Fiber Geometry Measurement

Keywords: Fiber analiser, fiber mode analyser, fiber geometry mesurement

Jul 23, 2019 View: 2521 Data Sheet

Fiber geometry measurement systems are the complete solution for measuring the dimensions of standard and specialty fiber in both production and R&D environments. Fiber glass geometry for fibers up to 400-1000 µm diameter.

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Fiber & Array Geometry Measurement Systems

1.STAR-FGC-GT & STAR-FGC-GS Fiber Glass Geometry Measurement System

The STAR-FGC range is the complete solution for measuring the dimensions of standard and specialty fiber in both production and R&D environments. STAR-FGC-GT – fiber glass geometry for fibers up to 400 µm diameter. STAR-FGC-GS – fiber glass geometry for fibers up to 1000 µm diameter.

The darkfield illumination system allows the software to show a clear live image of the end face of the fiber by illuminating the end face of the fiber and imaging the reflected light. This allows users to inspect the end face of the fiber whilst taking geometry measurements. The darkfield method of fiber geometry measurement is supported by both NPL in the UK and NIST in the USA.

The STAR-FGC comes with an efficient software package containing controls to switch between reflection and transmission mode. This allows users to quickly and easily get both core and cladding geometry measurements including diameter, non-circularity and concentricity. The software contains measurement templates for all standard telecoms fibers, however users can also create their own. This allows the measurement of many special fiber types including dual clad fiber, bend insensitive fiber, multicore fibers and many more.

Features & Benefits

Measures the widest range of fiber sizes and types – single unit solution means less bench space, reduced training
Standards compliant – calibrated to international standards, ensuring confidence in its accuracy
Production ready – reliable, repeatable, operator-independent results in seconds

Specifictions

	STAR-FGS-GT*		STAR-FGC-GS**
Optical
Max field of View	600 µm		1200 µm
Fiber Illumination – Reflection	Darkfield illumination, 850nm LED
Fiber Illumination - Transmission	Mulitple LED array, 850nm
Repeatability	Single mode	Multi mode	Multi mode
Core Diameter	< 0.05 µm	< 0.08 µm	< 0.1 µm
Cladding Diameter	< 0.05 µm	< 0.05 µm	< 0.25 µm
Core Non-circularity	< 1.0%	< 0.5%	< 0.05%
Cladding Non-circularity	< 0.1%	< 0.1%	< 0.1%
Core-to-Cladding Concentracity	< 0.06 µm	< 0.05 µm	< 0.05 µm
Measurement Capability
Measurement Time	< 10 seconds (excluding fiber prep)
Fiber Diameter	Up to 400 µm		Up to 1000 µm
Special Fibers	Dual clad, octagonal, PM, Multicore, PCF, etc.
Physical
Weight	11kg ( with carry case 33kg)
Size	0.5 x 0.5 x 0.2
Operating Temp	0oC to + 50oC
Humidity	5%- 95% relative, non-condensing
Computer Requirements	All FGC systems are supplied with a desktop computer running up-to-date windows operating system
Data Interface	2 x USB3.0 (USB B to USB A: 2m cable supplied)

* Repeatability is measured on the STAR-FGC-GT using a single 125 µm fiber without removing it from the unit, the repeatability specifications are only applicable to OM1, OM2 and singlemode fibers.
** Repeatability is measured on the STAR-FGC-GS using a single 540/600 µm fiber without removing it from the unit

