GPX3800 and GPX3850 Glass Processors
Chapter 5: Operation
Rev B, July 24, 2018
Page 27
5.4. Storage and Transportation
When packing the glass processor workstation for storage or transportation, the following precautions are
necessary:
Ensure that the camera assembly is at the home position.
Attach the transport blocks to secure the camera assembly in its home position. This is important to
ensure that the camera assembly does not move during transport.
Send the fiber holding blocks to the “Load Position”.
Disconnect all gas and electrical connections.
Make sure that the packing foam is positioned properly in the original packing box.
Lower the glass processor system gently in the box.
Position the foam insert over the top of the glass processor then carefully close the box.
Do not pack any other items with the glass processor as severe damage will be caused to the system if
these items move in transit.
5.5. Fusion Splicing
Fusion splicing is a process of joining two optical fibers end-to-end using heat. The goal is to fuse the two fibers
together in such a way that light passing through the fibers is not scattered or reflected back by the splice, and so
that the splice and the region surrounding it are almost as strong as the virgin fiber itself. This chapter will deal
exclusively with the manner in which the glass processor can be used to perform high-quality fusion splices.
5.5.1. Filament Fusion
The glass processor uses a graphite or iridium filament to provide the heat necessary to fuse fibers together. The
filament is a resistive heater typically shaped like an upside-down omega so that it is open at the top. In the
beginning of the process, the fibers are roughly positioned in the center of the camera viewing area. Depending
on the alignment method selected, the glass processor software will use inputs from the CCD camera, optical
power meter, and/or polarimeter to precisely align the fibers. Computer-controlled stepper motors are used to
position the fibers during alignment and to push the fibers together during the filament fusion.
After the software aligns the fibers, the splice head is repositioned, centering the filament under the fiber ends.
Power is applied to the filament to raise its temperature to a level hot enough to melt the glass and fuse the fibers
together by pushing them towards each other. An inert gas (Argon) is used to purge the splice chamber in order
to prevent the filament from oxidation. In order to keep the fibers clean, the purging gas is set to flow over the
fibers at a fairly high rate during the fusion process. The fiber ends are allowed to heat up and soften passed their
melting point. This pre-heat process smoothes and softens the fiber ends. The hot fibers are pushed together,
producing a splice with low loss and high strength.
To modify the splice properties, to go Menu Bar> Splice> Splice Parameter.
Splice Parameters Window