termination of fibers

Connecting a really fast cable to the equipment that lights it up is important; especially when making a connection to high performance glass.

Fortunately, it’s easier to terminate fiber than ever before with these three basic options in the field—each of which comes with its own advantages and disadvantages based on performance and budget:

1. Glue and polish – Legacy glue on connectors is the least expensive to buy but needs the most time to install. And as trade labor becomes scarcer the cost to install will continue to rise. 
   
2. Mechanical splice-on connectors (Qwik-11 style) — These are the fastest to put on. They're also priced the highest per connector because all of the polishing has already been completed, making them ready to transmit light straight out of the package.
3. Fusion (weld) – This is fast becoming the most economical option. The cost to buy has become drastically more affordable than in years past —making fusion splice machines affordable to anyone that regularly terminates fibers. That is great news since there are now fusion splice machines that include all tooling on the machine. These all-in-one units strip, clean and cleave the glass before fusing the connector. With this type of machine even novices will be in a position to have nearly 100% success.

Fusion splicing uses pre-polished pigtails or now Splice on Connectors (SOC). 

When you combine the speed of fusion efficiency with an inexpensive connector, plus the fact that it provides the highest performance, you have an option to be reckoned with.