3SAE PFS

The world’s first benchtop fusion splicer that delivers capabilities overcoming the limitations of current splicing processes. The PFS is a semi-automatic splicing station providing a far greater range of position adjustment than conventional fusion splicers.

Precise fiber joining in R&D and production.
Patented PentaPod® alignment stages (compact, rigid, stable).
6-axis motion control (X, Y, Z, Xϴ, Yϴ, Zϴ) per side.
Ring of Fire® (ROF) technology for thermal stability (125 μm to 2.5 mm).
Advanced machine vision for process evaluation.

The rapid development of fiber laser technology and the increased demand for producing components for these lasers have created a need for a dedicated and cost-effective high-performance splicing device. It must be capable of processes beyond those available in standard production fusion splicers and glass processing equipment. These new capabilities must be ideal for production and R&D environments, while being advanced enough to meet the rigorous requirements of fiber laser manufacturing.

PentaPod® – The full range of adjustment capabilities

3SAE Technologies PentaPod® Fusion Splicer (PFS) is the world’s first benchtop fusion splicer that delivers capabilities which overcome the limitations of current splicing processes at a critical angle to meet the most rigorous requirements for high-power fiber laser component manufacturing. The PFS is a semi-automatic splicing station that provides a far greater range of position adjustment than conventional fusion splicers. The PFS was specifically designed for series production, repeatability, precision, and user-friendly operation while maintaining unmatched splice quality.

Ring of Fire® – Highest quality splices

The PFS uses 3SAE’s patented PentaPod® stages, which offer 12 separate positioning axes enabling unprecedented control over the joined material, along with the latest third-generation Ring of Fire® heat source, which provides a highly controlled plasma field that completely surrounds the joined element and delivers uniform circumferential heat distribution facilitating a consistent and repeatable splicing process. Thanks to the combination of a precise mechanical design, high-contrast optics, absolute control of relative positioning and angular alignment, and a highly stable next-generation ROF® plasma source, the PFS stands out from other existing technologies. In addition, new splice scanning technology provides detailed splice quality analysis.

Key features:

– Specifically designed for accurate joining of endcaps to fibers in R&D and production environments.

– The PFS can also be used to make “bundle-to-fiber” connections of various diameters and different fiber sizes.

– The unique, patented PentaPod® alignment stages are compact, rigid, and stable.

– Both the fiber stages and the fiber-endcap stages provide individual alignment along the X, Y, and Z axes, as well as Pitch, Yaw, and Theta, delivering 6-axis motion control (X, Y, Z, Xϴ, Yϴ, Zϴ) per side.

– ±6 mm of relative linear alignment (X, Y, Z axes) with positioning accuracy of <0.1 μm

– ±6° of angular alignment (Xϴ, Yϴ, Zϴ axes) with positioning accuracy of <0.01°

– The new implementation of 3SAE Ring of Fire® (ROF) technology provides excellent thermal stability in applications with fiber diameters from 125 μm to 2.5 mm.

– Advanced machine vision ensures the highest alignment quality and facilitates detailed process evaluation. Two orthogonal (X and Y) live views of the splice during the splicing process.

– New splice scanning technology provides detailed splice quality analysis and facilitates 3SAE curvature-based thermal splice calibration.

– Fibers, bundles, and fiber endcaps are held in removable, interchangeable carriers that can be adapted to specific applications.

– Precise control of the vertical ROF alignment relative to the spliced elements ensures uniform circumferential thermal distribution during splicing.