Table of Contents
Advertisement
Visual inspection of fiber ends
Visual inspection of fiber ends can be helpful. Contamination or imperfections on the cable end
face can be detected as well as cracks or chips in the fiber itself. Use a microscope (100X to
200X magnification) to inspect the entire end face for contamination, raised metal, or dents in
the metal as well as any other imperfections. Inspect the fiber for cracks and chips. Visible imper-
fections not touching the fiber core may not affect performance (unless the imperfections keep
the fibers from contacting).
W A R N I N G
Always remove both ends of fiber-optic cables from any instrument, system, or device before
visually inspecting the fiber ends. Disable all optical sources before disconnecting fiber-optic
cables. Failure to do so may result in permanent injury to your eyes.
Cleaning Connectors
The procedures in this section provide the proper steps for cleaning fiber-optic cables and Agilent
Technologies universal adapters. The initial cleaning, using the alcohol as a solvent, gently
removes any grit and oil. If a caked-on layer of material is still present, (this can happen if the
beryllium-copper sides of the ferrule retainer get scraped and deposited on the end of the fiber
during insertion of the cable), a second cleaning should be performed. It is not uncommon for a
cable or connector to require more than one cleaning.
C A U T I O N
Agilent Technologies strongly recommends that index matching compounds not be applied to their
instruments and accessories. Some compounds, such as gels, may be difficult to remove and can
contain damaging particulates. If you think the use of such compounds is necessary, refer to the
compound manufacturer for information on application and cleaning procedures.
Table 6-3. Cleaning Accessories
Item
Cotton swabs
Small foam swabs
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Agilent Part Number
8520-0023
9300-1223
Maintenance
6-15
Advertisement
Table of Contents
