Novel Automation Methods and Equipment for Fiber Optic End-face Polishing, Cleaving and Inspection

Splicing processes to repair fiber optic cables in naval air platforms is extremely tedious and requires a high skill level to perform correctly. The process involves numerous steps including preparing the fiber end, cleaving the fiber tips, and installing a splice device with protective covering. The quality of the fiber tips resulting from the cleaving step is critical to the performance of the splice. This step is currently performed with rudimentary hand tools that leave the quality of the process to be governed by the skill level of the operator. In addition, the cleave quality is also effected by how well the cleaving tool is maintained which is adversely effected by contaminants found in the harsh operating environment of military platforms. This proposal addresses the development of a portable, automated tool to perform the cleaving process that overcomes the limitations with the current devices.