Let's take a look at the
construction of fiber optic cables, which are one of the simplest but most
powerful tools in data transmission today. The different components that form a
fiber cable are the core, the coating, the Kevlar®, the splint and the connector.
After assembly, the fiber core is polished and, therefore, ready to transmit
data.
The core is a continuous thread
of super thin glass that is about the same size as a human hair. It is the
center of the fiber cable and the medium through which the light pulses are
transmitted.
The core is surrounded by a
coating layer. The coating surrounds and reflects the light in the center.
Together, the core and coating make up the so-called fiber.
Kevlar® is a registered trademark
of strong synthetic material or yellow "hair" which is used as a
protective outer layer for the fiberglass core it protects. Its high tensile
strength protects the cable from damage when pulled.
Around the Kevlar there is the
cable cover or coating, which is the outer cover of the cable body. It is most
commonly an ascending tube (a soft and rubbery plastic called PVC) or a plenum
(similar to the ascending tube, but in the case of a fire, it does not burn so
easily or emits some toxins in its smoke). Environmental conditions determine
the most appropriate type of jacket.
Next is the starter cable. This
is the plastic / rubber part that begins the transition from the cable to the
connector. The goal is to support the most flexible cable when it comes out of
the connector, avoiding breakages, kinks and general tensions in the cable.
Finally, the connector is the
piece that connects to the equipment. It usually has some type of locking
mechanism, like a card. The connector is what most people grab when installing
or removing a cable.
The slat is the protruding part
of a fiber connector. It is often made of ceramic, plastic or stainless steel
and houses the end of the fiber to align it precisely for interconnection with
the optical transceiver or other fiber.
The fiber is inserted into the
splint and cemented with an epoxy or adhesive. This confers long-term
mechanical strength and prevents contamination. The slat is the most important
and expensive part of a fiber connector. If the length, the centering of the
holes and the internal / external diameters are not correct, an incorrect
connection occurs.
It can be tempting to touch the
end of the splint to see if you can feel the real fiber. Nobody should do this,
as it will leave dirt and oils on the ends of the glass, preventing their
ability to transmit data effectively.
The fiber at the end of the
splint is meticulously polished to ensure adequate data transmission. The fiber
must be polished to the appropriate shape and length so that there are no
breaks in the signal The end point of the fiber is polished with a
patented process, then inspected and rigorously tested, obtaining the best
possible fiber termination in the market. Industry standards impose
specific amounts of acceptable data transmission errors (also known as
"light loss") on a connection. When you add these potential loss
values for each link in a connection, you have a loss budget.
If fiber connections exceed your
loss budget, you run the risk of losing an efficient data transfer. Also, as
speed increases, these budgets decrease.
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