THORLABS Vytran FFS2001 Series User Manual page 47

FFS2001 Series
• Strip Set-Up: Check the parameters of the 'Strip Set-Up' in the 'Fiber Preparation' menu of the software
interface and adjust as needed.
The thermo-mechanical stripping method uses heat to soften the acrylate coating. A heating element is
incorporated in the bottom V-groove insert at the stripping station. The heating element is kept at a low
background temperature at all times, which for some fibers (such as SMF-28) is sufficient to strip the coating
almost immediately. Other fibers require a high temperature "boost", which rapidly increases the coating
temperature such that it can be stripped with minimal pull force. The boost time is typically less than 5 seconds.
Some fibers may also require a presoaking in acetone to soften the coating prior to thermo-mechanical stripping.
The recommended procedures for thermo-mechanically stripping various fiber types are shown in the table
below.
Coating Type
Typical Dual
Coat Acrylate,
250 µm
Typical Dual
Coat Acrylate,
250 µm
250 µm and Fibercore Series HB,
165 µm Acrylate
250 µm Acrylate
Most Other AT&T
250 µm Acrylate
Soaking Station Preparation (Chemo-Mechanical Only)
Make sure the solvent is "topped up." It should be approximately 1/8" to 1/4" below the lip of the solvent
container.
Stripping Station Preparation
Clean the stripping station with the soft toothbrush (provided) or the optional vacuum cleaning system, keeping
your free hand as a 'shield' around the rear of the open Cleave Lid, to prevent debris being thrown up onto other
parts of the machine. Remove any stripped coating or other particles from the Cleave Inserts and around the
Stripper Blades. It is important that these surfaces are kept clean, or subsequent Strip or Cleave operations may
be less effective until these surfaces are cleaned.
Rev. A, August 14, 2024
Parameter changes in the software interface are not saved to the configuration file
(*.xml) until a file save is executed.
Heating
Fiber Type
Corning SMF-28
Corning CS-980
Flexcore 1060
HB-G, and HB-T
AT&T Erbium
Fiber
Do NOT clean the V-groove insert with solvent when the vacuum is turned on. The
solvent will be drawn into the vacuum system and will cause internal damage. If the
V-groove appears to be damaged, replace the inserts.
Background
Time Current
5 s 1500 mA
5 s 1500 mA
10 s 1500 mA
0 – 5 s 1500 mA
5 s 1500 mA
Chapter 5: Fiber Preparation
Boost
Current Pre-Soak
3500 mA No
3500 mA No
3500 mA No
3900 mA Yes
3900 mA No
Soak Time
& Solvent
N/A
N/A
N/A
60 s in
acetone
N/A
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