Panel and interfaces

Instrumental ports

2. Key Panel and Definitions of Buttons

2.1 Key Panel

Figure (2-1)

Figure (2-2)

2.2 Definitions of Buttons

	Power ON/OFF		Start
	Up		Reset
	Down		Heat

	Left		Switching between X/Y display
	Right		Discharge
	OK		Cancel
	Menu

3. Instructions of Frequently Used Interfaces

3.1 Main Menu

Figure (3-1)

3.2 Menu Options

Figure (3-2)

4. Parameters

(1) Splicing parameters (SplicePara)

It lists all the Splicing parameter files already configured well. User can select, view, modify the Splicing parameter file under this menu option.

(2) Heating parameters (HeatPara)

It lists all the heating parameter files already configured well. User can select, view, modify the heating parameter file under this menu option.

(3) System setup (SysSetup)

Under this menu option, user can realize the functions such as time setup, power-saving set-up, resetting. More importantly, total splicing parameters (splicing control) are also set under this menu option.

(4) History

All splicing results are saved in the interface of splicing data under this option in form of data file. Besides, user can view electrode discharge times under this option.

5. Guide to Software Operations

5.1 Power ON/OFF

Press and hold  for 1 second or so, the LED indicator on control panel will illuminate, company LOGO will appear in the screen.

Normal soft power-off:

Normal soft power-off ensure no data loss will occur after power-off, user just need click  , the machine will be powered off in normal soft mode.

Forced power-off:

Press and hold  for 5 seconds or so, the machine will be immediately turned off, in such case, the data will be lost. Forced power-off mode is usually chosen when the instrument appears abnormal and normal soft power-off fails.

5.2 LCD Brightness

While in main menu, click   to increase LCD brightness, click  to decrease LCD brightness. While in this interface, user can realize the functions by operating status bar.

5.3 Time Set-Up

There is an option “Time Setup” as shown in the figure below under the sub-menu “SysSetup”:

5.4 Operations of Splicing Parameter Files

5.4.1. Select

(1) Enter the interface of list of splicing parameter files as shown in Figure (5-4-1):

Figure (5-4-1)

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be operated.

(3) Click  to pop-up the sub-menu as shown in Figure (5-4-2):

Figure (5-4-2)

(4) Choose the option “Select””. The moment the currently highlighted files will be chosen as current splicing parameter file. The moment current splicing parameter file will be marked with a tick “√” in the left as shown in Figure (5-4-3) below.

Figure (5-4-3)

5.4.2. View, Modify

(1) Enter the list of splicing parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-4-1).

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be viewed or modified.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, choose the option “Modify”. The moment the system will enter the interface of Edit splicing parameter files as shown in Figure below.

5.4.3. Copy from the system

Using this option, the selected system splicing parameter files can be copied to defined user splicing parameter files.

(1) Enter the list of splicing parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-4-1).

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be modified.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “Copy from system”. The moment the system will enter the interface of system splicing parameter files as shown in Figure below.

Figure (5-4-5)

(4) Click  to move the cursor, choose and highlight the system splicing parameter files from which the files are copied.

(5) Click  to copy files.

5.4.4. Reset System Default Settings

Using this option, all the user splicing parameter files will be reset to factory default settings.

(1) Enter list of splicing parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-4-1).

(2) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “All reset”. The moment a dialog box as shown in Figure below will pop asking you whether to reset default settings.

Figure (5-4-6)

(3) Click  to confirm “All reset”, Click  to cancel the operation.

5.5. Operations of Parameter Files

5.5.1. Select

(1) Enter the list of heating parameter files as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-5-1)

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be operated.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-5-2)

(4) Choose the option “Select”. The moment the currently highlighted files will be chosen as current heating parameter files. Current heating parameter files will be marked with a tick “√” in the left as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-5-3)

5.5.2. View, Modify

(1) Enter the list of heating parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-5-1).

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be viewed or modified.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, choose the option “Modify”. The moment the system will enter the interface of Edit heating parameter files.

5.5.3. Copy from  System

Using this option, the selected system heating parameter files can be copied to defined user heating parameter files.

(1) Enter the list of heating parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-5-1).

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be modified.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “Copy from system”. The moment the system will enter the interface of system heating parameter files as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-5-5)

(4) Click to move the cursor,, choose and highlight the system heating parameter files from which the files are copied.

