Chapter 7 Cleaving; Overview; The Cleave Process - THORLABS Vytran LDC401 User Manual

LDC401 & LDC401A Automated Cleavers
Chapter 7 Cleaving
7.1.

Overview

The LDC401 and LDC401A cleave fiber using the tension-and-scribe technique as follows:
1. A stripped fiber is secured in Fiber Holding Blocks (FHBs).
2. The left FHB moves to the left, tensioning the fiber.
3. A diamond-coated blade approaches the fiber and makes a small scribe.
4. The tension causes the scribe to propagate through the fiber, resulting in a cleave.
To obtain an angled cleave, the fiber is twisted by a rotary stage before the fiber is tensioned (LDC401A only).
Lifting
Lever
Ruler Block
This chapter provides an in-depth description of the manner in which fiber is cleaved using the LDC401 and
LDC401A Fiber Cleavers.
7.2.

The Cleave Process

The cleaver utilizes two Fiber Holding Blocks (FHBs) to securely clamp and position the fiber prior to cleaving. The
left FHB has a linear drive mechanism for applying tension to the fiber. The right FHB is either stationary (LDC401)
or outfitted with a rotary drive mechanism for twisting the fiber (LDC401A). A load cell is incorporated into the left
FHB for monitoring fiber tension. Once the fiber is positioned and securely clamped in the FHBs, an automated
Cleave Process can be initiated by pressing the "Start" button.
Parameters that can be adjusted using the Tablet Controller are in bold. Descriptions of these parameters are
provided in Section 9.8. The majority of Users will only need to set the Fiber Diameter (cladding), Cleave Tension,
and Pre-Cleave Advance while leaving the rest of the Parameters set to their default values.
The Cleave Process proceeds as follows:
1. For flat cleaves, the left FHB will slowly pull to the left until the specified Cleave Tension is reached. For
angled cleaves performed with the LDC401A, the right FHB will rotate to the specified Cleave Rotation
Angle, and then left FHB will slowly pull to the left until the specified Cleave Tension is reached.
2. While the fiber is held under tension (and rotated if performing an angled cleave), the diamond blade
advances towards the fiber. After the blade has traveled the Blade Offset + Pre-Cleave Advance distance,
it begins oscillating towards the fiber in small back-and-forth steps. As soon as the diamond blade contacts
the fiber it creates a small scribe, which rapidly propagates through the fiber due to the pre-applied tension.
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Cleave
FHB Lid
Blade
Figure 9 System Overview
Chapter 7: Cleaving
Fiber Holding
Block (FHB)
Rotary Stage
(LDC401A only)
Micrometer
Backstop
TTN100064-D02