To travel a long distance without too big signal loss, Lights travel in optical fibers need a non-disruptive and continuous path. But the light signals need to be cross-connected, amplified, dropped or added and much other processing in hundreds of kilometers fiber link. As a standard practice, two fibers are connected to these connections. With fiber splicer and connectors, this connection can be done.
Without using connectors, Splicing is the practice of joining two fibers together. Two types of fiber splices exist mechanical splicing and fusion splicing. During repair or installation, Splicing may be made.
While connectors make the system configuration much more flexible Splices generally have better mechanical integrity and lower loss than connectors. So typically connect connectors terminate fiber cables and fiber cables in outdoor applications, splices are used inside buildings.
Mechanical Splicing
To join two fibers together end to end, mechanical fixtures are used by Mechanical splicing. Either by gluing them together or by clamping them within a structure mechanical splicing joins two fiber ends. fiber stripper is very common.
As compared to multimode fibers, Single-mode fiber requires much tighter tolerances than for splicing. So for single-mode mechanical splices, special equipment is often required. As compared to multimode fiber, this makes single-mode fiber mechanical splicing much more expensive for mechanical splicing.
Generated by an electric arc and fuse two glass fibers, Fusion splicing, and fiber identifier is to use high-temperature heat. The tips of two fibers are heated and butted together so they melt together. With a fusion splicer, this is normally done which mechanically aligns the two fiber ends and then fuses them, applies a spark across the fiber tips.
The mechanical splicing benefits
Mechanical splicing does require higher consumable costs, but it doesn't need costly capital equipment to work. So mechanical splicing is the best choice for organizations that don't make a lot of splicing. For emergency repairs, it is also best suited.