(5) Click to copy files.

5.5.4. Reset System Default Settings

Using this option, all the user heating parameter files will be reset to factory default settings.

(1) Enter the list of heating parameter files as shown in above Figure (5-5-1).

(2) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “All reset”. The moment a dialog box as shown in Figure below will popup asking you whether to reset the default settings:

Figure (5-5-6)

(3) Click   to confirm “All reset”, Click  to cancel the operation.

5.6 Save splicing results

The results of splicing operations will be automatically saved in form of splicing recording file. This operation can be made in the interface “Splicing data”.

5.6.1 Enter the list of splicing recording files:

(1) Enter the menu option “History” as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-6-1)

(2) Select splicing data, click  to enter the list of splicing recording files as shown in Figure below:

Figure (5-6-2)

5.6.1 View, delete, clean history splicing records

(1) First enter the list of splicing recording files, for operating steps please refer to Section 5.6.1.

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the splicing recording file to be operated.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “view ”, the system will enter the interface of splicing recording files, and display the contents of splicing records as shown in Figure (5-6-3) below; select “delete ” to delete current splicing record; select “clean ” to clean all splicing records.

Figure (5-6-3)

5.7 Electrode discharge times

5.7.1 View, clean Electrode discharge times

(1) Enter the menu option “History” as shown in above Figure (5-6-1).

(2) Then enter the interface of electrode data to view current Electrode discharge times. The interface is as shown in figure below:

Figure (5-7-1)

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu, select the option “Zero” to zero current Electrode discharge times.

6. Operations of splicing

6.1. Install optical-fiber heat shrinkable tube

Install optical-fiber heat shrinkable tube onto the optical-fiber

6.2. Cleaving and cleaning of optical fibers

Cleave the clad of optical fibers by 30-40mm using cleaver, then clean the optical fiber using yarn or soft cotton paper dipped with alcohol. Then wipe it once using clean cotton cloth, don’t wipe it for a second time using the same cotton cloth.

Stripping

Cleaning

Caution: Please use the alcohol of higher than 99%.

6.3. Cleave optical fiber

(1) First make sure the sliding board installed with knives in the frontal end, then open big and small pressing board.

(2) Align the cladding edge of optical-fiber to appropriate scale of the gauge, then place the optical-fiber into guide groove, make sure the stripped optical fiber is straightly placed on rubber pad.

(3) Close the small pressing board and integrated pressing board, push the slide with knives to the other side, so as to cut off the optical-fiber.

(4) Open the integrated pressing board, while holding the optical-fiber with hands and opening small pressing board concurrently, remove the shredded optical fiber with fingers, move away the optical-fiber carefully, note prevent the section of optical-fiber contacting anything else.

6.4. Place optical-fiber

(1) Open storm shutter and pressing board.

(2) Place the ready optical fiber on V-groove, with the tip lying between the tip of electrode and the edge of V-groove. If the optical-fiber is bend, keep the bending part upward when you place the optical fiber.

(3) Please prevent the ready optical-fiber colliding with anything so as to ensure the quality of optical ends.

(4) Hold the optical-fiber with fingers, then close the pressing board and press the optical fiber. Make sure the optical fiber is placed at the bottom of V-groove. If the optical-fiber has been improperly placed, please place it again.

(5) Place another optical-fiber following the above procedures.

(6) Close storm shutter.

6.5 Splicing

6.5.1. Select splicing parameter files, heating parameter files

Select splicing parameter files:

(1) Enter main menu, select the option “splicing parameters”, then enter the list of splicing parameter files as shown in Figure (5-4-1).

(2) Click to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be operated.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu as shown in Figure (5-4-2). Choose the option “Select””. The moment the currently highlighted files will be chosen as current splicing parameter file. Current splicing parameter file will be marked with a tick “√” in the left as shown in Figure (5-4-3) below.

Select heating parameter files:

(1) Enter the list of heating parameter files as shown in Figure (5-5-1).

(2) Click    to move the cursor, choose and highlight the parameter files to be operated.

(3) Click  to popup the sub-menu as shown in Figure (5-5-2) below, Choose the option “Select””. The moment the currently highlighted files will be chosen as current heating parameter files. current heating parameter files will be marked with a tick “√” in the left as shown in Figure (5-5-3).

