BW December 2015

12/22 Jim explained precautions for handling the fibers.

Gloves
We need to avoid smearing the fibers with skin oil or any other kind of dust. When wearing gloves, do not touch your skin and then touch the fiber. Instead, discard the glove and put on a new one. Do not wear linty clothes.

Lights
The fibers should be protected from light. UV light is harmful, and even the room lighting can do damage. If possible, turn off the ceiling lights and use only the lights under the shelves above the bending unit. In lab 402, there are appropriate lights behind the protective curtains.

Cleaning Surfaces
Before setting the fibers down on a surface, make sure it is clean. To check whether a surface is clean, shine a flashlight nearly parallel to it and any particles will appear. When cleaning, start with a wet paper towel, then after drying use a lint-free cloth. Do not use a tack cloth because it will deposit wax, which may transfer from the surface to the fibers.

Moving Fibers
Moving the fibers is risky. Even scraping them against the curtains in room 402 can tear off cladding. The foam of the bending box is not a safe material either.

Air filtering in 402
In room 402, there is a fan that can blow out dusty air, so you can dust the table and turn on the fan so the dust will not just settle on the table again.

Dark Box
All electronics should be off before opening the dark box. The bottom of the dark box may need cleaning because opening and shutting it may raise dust.

Intermediate Storage Box
When opening the box, use the handle to lift the lid slowly until you can push it up from below. Make sure the rope is holding it up so it will not fall on you or the fibers. Before closing the box, ensure that the fibers are in their slots rather than sticking out. When you close the box, don’t let it slam shut. Again, hold it by the handle as it closes. Lowering the lid slowly may allow you to notice a problem in time to save some fibers if they are sticking out. Allowing the lid to slam could cause damage by creating wind that would blow a fiber into a dangerous position.

Unwinding Fibers
When pulling fibers that are attached to the spool, there is a certain length of looseness, but when they become taut, they can be jerked out of the clip and fall back under the housing. To avoid this problem, pull the fibers just enough to grab the one you want with your gloved hand, then pull it further.

Ventilation in 405
Use the hose by the window to withdraw fumes and dusty air from the fibers you are cutting.