WCA July 2009

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Diameter and position monitoring in optical fibre drawing processes Highly accurate diameter and ovality monitoring is crucial in fibre drawing. The measurement accuracy must be in fractions of a micron (µm) and the fibre position must be known at all times to maintain fibre concentricity. For reasons of process control, the frequency of the fibre vibration must be also being known.

All parameters should be available in analogue format, with a high update rate for control of the drawing process. Zumbach’s advanced laser gauge Odac ® 18XY, together with the analogue interface AI 4-Odac ® , offers a solution to these problems with the following features: Scan rate and accuracy are extremely high • Position measurement in X and Y is precise • and linear Vibration frequency can be determined using • the high X-Y scan rate and processing speed Analogue outputs for diameter and position • have a high resolution (16 bit) and a high update rate (120/s). To date, most available equipment has resolutions of 12 bit and update rates between 10 and 60/s. The same package (Odac ® 18XY with AI 4-Odac ® ) can be used after the coating stations where position monitoring is normally not required.

Drawing and coating monitoring with Zumbach’s Odac systems ❍ ❍

Zumbach Electronic AG – Switzerland Fax : +41 32 356 0430 Email : sales@zumbach.ch

Website : www.zumbach.com

Optical fibre colouring and coating systems

Medek & Schörner covers virtually the entire spectrum of machines for marking cables and coating and colour coding optical fibres.

Fibre ribbon production with excellent ribbon planarity • and for speeds up to 1,000m per min Compact fibre unit (CFU) • Medek & Schörner developed its concept for coating optical fibres with ultra-violet hardening inks in close cooperation with companies in the cable industry. The SOFT curing UV irradiator system has already proved its worth in numerous applications throughout the world. The horizontal travelling of the fibre through the entire process has been proved to allow a reliable and comfortable operation of the system. Ink suppliers, in close partnership with Medek & Schörner, have developed special UV curable coating inks and resins. Each optical fibre coating line is equipped with Medek & Schörner designed M550 high performance SOFT-curing UV irradiators for: Excellent curing results with minimum energy load for • fibre and ink Permanent irradiation control • Automatic adjustment for the curing demand that • compensates bulb aging and quartz tube deterioration 30% lower energy consumption compared to other • similar systems

Optical fibre processing from Medek & Schörner ❍ ❍

Medek & Schörner GmbH – Austria Fax : +43 1982 72 96 Email : m+s@medek.at Website : www.medek.at

Top speed optical fibre processing systems are used for: Optical fibre colour coding up to 3,000m per min • Ring marking of optical fibres • Tight buffering up to 1,300m per min •

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Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2009