Ordering Information

Part number	Description
STAR-FGC-GT	Fiber Glass Geometry System for measurement of optical fibers with diameters up to 400 µm. Including optical unit, fiber handling bench, cables, software package; desktop computer; pair of Arden holders suitable for 250 µm diameter coated fiber.
STAR-FGS-GS	Fiber Glass Geometry System for measurement of optical fibers with diameters up to 1000 µm. Including optical unit, fiber handling bench, cables, software package; desktop computer; pair of Arden holders suitable for 400 µm diameter coated fiber.
STAR-FG-H-250	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with 250 µm V-groove, suitable for 250 µm diameter coated fiber
STAR-FG-H-400	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with 400 µm V-groove, suitable for 400 µm diameter coated fiber
STAR-FG-H-600	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with 600 µm V-groove, suitable for 600 µm diameter coated fiber
STAR-FG-H-800	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with 800 µm V-groove, suitable for 800 µm diameter coated fiber
STAR-FG-H-1000	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with 1000 µm V-groove, suitable for 1000 µm diameter coated fiber
STAR-FG-H-CUST	Pair of Arden FGC fiber holders with customer defined V-groove diameter
STAR-FGC-GUEW3	FGC-Glass geometry system, extended warranty covering parts and labour for 3 years from purchase, return to base. Cover excludes camera.
STAR-FGC-GUEW5	FGC-Glass geometry system, extended warranty covering parts and labour for 5 years from purchase, return to base. Cover excludes camera.
STAR-FGC-PMI	PM illuminator designed for use with the FGC

2. STAR-FGC-GA Array Geometry Measurement System

The STAR-FGC-GA is the ultimate solution for measurement and process control for V-groove array

production. With one unit, users can measure V-groove block geometry, core-to-core pitch

and core X & Y offset of multifiber arrays up to 15mm in width. With a 1200µm field of view

as well as an automated lateral stage for scanning along the entire width of the array, the

STAR-FGC-GA is the fastest and most flexible way to produce top quality V-groove arrays

Features and Benefits

Measurement of core to core pitch, X-offset, Y-offset and V-groove block geometry.
Lateral adjustment stage and image stitching for measurement over a 15mm array width.
Flexible software can adjust for different fiber types (SM, PM, MM).
1200µm field of view allows simultaneous measurement of up to 4 cores, decreasing overall measurement time.
Custom array holders available depending on customer requirements.

Specifications

Optical	Optical STAR-FGC-GA Repeatability Core X/Y-offsets* < 0.1 µm Core-core Distance* < 0.1 µm Measurement Capability Measurement Time < 1 minute (excluding fiber preparation) for a 3-fiber array Array Width Up to 15mm Fiber Types Singlemode, Multimode, PM Physical Weight 13kg (with carry case 44kg) Size 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.2m Operating Temperature 0 – 50° C Humidity 5% – 95%, relative, non-condensing Data Interface 3 X USB 3.1 (USB B to USB A: 0.5m cable supplied) Computer Requirements All FGC systems are supplied with a desktop computer running up-to-date Windows operating system
Max Field of View	1200µm
Fiber Illumination – Reflection	Multichannel 525nm
Fiber Illumination – Transmission	Darkfield illumination, 525nm LED

3. STAR-FGC-P Fiber Coating Geometry System

The STAR-FGC-P Fiber Coating Geometry System is the fast, reliable solution for measuring the geometry characteristics of optical fiber coatings.

The STAR-FGC-P provides a direct measurement of fiber coating geometry parameters including:

coating diameter,
coating non-circularity, and
coating-cladding concentricity.

It can handle fibers with a coating diameter from 100 µm to 260 µm, being able to measure outer and inner coating layers.

The fast and user friendly nature of the STAR-FGC-P make it well suited to both production and R&D environments, maintaining excellent levels of repeatability and reliability.

The STAR-FGC-P uses a novel liquid cell design that allows it to repeatably measure even very thin fibers, including polarisation maintaining (PM) fibers.

The fiber under test is rotated through 360°, and measured at user-defined intervals, to minimise any measurement uncertainty caused by any asymmetry of the fiber. The ability to measure coatings in up to 36 different radial positions ensures the highest levels of accuracy and reliability for the measurement of diameter, circularity and concentricity.

The STAR-FGC-P Fiber Coating Geometry System is fully standards compliant, and uses the side-view reference test method described in IEC-60793-1-21. The STAR-FGC-P analyses the side-view grey-scale intensity profile to determine the positions of the coating and cladding boundaries using high-speed video and image processing techniques. The fiber under test is rotated through 360°, and measured at user-defined intervals, to minimise any measurement uncertainty caused by any asymmetry of the fiber.

