Testing and Quality Assurance: Ensuring Peak Performance of Fiber Optic Cable
When a network spans hundreds of miles or supports millions of dollars in financial transactions there is no room for error. Quality assurance is the most important part of our manufacturing process. Every meter of Fiber Optic Cable that leaves our facility undergoes a rigorous battery of tests to ensure it meets or exceeds international standards for optical and mechanical performance. We understand that our customers are making a long term investment in their infrastructure and our goal is to provide a product that is guaranteed to perform from day one. This article details the testing procedures we use to ensure that our fiber optics are the most reliable in the industry.
The first and most fundamental test is the measurement of attenuation or signal loss. We use high precision optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR) to send pulses of light through the fiber and measure the amount of backscatter and reflection. This allows us to identify any microscopic defects or impurities in the glass that could cause signal degradation. We test our fibers at multiple wavelengths including thirteen hundred and ten and fifteen hundred and fifty nanometers for single mode fiber ensuring consistent performance across the entire operating spectrum. Every reel of cable we produce is shipped with a detailed test report providing our customers with verifiable proof of its quality.
Mechanical testing is equally important as optical testing. A fiber optic cable must be able to withstand the physical stresses of installation and long term environmental exposure. We perform tensile strength tests to ensure the cable can be pulled through conduits without breaking and crush resistance tests to simulate the pressure of being buried underground. We also conduct impact tests and cycle temperature tests to ensure the cable remains stable in extreme conditions. By subjecting our products to forces far beyond what they will encounter in the field we provide a margin of safety that ensures long term reliability and peace of mind for our clients.
Geometry and alignment are critical for the successful splicing and connectorization of optical fibers. We use high resolution microscopes and automated measurement systems to verify the diameter of the core and cladding as well as the concentricity of the fiber layers. Even a sub micron deviation can lead to significant loss at a splice point. Our commitment to geometric precision ensures that our fibers are among the easiest in the industry to join and terminate. We also perform specialized tests for polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion ensuring our fibers are capable of supporting the high speed coherent optical systems of the future.
In conclusion testing and quality assurance are the pillars upon which our reputation as a manufacturer is built. We believe that quality cannot be inspected into a product; it must be built in from the start. However through rigorous testing we provide the final verification that our manufacturing processes are working perfectly. When you choose our fiber optic cables you are choosing a product that has been proven to meet the highest standards of performance and durability. We invite you to learn more about our quality control procedures and see why we are a trusted partner for telecommunications providers and industrial operators worldwide.
