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Posted on March 7, 2022 by FC — Leave a comment

How to Terminate Fiber Optic Cable Fast and Easily

Fiber optic termination is a necessary step for installing a fiber optic network. It is a physical
connection of a fiber optic cable to create a seamless connection between similar or dissimilar
devices. And any mistakes that occur in the termination will cause the system to break down or
malfunction and raise some problems like return loss or insertion loss. To minimize such losses, the
fibers must be aligned and connected as accurately as possible. There are generally two ways how
we terminate fiber optic cables: connector or splicing.

Termination by Connectors
Terminating fiber cables by using connectors is a temporary way of termination. Connectors are
normally used to make a temporary joint between two fibers or connect the fiber to a piece of network
equipment. A fiber connector is composed of four key components: ferrule, connector body and
coupling device. The ferrule is a mechanical fixture that is used to align and polish optical fibers,
normally made of hardened materials such as ceramic, metal or plastic. The connector body supports
the ferrule and sheaths the fibers. The coupling device provides a connection between the connector
body and the optical device.

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Most fiber connectors are the plug-and-play type to allow average users to terminate the fiber cables
Fiberby
Optic Cables  Industrial
themselves. Numerous Automation 
types of connectors have been developed, such as ST, SC and LC, to offer
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 termination at a rather lower cost.

• ST connector: The Straight Tip (ST) connector utilizes a bayonet-style socket and has a long
cylindrical ferrule to hold the fiber. It is the most popular fiber connector in multi-mode networks. It’s
spring-loaded, which means it can be easily inserted and removed.

• SC connector: The subscriber connector, SC connector, is a snap-in connector that latches with a
simple push-pull motion. It normally comes with a square plastic housing. It’s mainly designed for the
single-mode and duplex networks, often utilized in optical network applications, such as cable TV,
media converters and FTTX.

• LC connector: The Lucent Connector is a standard ceramic ferrule connector that can be easily
terminated with any adhesive, nearly half the size of the SC connector (smaller ferrule-1.25mm). The
LC connector is mainly used for single-mode systems and high-density network applications, like data
centers, local networks, FTTH, CATV, etc.

• MU connector: The MU connector is a miniature SC connector with a square shape and push-pull
mating mechanism, ideal for both single-mode and multi-mode fibers. It is also applicable to high-
density applications like data centers, telecommunications, etc.

How to Terminate Fibers with Connectors

In this section, we’ll walk through all the steps to terminate a fiber cable with a connector in less than
5 minutes. You’ll need to prepare: a cleaver, a striper, a cable clamp, a gauge, Kevlar scissors, cleaning
supplies and the connector. Now, follow the procedures below to terminate fibers on your own.

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Connect SC Fiber Optical Cable- Fast and Easy for Beginners!
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1.First, cut and clean the fiber optic cable before you start. Use the clamp to fix the cable, assemble
the connector housing, put the boot on the cable before you start stripping it.

2.Measure the jacket strip length with the gauge, use the stripper to strip off the jacket and cut off the
Kevlar fibers with the scissors. Measure the buffer strip length and strip the buffer off at about 1-
centimeter segments (1 centimeter at a time) to keep the fiber from bending or breaking. Then use
the stripper to slightly clean off the cladding.

3.Insert the fiber strand into the trapdoor of the cleaver, fix it with the clamp and start the cleaver.
After a precision cleave, you need to decontaminate the dust, grease or the leftovers of the cladding
from the fiber. Use the cleaning supplies (alcohol) to draw the contaminants from the fiber and repeat
this step several times until it’s clean.

4.Insert the fiber into the pre-assembled fiber connector until you feel the pressure to make sure it’s
connected. Then slightly slide the boot up and tighten the connector. Lastly, remove the cable clamp
and you got a finished fiber connector.

Field Termination vs Factory Termination

Connector termination can also be divided into field termination and factory/pre-termination. The field
termination is also called on-site termination, in which connectors are added in the field with
specialized tools. You can customize the cable length with very little planning time required, but a
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professional 
hand might be needed for precise termination. is a more
However, factory termination

 cost-effective
IP Surveillance and reliable
 Ethernet  solution to make a quick and precise connection between two fibers. In the
factory termination, the fiber optic cable is 100% factory-terminated, tested with a plug-and-play
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deployment before shipment.
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What is a Pre-terminated Fiber Cable?

