What are the differences between the Fusion and Mechanical splicing methods?

Fiber optic transmission refers to the transmission of data and signals using optical fiber as the medium. Optical fiber can not only be used to transmit analogue signals and digital signals but also meet the needs of video transmission. Optical fibre transmission is generally carried out using optical cables. The data transmission rate of a single optical fiber can reach several Gbps. Without the use of repeaters, the transmission distance can reach dozens of kilometres.

When light is transmitted in an optical fiber, it will produce a loss. This loss is mainly composed of the transmission loss of the optical fiber itself and the splicing loss at the optical fiber joint. Once an optical cable is ordered, the transmission loss of the optical fiber itself is determined, while the splicing loss at the optical fiber joint is related to the optical fiber itself and on-site construction.

Optical fiber is an extremely convenient tool for transmitting signals. One of the thin optical cores of the cable can replace more than a thousand physical communication lines to complete a large number of long-distance communication tasks.
The eight major advantages of optical fiber transmission are as follows:

1. High sensitivity and not affected by electromagnetic noise.

2. Small size, light weight, long life and low price.

3. Insulation, high voltage resistance, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, suitable for work in special environments.

4. The geometric shape can be adjusted according to environmental requirements, and signal transmission is easy.

5. High bandwidth, large communication volume, small attenuation, and long transmission distance.

6. Signal crosstalk is small and transmission quality is high.

7. High confidentiality.

8. Easy to lay and transport materials.

There are two technologies that can be used for the termination of optical cables: fusion splicing and cold splicing.

Advantages of fiber optic hot melt: relatively simple operation and low subsequent maintenance costs. Disadvantages: Large initial investment and many special tools.

Advantages of cold splicing: Connection via simple crimping tool. Disadvantages: later maintenance costs are higher and the construction technology is more delicate.

Fiber fusion: also called fiber fusion splicing, it is to connect two core optical fibers through a specific equipment fiber fusion splicer.

Fiber cold splicing:

It is used for fiber optic butt fiber or fiber optic butt pigtail. This is equivalent to making a joint. Fiber optic butt pigtail refers to the fiber core butt of the fiber and the pigtail instead of the pigtail head mentioned in the former. The thing used for this kind of cold splicing is called Fiber optic cold connector.

Main factors affecting fiber splicing loss

There are many factors that affect fiber splicing loss, which can be roughly divided into two categories: fiber intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors.

1. Optical fiber intrinsic factors refer to the factors of the optical fiber itself. There are mainly four points:

(1) The fiber mode field diameter is inconsistent;

(2) The core diameters of the two optical fibers are mismatched;

(3) The fiber core cross-section is not round;

(4) The concentricity between the fiber core and the cladding is not good.

2. Extrinsic factors affecting fiber splicing loss, namely splicing technology

3. influence of other factors. The splicing personnel's operating level, operating steps, fiber coiling process level, electrode cleanliness in the welding machine, welding parameter settings, cleanliness of the working environment, etc. will all affect the value of splicing loss.