Double crucible method- direct melt method

Fiber optic cabling

The optical fiber needs cabling
The cable structure depends on
whether the cable is to be pulled into
the ground , aerial or submerged
under the water.
Cable design can be categorized as :
Fiber buffering
Cable structural & strength members
Cable sheath & water barrier

a) Fiber buffering:
Primary coating is given to prevent
abrasion of glass surface.
A secondary or buffer jacket provides
protection against external
mechanical & environmental
influences.
Buffer jacket may be:
1. Tight-buffer jacket: consist of hard plastic
such as nylon in direct contact with the
primary coated fiber. It provides stiffening
of the fiber.

2. Loose tube buffer jacket: fiber is placed in an oversized cavity. The tube is smooth inside & offers low
resistance to the movement of the fiber. It isolates
the fiber from external forces.
3. Filled-loose tube type: the over-sized cable is filled
with a moisture-resistant compound. It also
provides a barrier in the immediate vicinity of the
fiber.

Cable structural & strength members

The buffered fibers may be wrapped around one or
more structural members . This is called stranding.
In the fig. the cable elements are stranded around a
central structural member. This central member acts
as both the structural & strength member.

Layer cable, unit cable

Single fiber cable

The fiber protective coating is followed by a tight
or loose buffer jacket which is surrounded by a
layer of kevlar for strength. Finally an outer jacket
is provided. Here the optical fiber itself acts as
the central strength member.

Cable sheath & water barrier

An outer plastic sheath is used to reduce abrasion
& protect the cable from crushing
Polyethylene sheath is often used
Outdoor cables have an additional water barrier
aluminium foil or polyethylene laminated film
immediately inside the sheath.
Spaces in the cable may be filled with moisture
resistant compounds such as petroleum based
cmpounds.

Cable types
Indoor cables:

 Each of the tight buffered fiber is surrounded by a

dielectric strength member & they are both
located within cable sheath (fig a)
6 tight buffered sub-units are placed around a
coated central strength member 7 then
surrounded by a further yarn strength material
Indoor cables are of 2 types:
interconnect cable- to interconnect optical txn modules within an
equipment
Distribution cable- to send data , voice & vedio signals

 Outdoor cables
They consist of loose tube structure
Different types are:
Aerial cable: intended for mounting outside
between buildings or on poles or towers.they
are of 2 types . Self- supporting cablescontains an internal strength member that
permits the cable to be strung between poles
without any additional support mechanism.
Facility-supporting cable-a saparate wire or
strength member is strung between poles and
the cable is clipped to this member.

 Armored cable:

 Used for direct burial or underground- duct

applns
Has one or more layers of steel-wire protective
armoring below a layer of polyethylene
jacketing
This provides additional strength to the cable &
also protects it from gnawing animals such as
squirrels.
It also contains central strength member,
wrapping & binding tapes & water blocking
materials

 Underwater cable:
Also known as submarine cables and is
used in rivers, lakes and ocean
environments.
Such cables are exposed to high water
pressures therefore have several water
blocking layers, one or more protective
inner polyethylene sheaths and a heavy
outer armor jacket

Photonic crystal fiber-Index guiding

pcf

Hollow core pcf