How to coil welding optical cables

Proper coiling of optical fibers after welding ensures minimal signal loss, prevents fiber damage, and maintains a tidy layout for future maintenance.

Preparation Before Coiling

Before coiling, the optical fiber must be properly prepared: Strip and clean the fiber: Remove the outer coating and clean the bare fiber with alcohol to ensure a smooth end face for welding. Splice the fiber: Use a fusion splicer to weld the fibers, ensuring low-loss connections and proper alignment. Reserve sufficient fiber length: Calculate the required slack to allow coiling without sharp bends, typically leaving extra length for heat shrink tubes and future adjustments.

Coiling Rules

One coil per splice: After each splicing and heat-shrink application, coil the fiber once to avoid tangling. Avoid sharp bends: Maintain a gentle bend radius to prevent microbending or signal loss. Tidy layout: Arrange fibers neatly in the splice tray to facilitate maintenance and prevent confusion between fibers or branches.

Coiling MethodsMiddle-first method: Place heat-shrunk sleeves in the center of the tray first, then coil fibers on both sides. This is ideal for small splice trays or limited space. End-to-end method: Start coiling from one end, fix the heat shrink tube, and then coil the remaining fiber on the other side.

This method is flexible and faster for standard-length fibers. Special cases: For fibers that are unusually long or short, coil them separately at the tray ends. Special optical devices may require individual handling.

Final Steps

Secure the fibers: Ensure all fibers are fixed in the tray grooves or holders to prevent movement. Seal the joint box: Close the splice enclosure properly to maintain an airtight environment and protect against moisture. Check layout: Verify that all fibers are coiled without overlapping or excessive tension, ensuring long-term reliability.

Following these steps ensures that welded optical fibers are coiled safely, maintain signal integrity, and remain accessible for future maintenance or troubleshooting.