Mass Fusion Splicer

[madd1]

What is a Mass Fusion Splicer? I just read about a stolen "Fujikura Mass Fusion Splicer" for sale at ebay.

A search produced a number of them for sale and the companies that make them, but not what it does. I gather it has something to do with fiber optics. Splicing them, maybe?

If it is used for splicing fiber optics, why would they use the term "Mass Fusion"?
Mass Fusion Splicer sure has a nice evil ring to it, is it just a fancy name?

[UncleBeer]

Yes, it's used for splicing fiber-optic cables. Fiber cable is typically run with a minimum of 6 fibers in a bundle (but may contain as many as 288 in my experience) and mass splicing makes many connections at once.

There are two methods to make splices. Fusion and mechanical. Lucent Technologies defines fusion and mechanical splices thusly:

Fusion: A permanent joint produced by the application of localized heat sufficient to fuse or melt the ends of the optical fiber, forming a continuous single fiber.
Mechanical: Joining two fibers together permanently, or temporarily, by means of a mechanical connector.

See http://www.lucent.com/networks/ for a range of products and white papers on splicing technology and products.

[madd1]

Thanks unclebeer. BTW, What a nice even nuber of posts you have.