6.5.2. Start Splicing

Pause 2

(1) After optical-fiber is placed in the splicer, Click  to start splicing. After cleaning and discharging, the optical-fiber will stop at the preset position. Next, check the cleaving angle of optical-fiber and quality of optical-fiber end. If the measured cleaving angle is bigger than the preset limit value, or spurs are found in the end of optical-fiber, the buzzer will alarm, concurrently an error message will appear in the display alerting the operator. In the meantime, the splicing will pause. Even though there are no error message alerting the operator, the operator should inspect the end of optical-fiber manually. If any phenomenon as described below is found, take the optical-fiber out of the splicer, then get the optical-fiber again. Any defect on the surface of optical-fiber may lead to splicing failure, and the quality of optical-fiber end exerts material impact on the loss of joint, therefore, please try to make the optical-fiber end appear in a plane, and the angle between such a plane and section of optical-fiber shall be less than １°. For example, the optical-fiber end as shown in Figure (a) below is good for splicing, but the ends shown in Figures (b)~ (f) are defective, user should remake ends for these optical fiber. After inspecting the optical-fiber, align it in core-to-core or clad-to-clad manner, axial offset will appear.

(a) Good end

(b) Unfilled corner

(c) Extruding tip

(d) Tooth

(e) Concave

(f) Turtle Pattern

(2) After aligning is over, the machine will discharge and splice the optical-fiber

Splicing finished

(3) After splicing is finished, the estimated splice loss will appear. The calculation of splice loss is based on some spatial parameters. When either of splice loss or cleaving angle exceed its preset limit value, the machine will display an error message. If inspection shows that any spliced optical-fiber has anything abnormal, e.g.: too thick, too thin, or bubble, the splicer will display an error message. Even though there are no error messages displayed, but the splicing results are found very bad in the display, we recommend users to remake the splicing.

Caution

1. Sometimes the splicing point may look a little thicker than other parts, but the splicing result will still be considered normal, and it doesn’t impact the splice loss.
2. To change the cleaving angle of optical-fiber and calculate limit values of splice loss, please refer to the section [splicing mode].
3. Error messages, e.g.: “calculate splice loss”, “splicing angle”, “too thick”, “too thin”, “bubble” can be ignored. User can set these functions as “disabled”.
4. In some cases, extra discharge may improve splice loss. Click to make extra discharge, the moment, the splice loss will be recalculated, and the optical-fiber will be reinspected.

7. Operations of heat

(1) Open the cover of heater

(2) Open storm shutter, with left hand holding left side of optical-fiber at the edge of storm shutter.

(3) Open left pressing board, hold optical-fiber firmly till total optical fiber is moved into heater.

Heating

(4) Open the right pressing board.

(5) Hold the right part of optical-fiber with right hand, take down the spliced optical fiber from the machine and place it into the right pressing board.

(6) Set the splicing point at the central position of heating protective tube using heat shrinkable tube central positioning device.

(7) Close the left and right pressing boards and the cover of heater.

(8) Click   to start heating. When heating is finished, buzzer will alarm

(9) Open the cover of heater and take away the optical fiber under the protection of heat shrinkable tube. Some pull is to be exerted when the optical fiber is taken out from the heater. The moment heat shrinkable tube may have bonded with the bottom board of the heater, if so, take out the heat shrinkable tube using cotton swab.

(10) After heating is over, check heat shrinkable tube whether there are bubbles or dust inside it.

8. Discharge and Calibration

The atmospheric environment such as temperature, humidity, air pressure is always changing, as a result, the discharging temperature is always charging. Temperature and air pressure inductors have been built in the machine, they can feedback the environmental parameters to control system, so as to adjust discharging strength.

As the change of discharging strength arising of electrode abrasion and optical-fiber shred adhesion can’t be corrected automatically, and sometimes the discharging central position may move leftward or rightward. For this reason, the splicing position of optical-fiber may offset against discharging centre, to solve this problem, a discharging calibration is to be made. Using this function, current discharging strength is measured and corrected as standard strength, and discharging strength is to be inspected based on the axial offset of splicing part before and after discharging. Discharge calibration will change the parameter value of discharging strength, this value will be applied in all splicing processes.

Operating procedures

(1) Enter main menu, select the option “ArcCalib”. Open the picture of discharging and calibration.

