LDS system
Unique technology for working with optical fibers
3SAE Large Diameter Splicing System - LDS 2.5
NETWORK GROUP, s.r.o. has unique technology for working with optical fibers: LDS - Large Diameter Splicing System from the American company 3SAE Technologies, Inc. Thanks to this hi-tech technology, we are able to prepare special optical fiber components, such as tapers, lenses at the ends of fibers (endcapping),splice fibers with prisms, lenses, and GRIN lenses, splice photonic PCF fibers (Photonics Crystal Fibers), splice fibers with different diameters, etc.
Custom manufacturing and services
Our company offers custom manufacturing and specialized services in the field of advanced fiber optic splicing. If you are interested in this technology, please do not hesitate to contact us.
LDS 2.5 splicing station
Whether it's fiber splicing, tapering, or other tasks, the LDS 2.5 meets the most demanding requirements and overcomes the technological obstacles of existing processes. It is designed for reproducibility, precision, and user-friendly operation. The LDS 2.5 is also suitable for the development of special fiber optic components. Thanks to its extreme flexibility, it allows to meet the most demanding requirements for processing optical fibers and other glass materials (e.g., glass capillaries). Unlike other devices, it has a precise mechanical design, high-contrast optics, and absolute control of fiber position and angle settings.
Sophisticated software
The image-processing system enables the user to monitor the splicing or tapering process in real time. The system is capable of splicing fibers with diameters ranging from 125 µm to 2.5 mm, splicing lenses and prisms to optical fibers, creating lenses at the fiber end, and more — all with unmatched alignment precision and uniform distribution of the electric arc discharge [3SAE].
LDS 2.5 Properties [3SAE]
- The powerful and adjustable Ring of Fire® electric arc (plasma field) ensures uniform heating of spliced optical fibers and many other applications, such as tapering.
- Splicing of fibers with diameters of 125 μm – 2.5 mm.
- Possibility of splicing materials with a high melting point (glass capillaries).
- Automatic alignment of transverse and longitudinal angular deviations with an accuracy of 0.01°.
- Simultaneous display of the process using two independent, orthogonal cameras.
- Possibility of splicing different types of PCF (Photonic Crystal Fibers).
- The ability to guide PCF fibers evenly allows for precise cleaving, ultrasonic cleaning (no liquid enters the microstructure), and excellent splice attenuation.
- Extremely high joint strength without repeated passage through the plasma field.
- The transverse and longitudinal axes can be moved by ± 5° with an adjustable step of 0.01°.
- Range of motion 130 μm in the z-axis with a theoretical resolution of up to 0.25 μm controlled by piezoelectric displacement.
- Splicing of fibers to lenses or other shorter optical elements (which is not possible with other splicers) thanks to vacuum holding technology for stable and precise handling control.
Tapering [3SAE]
- Automated, software-controlled motor speed and filament tension enable repeatable production of tapers up to 85 mm in length.
- The taper scanning feature provides instant feedback by measuring the diameter across the length of the taper.
- Power-Ramp technology, unique to the LDS 2.5, compensates for changes in mass along the taper cone by regulating the power in the plasma field during optical fiber tapering.
- Unidirectional tapering for pulling the taper into the plasma field—this method is used to create both symmetric and asymmetric linear tapers. In general, this feature is used for tapers with a ratio of 10:1 or less.
- The bidirectional tapering method is based on pulling both the left and right outer sides of the tapered fiber from the plasma field and gradually switching the direction of the plasma field's movement. This method is used to create adiabatic tapers with an exponential profile. One of the main advantages of bidirectional tapering is that this method is not limited in terms of the taper ratio. We can thus create an adiabatic taper from a 500 μm fiber to a diameter of 10 μm [3SAE].
Integrated piezo-system of fiber cleaving [3SAE]
- High-quality diamond ultrasonic tip with frequency/amplitude control and tip deflection control mechanism.
- Real-time image scanning and feedback functions providing repeatability and accuracy of fiber cleaving.
- Fiber cleaving position accuracy ±1 μm.
What is Ring of Fire® [3SAE] technology?
Conventional arc fiber optic splicers use a high-voltage electrical arc discharge between two electrodes to create a narrow cylindrical arc perpendicular to the fiber. This arc shape is insufficient for larger diameter fibers because it cannot be heated evenly.
Standard double-tip splicers can be optimized to provide circumferential heating, extending the heat zone along the fiber axis. This is advantageous in some applications, such as thermally expanded core splicing (TEC), but it causes significant limitations in the usable fiber geometries that can be processed. These systems cannot be used, for example, to splice small-diameter fibers with large-diameter fibers, or to splice fibers with lenses, prisms, etc. The heat required to sufficiently heat a larger fiber usually destroys the smaller fiber.
For these applications, it is advantageous to use a multi-electrode plasma discharge (plasma field), because the resulting heat zone is isothermal around the circumference of the fiber, while remaining relatively narrow. This allows for precise heating of materials with larger diameters and thus higher required temperatures.
- A three-electrode system that combines proven manufacturing technology with research and development capabilities.
- Isothermal plasma field (triangular two-dimensional plane) up to 10 times larger than that of a standard two-electrode splicer.
Creates negligible tungsten deposits and requires no operating gases. - Ideal for difficult and developmental applications.
