How to coil optical fiber after fusion

After fusion splicing, optical fibers should be coiled carefully to maintain a minimum bending radius, prevent stress, and reduce additional optical loss.Key Principles for Coiling FiberMaintain Minimum Bending Radius: Always ensure the fiber is coiled with a radius at least ten times the fiber diameter or no less than 30 mm for standard single-mode fibers. This prevents microbending and macrobending losses that can degrade signal quality . Use Splice Tray Slots: Route the internal fiber pigtails counterclockwise along the splice tray slots and external fibers clockwise. Follow the natural trend of the fiber to avoid tension or sharp bends . Avoid Pulling or Stretching: Do not pull the fiber tightly. Let it coil naturally according to the reserved tray space. Excessive tension can cause microfractures or long-term reliability issues . Secure with Cable Ties Carefully: Fix the redundant fiber using adhesive cable tie seats or light cable ties. Avoid overtightening, which can crush the fiber. Trim any excess tie length to prevent interference with other fibers . Handle Special Fibers Separately: If you have unusually long or short fibers, or fibers from special optical devices, coil them separately or lightly place them on top of ordinary fibers with a buffer pad to prevent extrusion and breakage . Maximize Tray Space: Efficiently use the reserved space in the splice tray to reduce additional loss caused by coiling. Ensure fibers are not squeezed or bumped, and the tray is closed carefully to avoid mechanical stress . Monitor with OTDR: After coiling, perform OTDR testing to check for additional loss caused by the coiling process. Inspect each splice point and the coiled fiber to ensure quality and reliability .SummaryProper coiling after fusion splicing involves gentle handling, maintaining minimum bending radius, careful routing in splice trays, and secure but non-damaging fixation. Following these steps ensures low-loss, reliable fiber connections and extends the lifespan of the optical network .