fiber optics

bruce53176 · Post by **bruce53176** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:02 pm

What is the best way to cut and strip fiber optic cable and also to cut the individual fibers?

DaveVan · Post by **DaveVan** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:42 pm

What are you working with?? Back in my fiber optic days there were some that were industrial use only and really should not be cut and handled.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:02 pm

Plastic fibers can be cut individually with a very sharp XActo on a flat hard surface (glass is nice), but the best optical results are achieved by using hot knives (thing XActo blade on a soldering iron).

bruce53176 · Post by **bruce53176** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:08 pm

I'm not sure what the cable is made of. It's LG64 from fiber optic products Inc.

Madman Lighting · Post by **Madman Lighting** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:15 am

Thats plastic fiber optics.

You can cut that with anything, the sharper the better.

There's also some nifty stuff you can do with it. If you gently warm up the end until it softens and melts a little it will "lens" over and become very round and smooth. This will let you get much more light in and out of your fiber.

You can also scrape the side wall a little to let the light out the side if you want.

DLMatthys · Post by **DLMatthys** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:12 pm

I use my Testers sprue nippers.

USS Atlantis · Post by **USS Atlantis** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:29 pm

DLMatthys wrote:I use my Testers sprue nippers.

I have a pair of electronic nippers solely dedicated to FO cutting