In a world where information travels faster than ever, many of us might barely remember what life was like before we relied so heavily on the internet. Technology advances rapidly, making even faster connections possible, and fiber optic cables have a hand in that. Fiber optics play a significant role in communications today from networking to telephone service. Not only do fiber optic cables have better bandwidth (and, consequently, faster speeds), but they’re also very flexible and even weather resistant.
At times, fiber optic cables need to be spliced together whether one isn’t long enough for the required run or has become damaged in some way. There are two methods of fiber optics splicing: mechanical and fusion. We’re here to break down the differences between them.
- Mechanical Splicing- When splicing needs to be done quickly and easily, mechanical splicing is often used since it may only take around five minutes to complete. Rather than joining two or more fiber optic cables permanently, mechanical splicing simply aligns and holds them together, often using an index matching fluid to help light pass through easily.
- Fusion Splicing- Fusion splicing is a permanent fiber optics splicing method, so it lasts longer than mechanical splicing. Fusion splicing uses a special machine to align the ends before welding them together. It can fuse the fibers one at a time or fuse several fibers at once. In the end, fusion splicing allows for a clear and reflection-free connection that prevents excessive light loss.
If you need fiber optics splicing near Raleigh or Knightdale, North Carolina, contact our team at GP Associates, Inc.