To transmit data and power using optical fibers securely and at low loss, the fiber tips must be of extremely high quality, the criteria of which include a scratch-free surface that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the fiber.
The I-Cleave is a new cleaver offered by our French partner SEDI-ATI. It is used to cleave large-core fibers that have a core diameter from 200 µm to 1500 µm, resulting in cleaves that are perfectly perpendicular to the optical axis.
A diamond tip is used to make a small cut on the outer diameter of the fiber, and the fiber is then broken by applying longitudinal force along the optical axis.
The I-Cleave was developed to avoid putting any undue strain on the fiber. With the help of V-groove jigs, which are available on an optional basis, all fiber core diameters from 200 µm to 1500 µm can be securely mounted in a fixed position. With an additional mounting kit, which is also available on an optional basis, polyimide fibers can also be cleaved directly without having to remove the polyimide buffer, which would be costly and time consuming.