(2) Prepare optical-fiber and place it in the splicer.

(3) Discharge the optical-fiber before pushing it in, so as to test the discharging central position, and set the interval centre of optical-fiber at the discharging central position.

(4) An axial offset is intentionally for the optical-fiber while the discharging and calibration are made.

The calibration results will appear in the screen when discharging and calibration are finished.

(5) Discharging strength and splicing position have been calibrated, but we still strongly recommend to make further calibration.

9. Instructions of parameters

9.1. Descriptions of splicing global parameters

Parameters	Descriptions
Pause 1	For observing the cutting conditions of ends
Pause 2	For observing the aligning conditions of ends
Tensile splicing	For improving splicing strength of optical-fiber
Tensile test	Tensile test is to be made after splicing is over to observe the splicing conditions of optical-fiber

9.2. Descriptions of splicing parameters

Parameters	Descriptions
Type of optical-fibers	There are four types of optical-fibers, i.e.: SM (single-mode), MM (multi-mode), DS (dispersion displacement), NZDS (Non-zero dispersion displacement).
Aligning	Set optical-fiber aligning modes “Core aligning”: align optical-fiber through core of optical-fiber “Clad aligning”: align optical-fiber through central position of clad.
Cleaving angle limit	Set limit values of cleaving angle. When either of the left and right optical fiber exceeds the limit value of cleaving angle, an error message will appear in the screen.
Loss limit	When estimated splice loss exceeds the preset loss limit, an error message will appear in the screen.
Core angle limit	When either of the two optical-fibers exceeds limit values of the preset limit value of bending angle, an error message will appear in the screen.
Cleaning discharge time	Cleaning discharge lasts for a short while. It is used to clean micro dust on the surface of optical fiber. Changing this parameter will change length of cleaning discharge.
Optical-fiber interval setting	Set the interval of optical-fiber alignment.
Optical-fiber pre-fusion strength	Set the pre-discharge strength during the period from the beginning of discharge to when the optical-fiber is pushed-in. If [pre-discharge strength] is too great, the end of optical-fiber will fuse excessively, this will lead to too much splice loss.
Optical-fiber pre-discharge time	Set the pre-discharge period from the beginning of discharge to when the optical-fiber is pushed-in. Too long [pre-discharge time] will bring the same results as that of too great [pre-discharge strength].
Pushed-in length	The pushed-in length of optical fiber after pre-fusion.
Strength of discharge 1	Discharge proceeds in two stages. The first discharge strength is called stage 1 of discharge. Here user can set the strength of discharge 1.
Time of discharge 1	Set the time of discharge 1.
Strength of discharge 2	Discharge 2 is stage 2 of discharge. Here user can set the strength of discharge 2.
Time of discharge 2	Set the time of discharge 2.
Tensile discharge strength	The discharge strength during tensile splicing.
Tensile discharge time	The discharge time during tensile splicing.
Tensile degree	The tensile splicing degree
Tensile waiting time	The waiting time before tensile splicing is started
Discharge strength compensation mode	To optimize discharge strength so as to adapt the core bias. There are the following compensation modes: auto, manual, close compensation
Discharge strength compensation value	The amount of compensation

Troubleshooting

1. Power Supply

Fully charged battery can’t support splicing for more than one time.

If power-saving function is disabled, power consumption will rise.

As the battery’s discharge depends on medical reaction, if temperature is too low especially falls below 32 ⁰ F (0 ⁰C), the volume may decline.

While in high-altitude regions, the discharge current will rise. Under such conditions, current will decline faster.

AC adapter can’t charge the battery properly.

Power volume display is incorrect

The information appearing in the power volume indicator is for reference only.

Power volume indicator does not work well.

2. Operations of splicing

Splice loss is unsteady/too high

Clean V-groove, optical-fiber clamps, reflector, objective lens in storm shuttle.

If the optical-fiber with secondary protective layer has bending or curling memory, please keep the bending part upward when placing the optical-fiber.

If the splice loss still appears too high or unsteady after taking the above actions, please contact the dealer. Users are recommended to make maintenance regularly for the machine (at least once a year) so as to ensure good splicing quality.

How to resume parameters of discharge conditions

Please refer to Section (select splicing parameter files).

