Are you in the market for a new or used fusion splicer? Knowing the purpose and the basic function of a fusion splicer can help you decide whether or not a new or a used fusion splicer is right for you. Test Equipment Connection offers new, demo, overstock and used fusion splicers, most all in stock. Some factors to consider when searching for a fusion splicer are size and weight, splicing core alignment method, fiber type, fiber splicing efficiency, and price.

Current fusion splicers are either core or cladding alignment. Either of these methods allows the cleaved fibers to be automatically aligned and fused together by the fusion splicer. The basic construction consists of two electrodes that create the heating and fusion process, two sheave clamps on which the fibers sit, and a microscope that aids in the in the alignment of the fibers.

Smaller and More Portable Than Ever

Initially, fusion splicers used Nichrome wire as the heating element to fuse fibers together. Since then, new advancements have been made. Nichrome wire has been upgraded to (CO 2) Carbon Dioxide lasers gas type flames or electric arcs, which causes the fiber ends to fuse together when heated. The smaller sizes of the fusion splices and the improvements of fusion splicing automated machines has made electric arc fusion one of the most popular techniques and the most preferred method today.

The best fusion splicers will join two optical fiber ends using heat and will allow light to pass through the fiber without any resistance by the splice. The splice and the area surrounding the splice should be as strong as the original fiber itself. Core alignment fusion splicers are great for all fibers, whether you are splicing old to new. Cladding alignment is great for single mode and multimode of good quality. The method of alignment is very important, because the task requires working with single mode fiber where the cores are very small. The core alignment process is best used for single mode fiber and similar fibers with very small cores to achieve the lowest possible splice loss.