DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DEP40053 FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

PRACTICAL WORK ASSESSMENT

SESSION : I 2022/2023

TITLE FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE

PRACTICAL WORK 1/2/3/4/5/6
GROUP

Item \ Student S1 S2 S3
1. Follow the lab procedure accordingly /10 /10 /10

2. Identify the equipment correctly /10 /10 /10

Practical
Skill 3. Connect the equipment correctly /15 /15 /15
Assessment 4. Demonstrate the experiment /15 /15 /15
(CLO3)
5. Measure the result accurately /10 /10 /10
6. Display the output correctly /10 /10 /10

Total Practical Skill Assessment /70 /70 /70

1. Format /5

Report 2. Result & Discussion /20

Assessment 3. Conclusion /5

Total Report Assessment /30

TOTAL
STUDENT’S NAME REG.NUMBER
MARKS /100
S1
S2
S3

LECTURER’S
DATE
NAME
 DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

PRACTICAL WORK 3 : FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE

Objectives :
At the end of the session, the students will be able to:
i. Identifies the method of arc fusion splicing.
ii. Make the arc fusion splicing.

Equipments :
i. Automatic arc fusion splicing machine and kits
ii. Fiber cleaver
iii. Jacket stripper
iv. Sleeves
v. Alcohol (at least 95% pure alcohol)
vi. Tissue

Theory :

Optical fiber is entirely different from conventional metallic copper conductors and
coaxial line, not only in respect of its structure and materials, but also to form of
signal transmission. Therefore, the different measurement and instrument required
are necessary for splicing of the optical fiber.
Coated optical fiber splicing involves stripping off the coating layer, cutting the
fiber, making the splice and protecting the splice point. For fiber cutting, a fiber
cutter has been developed utilizing controlled fracturing technique.
There are three splice techniques that have been widely practiced. The application
shall suit with the requirement and environment or condition of the site.
1) Splice Bushing (used in patch panels together with connector)
2) Fusion Splice (using splicing machine)
3) Mechanical splice (using special mechanical splice device)
Splice Losses:
1) Splice Bushing - 0.5 to 1.0 dB
2) Fusion - 0.1 to 0.2 dB
3) Mechanical - 0.2 to 0.5 dB
FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 1
 DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

PROCEDURE :

Please kindly follow the instructions carefully:

1. Prepare the fusion splicer with Fiber Cleaver optical striper, alcohol, lint free
tissue & fiber protection sleeve.
2. Ensure that the splicer has the following settings:
⮚ Splice Program : Single Mode Fiber (SMF)
⮚ Heater Program : 40/60mm
⮚ Arc Pause : On
⮚ Auto Splice Start : On
⮚ Auto Heater Start : On
3. Remove the fiber coating using stripper or compatible jacket remover. This
step mainly to remove the fiber coating so we can access to the bare fiber
section.

4. After stripping the fiber coating, some coating residue will left on the bare
fiber section. Use a lint free tissue with alcohol to clean the bare fiber
section. This step to ensure the bare fiber section is free of contamination
on bare fiber section. Contamination can cause bad cleaving angle and bad
splicing result.

FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 2

DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

5. Next you are ready to cleave the fiber using fiber cleaver which help to
prepare a flat and clean bare fiber end section. Below is an example of a
comparison between a good and bad fiber cleave.

6. Load both end of cleave fiber in to splicer. During the process loading the
cleave fiber, is very important to make sure the cleave fiber end do not
collide or get contaminated with any parts of the splicer. Once the fiber get
hit or contaminated, will eventually cause high splice loss.

FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 3

DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

7. Splice the fiber cable and after each splice was completed kindly ensure the
estimated splice loss result reported from the splicer do not exceed 0.02dB
loss. Beside that kindly evaluate the splice quality based on below
recommendation :

8. If the splice loss is within 0.02dB kindly proceed to the next step. For splice
loss which exceeds 0.02 dB loss then the whole splice have to redo.

