Trouble Shooting; Recoat Diagnostics - THORLABS vytran PTR406 User Manual

Fiber Recoaters with Linear Proof Testers

Trouble Shooting

13.1. Recoat Diagnostics

Problem
Fiber snaps when mold top
lowered.
Material flows excessively
outside of mold cavity or
does not flow down mold
cavity ("puddling").
Plunger turns excessively
when injecting acrylate.
Flashing forms along the
length of the recoat.
Recoat feels tacky or can be
easily rubbed off by pulling
the fiber between fingers.
Fiber sticks to recoat mold
consistently.
Fiber snaps when lifting the
recoat mold top.
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Possible Cause
Fiber not loaded properly.
Recoat mold not properly aligned
to fiber.
Channels of recoat mold plate are
misaligned.
Recoat mold plates are dirty.
Channels of recoat mold plate are
misaligned.
Bubbles in injector port.
Cure time too long.
Cure time too short.
Recoat mold plates are dirty.
Failed to first release the holding
fixture tops before lifting the recoat
mold top.
Chapter 13: Trouble Shooting
Solution
See Chapter 9.1: Loading the Fiber.
Refer to Chapter 11.3.7: Replace and
Align Mold Assembly for instructions
on realigning the recoat mold
assembly.
Contact Thorlabs for Recoater
servicing.
Dirt between quartz mold plates will
not allow them to lay flush, causing
the acrylate to flow excessively
outside the mold cavity. The recoat
mold plates should be cleaned as
described in Chapter 11.2.1: Clean
Mold.
Contact Thorlabs for Recoater
servicing.
Empty the recoat injector port (refer to
the Maintenance section for
instructions) and reload.
This will increase the modulus of the
coating and make it stiffer. In the
future, decrease the cure time. This
flashing can generally be removed by
wiping the recoated section with a dry
lens tissue. Do not use a solvent! For
very tough flashing, it may be
necessary to use the gray abrasive
square (provided) to gently rub off the
flashing material.
Increase the cure time.
Clean the recoat mold plates as
described in Chapter 11.2.1: Clean
Mold.
If the recoat mold top is lifted with the
holding fixture tops closed, the fiber
may stick to the recoat mold top and
snap or degrade the strength of the
fiber. Always open the holding fixtures
before lifting the recoat mold top.
TTN176280-D02