What is the correct sequence of steps for fiber optic cable splicing

Fiber optic cable splicing involves preparing, aligning, joining, and protecting fiber ends, with methods including fusion splicing for permanent low-loss connections and mechanical splicing for quick or temporary joins.1. Fiber PreparationThe first step in both fusion and mechanical splicing is to strip the fiber of its protective coatings, jackets, tubes, and strength members, leaving only the bare fiber core visible. After stripping, the fiber must be cleaned thoroughly using isopropyl alcohol and lint-free wipes to remove any dust, oils, or debris that could interfere with light transmission or alignment .2. Fiber CleavingNext, the fiber ends are cleaved using a precision fiber cleaver. This creates a flat, perpendicular end face on each fiber, which is critical for minimizing signal loss. In fusion splicing, the cleave must be highly precise, while mechanical splicing allows slightly more tolerance .3. Fiber AlignmentFusion Splicing: The stripped and cleaved fibers are placed into a fusion splicer, which aligns the fibers using V-grooves or cameras. The splicer ensures the cores are perfectly aligned before fusing .Mechanical Splicing: Fibers are inserted into a mechanical splice unit, where they are aligned using an index matching gel or epoxy. The gel facilitates light transmission across the joint without permanently fusing the fibers .4. Fiber JoiningFusion Splicing: An electric arc or heat source melts the fiber ends, permanently fusing them into a continuous optical path. This method produces very low insertion loss (typically