This was the first time when Sikora participated in the World Optical Fiber & Cable 2017, held in Wuhan, China.
January 5, 2018
For the third time, world-leading manufacturers and processors of preforms, optical fibers and communication cables met at World Optical Fiber & Cable 2017 in Wuhan, China. From November 1, 2017 to November 3, 2017, over 700 leading decision-makers from different countries came together. This year, SIKORA participated for the very first time. Besides the presentation held by Harry Prunk, member of the executive board of SIKORA AG, about ‘Impact of sophisticated online quality control on the optical fiber drawing process’, SIKORA was also represented with a booth. Visitors were able to inform themselves by means of a model of an optical fiber drawing tower with integrated gauge heads of the FIBER Series 6000 about the advantages of the systems for quality control and cost reduction.
Quality control and process optimization in the drawing tower
Online quality control of optical fibers in the drawing tower already starts below the preform with the FIBER LASER 6003 for diameter and position measurement of the uncoated fiber and the evaluation of the fiber tension. Furthermore, a FIBER TEMP 6003 is usually installed at the hot end of the drawing process for measuring the temperature of the optical fiber in order to control the furnace. After the forced cooling, the diameter of the optical fiber is measured once again by a FIBER LASER 6003 or, alternatively, by a FIBER LASER 6003 AIRLINE gauge head. The latter additionally provides airline detection. Also, temperature measurement is carried out by a second FIBER TEMP 6003. At this position, a temperature measuring gauge head is valuable for manufacturers of optical fibers as with the temperature information they can use the exact amount of helium that is needed for the cooling, and thus saving on costs. After the optical fiber has received its coating and has gone through the UV drying process, a final FIBER LASER 6003 determines the diameter of the coated optical fiber. Optionally, a FIBER LASER 6003 CCE, which also gives information on the coating concentricity, can be used as well. In a final step for quality control, the surface of the optical fiber is inspected for any lumps and neck downs by the FIBER LUMP 6003. For particularly high quality requirements, SIKORA alternatively offers the FIBER LUMP 6003 MICRO with six measuring axes for a 100% detection/ inspection/verification from a fault height of 5 μm.
The measuring values and information on the surface quality are visualized at the connected processor system FIBER ECOCONTROL and supports the manufacturer to take further actions to control and optimize the drawing process.
