Novel Features - THORLABS CC6000 User Manual

Portable Connector End Face Geometry Interferometer Chapter 3: Description
3.3.

Novel Features

The Thorlabs CC6000 is a plug & play USB interferometer. This compact interferometer attaches to a PC or laptop
through a standard USB port and uses the exclusive CC6000 software to control the interferometer and measure
the connectors. No custom boards, or complicated configurations are required. Simply install the software, plug in
the CC6000 and run. Our user-friendly software allows anyone with minimal experience to accurately measure the
3D end face geometry of a fiber optic connector. The CC6000 is designed for both the factory or the field to provide
the crucial quality information needed to assure the long-term performance of your fiber optic connectors.
Unlike other systems that require a mirror or the stage to be adjusted so that the connector is perpendicular to the
optical path, no mechanical adjustments are required with the CC6000 because any small angle is suitable. This is
the key to our analysis because when the connector is at a small angle, the fringes cross the ferrule and the fiber.
This tilted phase provides all the information needed to measure the connector. After a simple offset angle
calibration procedure, our advanced algorithms accurately calculate the spherical radius of curvature, spherical
fiber height, and apex offset for the connector.
Thorlabs offers a wide variety of mounts and calibration tools to meet the varying needs of customers.
Locking V Groove Mounts
Thorlabs' Locking V groove mounts, with their integral leaf spring
design, provide the greatest accuracy and longest wear of any mounting
system on the market today. There are two types of Locking V groove
mounts that are available - PC and APC. PC mounts are available
according to the ferrule size of the connector, for example, a 2.5 mm
mount is used for 2.50 mm diameter ferrules such as FC, SC, and ST
connectors. APC mounts bring the polished angle to flat, in order for
fringes to appear. APC mounts are connector specific due to the
varying "Key" geometries.
The locking V-groove mount attaches to the microscope using two thumbscrews for quick, easy, and accurate
placement of the mount to the interferometer. To insert the connector into the mount, lift the spring lever up to unlock
the mount, insert the connector into the mount until it bottoms out, and then lower the lever to lock the connector in
place.
NOTE: Custom designed mounts are available upon request.
Thorlabs also offers calibration tools to provide the customer with the assurance that the system is performing to
the extremely high accuracy which is expected of it.
Reference Tool – The Reference Tool, with known endface geometry parameters, assures that the interferometer
measures accurately. The known X and Y angular offset angles are compared to an actual measurement taken
during the Calibration procedure. The software calculates the calibration factors so the known values are equal to
the actual measurement values.
There are PC and APC reference tools. The PC reference tool is used in unison with a PC Locking V Groove Mount.
The APC reference tool is used in unison with an APC Locking V Groove Mount.
Leveling Connector – The Leveling Connector is a device designed by and made for Thorlabs having particular
geometry characteristics that guarantee an accurate offset calibration process for PC-polish connectors (NOTE:
This calibration is not applicable to APC type). Contact techsupport@thorlabs.com for more information.
As technologies advance, you can be sure that we will continue to improve our system, offering more features and
advantages for fiber optic testing. If you have any special requirements, regarding different connectors or related
applications, please contact us. We are dedicated to making this product the best on the market and would be happy
to provide you with solutions to your special needs.
Rev B, April 16, 2019 Page 4