Fusion splicing

Fusion splicing is the act of joining two optical fibers end-to-end. 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 intact fiber. The source of heat used to melt and fuse the two glass fibers being spliced is usually an electric arc, but can also be a laser, a gas flame, or a tungsten filament through which current is passed.

Video of optical-fiber fusion-splicing

Fiber spliced, still unprotected

COMWAY fusion splicing

INNO View 7 splicer on a tripod and work table

Governing standards

ANSI/EIA/TIA-455

See also

• Fiber-optic communication
• Optical fiber connector
• Optical time-domain reflectometer

References

• US 7125494, "Methods of Removing Matrix from Fiber Optic Cable" 

Further reading

• "How to Precision Clean All Fiber Optic Connections": Edward J. Forrest, Jr. ISBN 1505549728, 9781505549720
• Fiber Optic Association