JAY TOURIGNY 5G SPLICING
that ships non-hazardous and non-regulated. This saves on shipping costs. In some instances, these cleaning fluids also come in travel-sized containers. So, technicians still meet the TSA 3 oz. or less rule if they take it with them in their carry-on bag when flying to work sites. ONE WIPE PER SPLICE Wipes are an essential tool for successful splice cleaning. For the best results, opt for an optical-grade fabric wipe engineered for cleaning fibre. Fabric wipes are highly absorbent to effectively wick the contamination away from the splice while not generating lint. Use just one wipe per splice. It is commendable that technicians want to
the network. Wiping a fibre splice with a dry wipe generates a significant static charge which in turn attracts dust that is extremely difficult to remove due to static cling. Wet/dry cleaning with the right cleaning fluid increases both the surface cleaning performance and the humidity on fibre to dissipate the surface static. During the wet/dry cleaning process, technicians fold a lint-free wipe in half and then moisten the wipe with a fibre optic cleaning fluid. Then they wipe the splice in one motion, starting at the damp area, towards the dry area of the cleaning wipe. This removes any contamination and minimises any static charge. WHAT’S BETTER THAN IPA? Many technicians use IPA (isopropyl alcohol) as their preferred cleaning fluid. However, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, IPA can be difficult to find. And some of the alcohol entering the market may not be the best quality or highest purity. Some of it may contain high levels of particulate which actually contributes to fibre splice contamination instead of removing it. Fortunately, there are better options to IPA for fibre sidewall cleaning prior to splicing. Many of the fluids clean just as well, if not better than alcohol without leaving a residue. Plus, they evaporate faster than IPA, so they save on cleaning time.
Containers are easy to transport in a carry-on bag
COMPLETE THE SPLICE The fibres are joined together by placing the fixtures with the clean, cleaved fibres into the fusion splicer’s “V” groove fixtures. This aligns the two opposing ends of the fibres. Then the splicer uses an electric arc across the opposing fibre ends to precisely melt and permanently join the ends. FIND A 5G NETWORK CLEANING PARTNER Robust, reliable fibre optic networks are the key to the 5G interconnected future. But one of the biggest threats to fibre signals today is contamination. Dirty fibre splices can cause network problems including mechanically weak connections and optically defective signals. Therefore, properly cleaning fibre during fusion splicing is essential to keeping networks operating reliably. By using fibre splice cleaning processes, fibre optic technicians help ensure 5G networks meet the expanding speed and data demands that users require. When choosing fibre optic cleaning fluids, tools and methods, 5G network technicians should seek the help of an experienced supplier that specialises in fibre splice cleaning to advise them on which cleaning fluids, tools and methods work best for their 5G fibre networks. Jay Tourigny is Senior Vice President at MicroCare, LLC which offers Sticklers brand fibre cleaning solutions. He has been in the industry more than 30 years and holds a BS from The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
save their company money by reusing wipes to control costs or to protect the environment. However, by reusing wipes, they risk cross-contaminating the network. Used wipes often redeposit particulate or oils back onto the splice. This results in more time on the job or a costly call back.
LISTEN FOR THE SQUEAK After wetting the wipe, fold the moistened wipe around the fibre strands and gently pinch and pull the fibres through the folded wipe 1-2 times or until the fibres “squeak” indicating they are clean. The cleaning fluid completely evaporates from the fibres in seconds leaving them clean and dry.
Fusion Splicing Wipe: Listen for the squeak!
CLEAVE THE FIBRES If splicing ribbon fibre, gently flair the fibre strands with an index finger to ensure they are dry and don’t cross. Using a precision fibre cleaver and appropriate fixtures, cleave the fibres so the ends are perpendicular and smooth across the axis. The cleaved ends should be kept in the fixtures. Use care to keep the ends clean up to the point of splicing and be certain to properly dispose of fibre shards. CLEAN ONCE Do not clean again after cleaving. There is nothing cleaner than the end-face of a newly-cleaved fibre. If the technician cleans again, the fibre ends become re- contaminated. This creates extra work for the fusion splicer in the pre-burn phase and may shorten the lifespan of the unit’s electrodes. Contamination also degrades the mechanical strength of the splice in the form of imperfect non-linear splices This ultimately causes excess signal losses.
LIMIT THE FLUID When wetting the cleaning wipe with cleaning fluid, do not oversaturate the wipe. Putting too much cleaning fluid on the fibre increases the chance that the fibre ends are re-contaminated as the fluid absorbs dust, exhaust fumes and other impurities from the air. Choose a cleaning fluid in a package that delivers the cleaning fluid in metered doses. This controls the amount of cleaning fluid on the fibre and ensures the surfaces are dry after cleaning. It also limits technician exposure and cleaning fluid waste. SAFER CLEANING FLUID PACKAGING For safety out in the field, choose a non- flammable cleaning fluid. Also, use a fluid in a hermetically-sealed container. A sealed container ensures the cleaning fluid is never contaminated. It also won’t spill if it tips over in a tool kit or while in use. If pre-delivering fluids and tools to job sites, choose a fibre cleaning fluid
Tourigny holds numerous U.S. patents for cleaning- related products that are used on a daily basis in fibre optic, medical and precision cleaning applications. For more information, visit www.microcare.com
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ISSUE 22 | Q4 2020
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