Measurement Capability

Fiber Type	SM, MM, PM
Coating Material	Dual acrylate
Coating Diameter	100 µm to 260 µm
Layer Thickness	> 10 µm
Measurement Time*	< 10 s per angular position
Angular Positions	Customisable, 8 to 36

Repeatability**

Outer Coating Diameter	< 0.5 µm
Outer Coating Non-Circularity	< 0.5%
Inner Coating Diameter	< 0.8 µm
Inner Coating Non-Circularity	< 0.8%
Outer Coating-to-Cladding Concentricity	< 0.5 µm
Inner Coating-to-Cladding Concentricity	< 0.8 µm

Optical

Illumination – Side View	Darkfield, 525 nm
Max Field of View	580 µm
Image Sensor	1.1-inch CMOS, 4112 x 3008 pixels resolution
Exposure Range	0.1 ms to 100 ms exposure time

Physical

Weight	6 kg (with carry case 12 kg )
Size	0.5 x 0.2 x 0.2 m
Operating Temp***	10 – 30° C
Power Supply	15 V (external power supply supplied)
Power Consumption	60 W
Computer Requirements	All FGC systems are supplied with a computer running up-to-date Windows operating system
Data Interface	1 X USB 3.0 (USB B to U SB A: 1 m cable supplied)

*Analysing 100 scan lines and averaging 5 images
**Repeatability is measured using a 125/245 dual acrylate coated MM fiber sample over 12 angular positions without removing from the FGC-P
***Performance specification validated at 22° C

Part number	Description
STAR-FGC-P	STAR-FGC-P Fiber Coating Geometry System for measurement of optical fibers with diameters up to 260 µm. Including optical unit; 3 x STAR-FGC-P-FTA-245 tube assemblies; 3 x STAR-FGC-P-FTA-200 tube assemblies; 3 x STAR-FGC-P-FTA-100 tube assemblies; 3 x STAR-FGC-P-GLA tube packs; 1 x STAR-FGC-P-IL-1.5840 bottle of immersion liquid; 1 x STAR-FGC-P-TM tube storage block; 1 x STAR-FGC-P-CC carrying case; cables; computer pre-installed with system software
STAR-FGC-P-GLA	Glass tubes, pack of 10, replacement for use in STAR-FGC-P-FTA Fiber Tube Assembly
STAR-FGC-P-IL-1.5600	Bottle of Immersion liquid, 10 ml, ( Refractive Index = 1.5600) for refilling STAR-FGC-P tube assembly
STAR-FGC-P-IL-1.5840	Bottle of Immersion liquid, 10 ml, ( Refractive Index = 1.5600) for refilling STAR-FGC-P tube assembly
STAR-FGC-P-IL-1.6000	Bottle of Immersion liquid, 10 ml, ( Refractive Index = 1.6000) for refilling STAR-FGC-P tube assembly
STAR-FGC-P-FTA-245	STAR-FGC-P Fiber Tube Assembly for 245 µm coatings, contains glass tube plus upper and lower fiber guides with 270 µm ferrule fitted
STAR-FGC-P-FTA-200	STAR-FGC-P Fiber Tube Assembly for 200 µm coatings, contains glass tube plus upper and lower fiber guides with 230 µm ferrule fitted
STAR-FGC-P-FTA-100	STAR-FGC-P Fiber Tube Assembly for 100 µm coatings, contains glass tube plus upper and lower fiber guides with 126 µm ferrule fitted
STAR-FGC-P-FTA-CUST	STAR-FGC-P Fiber Tube Assembly for custom fiber coatings, contains glass tube plus upper and lower fiber guides with custom ferrule fitted
STAR-FGC-P-TM	STAR-FGC-P glass tube storage block, for holding 6 tube assemblies
STAR-FGC-P-GUEW3	STAR-FGC-P extended warranty covering parts and labour for 3 years from purchase, return to base. Cover excludes camera
STAR-FGC-P-GUEW5	STAR-FGC-P extended warranty covering parts and labour for 5 years from purchase, return to base. Cover excludes camera
STAR-FGC-P-CC	STAR-FGC-P rigid carrying case