The per-terminated fiber cable arrives on-site with the connector attached and ready to install. It’s
normally made at a pre-determined length, and it’s undeniable of higher quality than its counterpart.
The pre-terminate cable helps eliminate rework, transmission testing, etc. And it comes in a plug-and-
play design, which can be easily connected and disconnected, cutting off the deployment time by at
least 70%. It is manufacured and assembled in a well-controlled environment to ensure the best
possible network performance, and signal loss can be highly restrained with thorough inspections.
The pre-terminated cable can be used in mission-critical applications that demand the highest level of
accuracy, like video surveillance systems .

How Can You Benefit From a Pre terminated Fiber Optic Cable

Termination by Splicing
Splicing is a process to align two fiber strands to the same centerline to create a permanent
connection, and it’s only needed when the cable runs are too long for one pull, especially in infield
installations. Fiber optic splicing is the most effective way to restore the fiber cable when it’s broken
or severed. Splicing requires special tools and the quality largely depends on skill, experience, and
components. There are mainly two methods of splicing: fusion splicing and mechanical splicing.
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In mechanical splicing, the fiber optic strands are aligned and fastened with the snap-type covers. It
Fiberuses
Optic a
Cables  Industrial
mechanical spliceAutomation 
device to join the two fibers together, but the fibers are not permanently
Info connected,
 just precisely held together to form a centreline via which the light can pass through.
There are a number of types of mechanical splices, like glass tubes or V-shaped metal clamps. The
mechanical splicing is less costly and it doesn’t require a special tool. It’s usually used for restoration,
also available for single-mode and multi-mode fibers, but it’s not as robust as the fusion splicing.

Follow the procedures below for mechanical splicing:

Mechanical splicing is easy to do if you have the tools: a stripper, a cleaver, a mechanical splice and
cleaning supplies. Strip the jacket, cladding and other protective layers of the fiber optic cable until
you can see the bare fiber. Cleave the fiber to get a clean break and clean it with alcohol to wipe off
the finger grease, dust and other contaminants. Insert the cleaved ends of the fibers into the
mechanical splice and the index matching gel inside the splice will connect the fibers together.

Fusion Splicing
In fusion splicing, you’ll need a special fusion splicer to fuse the two fiber ends with an electric arc.
The connection is more permanent than the mechanical one, and it can produce a non-productive
connection, which highly reduces reflection and insertion loss. It is usually used for outdoor, long-haul
and high-performance single-mode networks. Additionally, fusion splicing can handle various cable
types. But the fusion splicing is more expensive than mechanical splicing. A good fusion splicer will
cost you $15,000 to $40,000. And it cannot be done in an explosive atmosphere.

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Follow the procedures below for mechanical splicing:

To complete a fusion splice, you will need a fusion splicer, a stripper, a cleaver, heat-shrink protective
sleeves and cleaning supplies. First, before you do anything, put the heat-shrink sleeve on both fiber
ends to protect the fibers from excessive bending after termination. Use the stripper to remove the
coating, clean the fiber with alcohol wipes and use the cleaver to cut off the fiber to achieve a proper
splice. Then make sure your fusion splicer is powered up and warmed up before fusing. Align the
ends of the fibers within the splicer, and once both fibers are clamped in place, the machine will
automatically move the fibers in towards each other. The fibers will be fused by the electric arc and
the two fibers are permanently welded.

Manage Fibers with a Fiber Termination Box

Fiber termination box is a distribution box designed for fiber cable management (fiber patch
cables/pigtails) to handle large quantities of cables in an orderly manner. The termination box
integrates the termination, splicing, storage and management of fiber cables all in one unit, saving
time and cost. It provides a protective connection for fiber cables and pigtails, and it has sufficient
impact strength, easy to install in different scenarios. There are different types of fiber termination
boxes: outdoor and indoor, wall-mounted and rack-mounted, etc.

Fiber termination is an important step in the installation of fiber optic networks. Whether you choose
to terminate the fibers with connectors or splicing, make sure you make a precise connection. For
more information, please continue to read Tips on Quick Fiber Termination.

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