9. For the splice point with splice loss result <0.02dB can proceed to
performed splice protection heating. The splice point without protection
sleeve is very fragile. We need proper protection sleeve to cover the splice
point and provide further strength on this portion. Load the fiber in to the
heater. Please load the fiber with slightly tension force to pull the fiber
straight.
 DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 4

10. State result for attenuation loss in the result.

Result :

1. Loss reading after splice (dB) : ________________ [2m]

2. Evaluating splice quality photo. [3m]

Discussions:

1. Display step by step arc fusion splicing technique by using pictures taken during
the practical work session. [12m]

2. Why the ‘cleaning’ step should be done before, not after the ‘cleaving’ step?
[3m]
DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 5

Conclusions:

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[5m]
DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

FUSION SPLICING TECHNIQUE 6

DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

PRACTICAL SKILL EVALUATION (CLO3, PLO5)

SCORE
Name & Reg No
Good Excellent
ASPECT Very Weak Weak Average
4 5 SCALE Student 1 Student 2 Student 3
1 2 3

Shows little Shows some Shows considerable Shows a solid

1. Follow the lab Shows understanding of
procedure
understanding of the understanding of the understanding of the
the purpose of the task.
understanding of the X2
purpose of the task. purpose of the task. purpose of the task. purpose of the task.
Excellent All
All necessary lab
There is not a list of Good. All necessary lab necessary lab
2. Identify the Most lab materials materials included but
equipment
the necessary lab
included. not listed in any
materials included and materials included and X2
materials. listed . listed in an organized
particular order.
manner.
Set-up of equipment is Set-up of equipment is Set-up of equipment is All equipment
3. Connect the not accurate, help is generally workable with generally accurate with All equipment accurately accurately placed and
equipment required with several several details that need 1 or 2 small details that placed all necessary supplies X3
major details refinement need refinement on hand.
Trends /patterns are Trends /patterns Trends / patterns are
Trends / patterns are Trends/patterns are not logically analyzed for the are logically logically analyzed in
4.Demonstrate
the experiment
not analyzed Analysis analyzed. Analysis is most part. analyzed. detail. X3
is not relevant. inconsistent. Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is
General. Thoughtful. thoughtful.

Measurements are Measurements are Measurements are Measurements are

Measurements are
5. Measure the incomplete, inaccurate somewhat inaccurate accurate with both accurate and
result and imprecise and very imprecise
mostly accurate
reasonable precision precise X2

Observations are very

Observations are Observations are thorough and may
Observations are Observations are
6. Draw the incomplete or not incomplete or recorded recognized possible
output included in a confusing way
generally complete thorough
errors in data X2
collection.

TOTAL
Endorsed by :
70% of TOTAL
DEP40053 – FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PRACTICAL WORK 3

REPORT ASSESMENT (CLO3, PLO5)

SCORE
Name & Reg No
Good Excellent
Very Weak Weak Average
4 5 SCALE Student 1 Student 2 Student 3
1 2 3
ASPECT
Student did not follow Some of the excellent Most of the excellent All of the excellent All of the excellent
directions, practiced conditions were met; conditions were met; conditions were met; conditions were met;
1. Format unsafe procedures, directions were not possible minor errors in possible minor errors in possible minor errors
goofed around in the followed, problems with format or procedures format or procedures in format or X1
lab, left a mess or lab stations, procedures
equipment lost questionable safety
Results are Results are unclear, Results are clear and Results and data are Excellent results and
disorganized or poorly missing labels, trends labeled, trends are not clearly recorded, data are clearly
2. Result recorded, do not make are not obvious, obvious or there are organized so it is easy recorded, organized
sense; not enough disorganized, there is minor errors in for the reader to see so it is easy for the
data was taken to enough data to show the organization trends. reader to see trends. X1
justify results experiment was All appropriate labels
conducted are included

Very incomplete or Some of the results Almost of the results Almost all of the results Excellent all important
incorrect interpretation have been correctly have been correctly have been correctly trends and data
of trends and interpreted and interpreted and interpreted and comparisons have
comparison of data discussed; partial but discussed, only minor discussed, only minor been interpreted
3. Discussion
indicating a lack of incomplete improvements are improvements are correctly and X3
understanding of understanding of results needed needed discussed, good
results is still evident understanding of
results is conveyed
No conclusion was A statement of the A statement of the Accurate statement of Accurate statement of
included or shows little results is incomplete results of the lab the results of the lab the results of lab
effort and reflection on with little reflection on indicates whether results indicates whether results indicates whether
the lab the lab support the hypothesis support the hypothesis. results support
4. Conclusion Possible sources of hypothesis. X1
error identified Possible sources of
error and what was
learned from the lab
discussed

TOTAL