Change limit values of cleaving angle, splice loss, offset angle

Please refer to Section [view, edit splicing parameter files]

Ignorable error messages

Please refer to [Splicing control] under the option History, error message is permitted to be ignored.

Display cleaving angle, optical-fiber angle, core/clad bias

Please refer to [Splicing control] under the option History.

Estimated value of splice loss differs from the actual value

Estimated value of splice loss is just a calculation result, it is provided for reference only.

The optical parts of splicer needs cleaning.

3. Operations of heating

Heat-shrinkable tube doesn’t shrink completely

Extend the heating time. For details please refer to Section [View , edit  heating parameter files]

Heat indicator on control panel blinks

Click  while in heating process, the Heat indicator may blink, click  again, heating operation will be cancelled.

If the temperature doesn’t reach the presser value, the indicator will blink and alarm sounds at the same time, if so, please contact the dealer.

Heat-shrinkable tube bonds with heating board after it shrinks.

Separate them using cotton swab or soft things.

Initialize heating conditions

Please refer to Section [View, edit heating parameter files]

Cancel heating

Click , the system doesn’t respond, the moment you need to click  .

Maintenance

Clean V- groove

If there is any contaminant in V-groove, it will be unable to clamp optical-fiber, this will increase splice loss. Therefore, please regularly inspect and clean V-groove at fixed intervals. V-groove cleaning steps:

(1) Open storm shuttle

(2) Clean the bottom of V-groove with cotton swab dipped with alcohol, and remove the alcohol left in V-groove with dry cotton swab.

Please note to avoid using too strong force when cleaning V-groove, so as to prevent any damage to walls of V-groove. If the cotton swab dipped with alcohol can’t clean the contaminant from V-groove, please use the tail of an optical-fiber which is cut well to remove the contaminant. Afterwards repeat step 2.

2. Clean fiber presser foot

If there is dust on presser foot of optical-fiber, the optical-fiber may not work well, this may result in poor splicing quality. Therefore, please regularly inspect and clean the presser foot of optical-fiber at fixed intervals. Presser foot cleaning steps:

Open storm shutter

Clean the surface of presser foot with thin cotton swab dipped with alcohol, then wipe dry the presser foot with dry cotton swab.

3. Clean air-tight lens

If air-tight lens get dirty, the optical-fiber core may be difficult to keep in correct position because the transparency degrades, this will surely results in high loss. It can be cleaned in the following steps: clean the surface of air-tight lens with thin cotton swab dipped with alcohol, then remove the residual alcohol on air-tight lens with dry cotton swab. If the lens are clean, they will be free of stripe pattern or dirt.

4. Clean objective lens

If objective lens get dirty, it may affect good observation over the position of optical-fiber core, this will result in high splice loss or poor splicing quality. Therefore, please regularly clean the two objective lens at fixed intervals, otherwise more and more dust will stay on the lens and it will be harder to remove them. Objective lens cleaning steps:

(1) Please shut off the power before cleaning objective lens.

(2) Clean the objective lens in circling action from centre to edge using thin cotton swab dipped with alcohol, then remove the residual alcohol with dry cotton swab.

Please note to first remove electrode bar before cleaning objective lens, and note to avoid colliding with or touching electrode bar in cleaning process. The surface of objective lens should keep clean and free of dirt.

5. Regular inspection and cleaning

To keep good splicing quality, users are recommended to perform regular inspection and cleaning at fixed interval

6. Maintenance of cleavers

(1) Rotate blade of cleaver

If cleaver can’t cut off optical-fiber, rotate the blade by 1/16 of a round, so as to keep the blade sharp as a new one. Blade rotating steps:

Remove the pressing pad distance limit device. Unfasten screws using screwdriver, rotate the blade by 1/16.

While you are rotating the blade, please note to avoid touching the edge of knife. Using thin cotton swab to rotate blade may be safer.

(2) Adjustment of blade height

If a round blade has been rotated by a round (it means that the 16 sides of the knife have all been used), user need to adjust the blade height to compensate the abrasion of blade. Adjustment steps:

Adjust the adjustment screw clockwise using a 1.5mm hexagon wrench to marked point and align it with next position mark. Please don’t rotate screw over two marks at one time. Fasten the adjustment screw. Fasten blade locking screw.

(3) Change of blade

If a blade has been raised for 3 times, you should change the blade.