cut surface should extend beyond the V-groove but not exceed the electrode tip. Sliding the optical fiber along the V-groove is prohibited to prevent crushing the bare fiber or causing positioning deviation. After closing the windproof cover, the device will automatically complete discharge cleaning, end face inspection, alignment and splicing, and do not force open the windproof cover during the process. After the splicing is completed, move the heat shrinkable sleeve to the middle of the heating furnace to place the splice point at the center of the sleeve, and then start heating to avoid misalignment between the sleeve and the splice point after heat shrinkage, which affects the protection effect.
5. Daily Maintenance: Regularly Clean Core Components and Calibrate Motors
The V-groove, electrode rod and objective lens are the core vulnerable components of the TFN fusion splicer and require regular cleaning and maintenance. Gently wipe the V-groove and pressure hammer with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and avoid scratching with hard objects; the service life of the electrode rod is 3000 discharge times, and it is recommended to check in advance every 2000 times. If oxide accumulation occurs, it must be replaced in time, and electrode stabilization and discharge calibration must be re-performed after replacement. Conduct 「Dust Inspection」 and 「Motor Calibration」 through the system maintenance menu every month. If the dust inspection prompts 「Execution Failed」, clean the objective lens and re-test. Uncompleted motor calibration will lead to deviation in the optical fiber feed amount, causing fiber separation or over-thickness after splicing.
6. Battery Use: Follow Charging and Discharging Norms to Avoid Malfunctions
The standard battery of the TFN fiber splicing machine can support more than 240 splicing + heating operations at a time, and the manual requirements must be strictly followed during use. Use the original adapter for charging, avoid stacking with the battery, and disconnect the power supply in time after full charge to prevent overcharging and damage to the battery cell; if the device is not used for more than 1 month, the battery must be stored separately from the main unit, and contact with metal objects is prohibited. If the number of operation times of a fully charged battery drops sharply, it needs to be fully discharged and recharged. If the problem still persists, it indicates that the battery life has expired, and the original battery must be replaced. The use of non-standard batteries to cause equipment malfunctions is prohibited.
7. Troubleshooting: Operate According to the Manual to Avoid Secondary Damage
If an error prompt appears on the TFN fiber splicer during use, the corresponding solution in the manual must be followed, and do not disassemble the machine without permission. For example, if Excessively Large End Face Included Angle occurs, re-prepare the optical fiber first; if the problem persists, check whether the cleaver blade is worn and replace it in time; when 「Optical Fiber Positioning Failure」 occurs, reset the device and re-place the optical fiber to ensure that the bare fiber is in the visible area of the camera. If the loss is large after splicing, clean the V-groove and electrode rod first, and then perform discharge calibration, which can solve the problem in most cases. If the device has abnormalities such as smoke and abnormal noise, the battery must be taken out immediately, and the official maintenance personnel should be contacted. Continued use is prohibited.
As a high-precision fusion splicer, the stability of the TFN fiber splicer’s operation effect stems from standardized operation and refined maintenance. The above 7 precautions are all formulated based on the official operation manual of the TFN fiber splicing machine, forming a full-process specification from optical fiber preparation to troubleshooting. Strictly following these points can not only ensure the low loss and high stability of optical fiber splicing, but also effectively extend the service life of the core components of the device, allowing the TFN fiber splicing machine to continuously exert its performance advantages in various harsh engineering environments.
TFN fiber optic fusion splicers boast high quality, excellent cost-effectiveness, a complete set of splicing accessories, and a 3-year warranty. If you are interested in TFN optical fiber fusion splicers or wish to become a TFN optical fiber splicing machines’ distributor, please contact the TFN support team:
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