3SAE Plasma WorkStation
The 3SAE Plasma Work Station is a compact, precision-built instrument for performing fiber operations that are beyond the ordinary.
The standard thermomechanical stripping, solvent cleaning, and arc fusion splicing technologies are now over 20 years old, and were developed for basic acrylate-coated 125um SM fiber splicing. As fiber technology continues to expand, there are production operations that are difficult or impossible to perform on standard production
fiber processing tools.
Ring of Fire: The Plasma Work Station is based on 3SAE’s exclusive Wide Area Plasma technology. This 3-phase glow discharge plasma produces a “Ring of Fire” surrounding the fiber with even heat and controlled ionic conditions. Sophisticated software and instrument-grade measurement technology monitor the 3-phase arc to maintain balance and consistency over a huge dynamic range. Temperatures obtainable at the fiber range from less than 100°C to well over 3000°C.
Polyimide stripping: Polyimide-coated fibers are making rapid inroads in avionics,
military, sensor, and medical applications. These tough coatings are impossible to
remove with normal fiber strippers. Previous polyimide stripping technologies have
either used thermal decomposition (which produces relatively low tensile strength of ~100kpsi) or strong acid/alkali chemistry (which is dangerous and produces toxic
waste products).
The Plasma Work Station uses ion etching technology, powered by the 3SAE Ring
of Fire, to remove polyimide coatings safely and cleanly. The resulting tensile
strength is many times higher than that resulting from ordinary thermal stripping.
The stripped fibers have close to as-drawn strength (>400 kpsi), with cleanly tapered interfaces and no charring.
Large-Diameter Fiber/ Multiple Fiber capability: The standard PWS accommodates a single fiber up to 1000um diameter (bare glass or coated fiber). With the available Multiple Fiber Option, two standard-size (125um cladding) fibers can be processed simultaneously.
The Work Station: Many of the operations possible on the Work Station are performed in partial vacuum. The Plasma Work Station creates vacuum internally from an external air supply. The unique seal and baffle design allows for sufficient sealing around the fibers without causing fiber coating damage.
The housing of the Plasma Work Station is CNC machined from a solid block of
aluminum. The custom-designed drive electronics are massively overbuilt, for continuous-duty operation and long-term reliability. This is a top-quality instrument designed for heavy production use.
Software Interface: The Work Station’s control interface can be accessed from
any computer having an RS232 serial port and standard terminal program. Complete control of plasma characteristics, temperature, and positioning is provided. Full documentation of the interface protocol is available for straightforward interoperability with your existing process control software. A single “GO/STOP” button is standard for operator-level control. Custom hardware interfaces are also available.
Application support: The 3SAE Technologies team have almost a century of
combined experience in the manufacturing and support of custom fiber optic
tools. On-site CNC machining and electronic assembly capability enables us to
act quickly to create customized programming, interfaces, and fixtures to meet
unique customer requirements.
Key Features
- Compact bench top design
- Chemical free fiber stripping and cleaning
- Variable strip lengths from 2mm to 55mm
- Translation speed: 2um/sec – 20mm/sec
- Software adjustable parameters
Technical Specs
- Dimensions: 285mm (W) x 170mm (D) x 170mm (H) (11.2” x 6.7” x 6.7”)
- Temperature Range: 1000°C - 3000°C+ (at standard pressure) <100°C -
1100°C (in partial vacuum) - External Power Supply: 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz, 120W
- Compressed Air: External compressor, 95psi max
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