BW Fiber Fusing
I can try using the microscope to determine which end of a sci-fi to fuse. If the microscope does not work well, I can request a magnifying glass. The magnifying glass goes in the box on the soldering table when we are done with it.
I should use the weights to test some of the real fuses I am doing (every nth fiber) with 850 g weights. I don't need to do practice fuses if my real ones are going well.
5/14/2018
Apparently the weight testing needs to be done differently. The 100 gram weight with the hook or the 50 gram hanger should go on the fiber, but there is a problem with the hooked 500 gram weight. That should not go on the fiber.
There is also a new way to fuse. I should press the fibers together while holding down the top ferrule with both hands to add pressure and prevent wings.
I need to adjust the focus of the lamp to prevent fiber material from burning away, which is happening now. Jim said the lamp would probably have to be a little lower and maybe closer to the ferrules.
The Heat dial adjusts how long the lamp is on. It has been usually set at 3.
To prevent the ferrules from slamming together, we can leave them closed or close together so that if someone accidentally hits the start button they will not have room to build up speed. We could also put some sponge gasket between the metal parts to the left of the ferrules as a cushion.
I wanted to increase the minimum pressure in the compressor, so I looked for the setting screws to do that. I am not sure, but it could be the tall black one that seems to have a plastic head. I gave it about two turns counterclockwise.
5/15/2018
I should ask a question if anything seems wrong with the splicing unit. I did not recognize that the ferrules should not slam together, but that would have been a good time to ask whether they should be slamming.
I also did not realize that the splicing unit was not giving any horizontal pressure to the fibers.
To recognize problems like slamming or lack of force from the machine, I need to think outside the box, or in other words think creatively about the fibers. Following a set procedure is not enough because the procedure may not be good enough.
Jim said one problem with the splicing unit was that originally it was for smaller fibers that did not need as much pressure to be fused. The fibers we are using require much higher pressure, and the splicing unit does not work as well with higher pressure.
5/16/2018
I never need to turn off the compressor except if I have to adjust the pressure spread or maximum settings.
I need to test the splicing unit before operating it every day. I should put sponge gasket and a scrap fiber between the metal pieces that hold the light guide and press start so that if something is wrong and the ferrules are about to slam together they won’t come in contact. They should meet gently rather than slamming together.
I should blow a gentle stream of canned air to clean the fibers rather than a strong burst. I need to remember to aim away from the ferrules though so I don't blow dust on them. To clean the ferrules I can also use a gentle stream.
When I weight test fibers, the fuse site should be centered between the supports, midway between them.
5/18/18
The compressor regulator should always be set to 89 PSI. I should not turn it to zero before leaving at the end of the day. I should instead disconnect the hose that connects to the regulator. I should also drain the compressor tank every day, but I don’t need to turn off the compressor to do that.
Jim said some of my fuses would be acceptable for the real fibers but they should be better. I will need more practice.
Fusing fibers three or more times increases the amount of cladding included in the fuse, so there is a downside to repeating a fuse.
5/22/18
For some reason I am suddenly getting incomplete fuses unless I push hard again.
Maybe it's just that the parts that grip the long fiber and push it to the right are going all the way to the right sometimes. Maybe if I watch and notice that happening I should push hard but if the grips have not gone all the way yet I should push gently.
5/23/18
In fusing practice, I found that if the grippers don't move all the way right, I can let go of the long fiber and let the splicing unit do all the work, at least until they do reach the stopping point where they can't go any farther.
If the grippers do move all the way to the right, I have to push fairly hard but less than I used to. When there is no horizontal pressure from the splicer, I have to push on the second fuse as well as the first. If I don't push on the second fuse, it will go from an almost complete fuse to a very incomplete one.