press release

Fujikura Ltd. (Director, President and CEO Okada Naoki) will begin sales the new Optcal Fiber recoater "FSR115 Series" and the new large-diameter Optcal Fiber cutter "CT115 Series" used in manufacturing of optical components from January 2023.

Optcal Fiber recoater is a device that recoats the fusion spliced portion of Optcal Fiber from which the coating has been removed with UV curable resin. There are three models: FSR115, which has only a recoating function, FSR116, which has a recoating function as well as a tensile test function of up to 2.0kgf, and FSR117, which has a recoating function as well as a tensile test function of up to 10.0kgf.
The new FSR115 series has an improved UV-curable resin injection mechanism and glass mold, which has resulted in a 25% reduction in work time ^*1 compared to our previous models, while also improving the accuracy of recoating length.

Large diameter Optcal Fiber cleavers are devices that cut Optcal Fiber with a larger diameter than typical Optcal Fiber for communication. There are three models: the CT114, which can cut Optcal Fiber with cladding ^diameters up to 660μm, the CT115, which can cut Optcal Fiber with cladding diameters up to 1,250μm, and the CT116, which is a CT115 equipped with an oblique cutting function that reduces reflections on the cutting end surface.
When cleaving large-diameter Optcal Fiber, it is important to precisely set a part called a backstop, which prevents Optcal Fiber from bending when the cleaving blade is pressed into it.
In conventional machines, this positioning was done manually, but the new CT115/CT116 is equipped with a precise automatic positioning mechanism for the backstop, which provides more stable cutting quality than conventional machines.
In addition, all models in the new CT115 series are equipped with a cutting blade position changing mechanism that automatically moves the blade position before the blade wears out.

The replacement parts for these products are equipped with RFID tags. For example, an RFID tag is attached to the glass mold of a recoater, and when the glass mold is attached to the recoater body, the condition program corresponding to the recoat diameter is automatically selected.
The new large diameter cutter is equipped with an RFID tag on the fiber holder. When the fiber holder holding the large diameter Optcal Fiber fiber is attached to the large diameter cutter body, the cutting condition program according to the cladding diameter is automatically selected. This prevents the selection of the wrong condition program.

The new Optcal Fiber recoater and new large-diameter Optcal Fiber cleaver reduce the dependency on the skill level of the operator, resolving the labor shortage at work sites. They also help maintain stable quality of optical components.
With these new machines, we hope to contribute to improving the productivity of optical components, for which demand is expected to grow in the future.

[strong point / feature of the new Optcal Fiber recoater "FSR115 series"]
- 25% reduction in work time compared to our previous model
・Improved glass mold improves the accuracy of recoating length
・An RFID tag is attached to the glass mold, and the program is automatically selected according to the recoating diameter.

[strong point / feature of the new Optcal Fiber cutter "CT115 series"]
・Cutting quality is more stable than our previous models
・Cutting blade position change and backstop positioning are automated
・An RFID tag is attached to the fiber holder, and the program is automatically selected according to the cladding diameter.

*1 "Approximately 25% reduction in work time compared to our previous model"
These are the results of tests conducted by our company under certain conditions.

*2 "Cladding diameter"
Optcal Fiber consist of a core in the center, which has a high refractive index, and a cladding that surrounds it.
This refers to the diameter of the outer clad of the double-layered structure.