Automation of the buffer tube process using active systems

摘要

The actual trends in fiber optic cable manufacturing are all connected with the general optimization of each step of the production process. In order to improve the performance of the cable, to reduce the costs of the final product and to enhance the production range of the equipment, many technologies and devices have been invented to reduce optical loss, increase production speed and allow more flexibility in the manufacturing process. As fiber and cable continues its movement towards commodity production, continuous automated production methods, especially in the buffer tube process, will be required by the cable manufacturing industries to be competitive New technological developments in equipment, from conception to design, are influenced by both physical and practical issues. These can range from production philosophies within the organization to physical limits such as processing lines speed for a typical modern buffer tube line. A case study focusing on automated fiber launching demonstrates the importance of the utilization of active systems to provide the absolutely vital reliability of the production process. The equipment features maximum scrap reduction and highest efficiency considered over a longer period.