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→Spring 2015
== Spring 2015 ==
= Fall 2014 =
= Spring 2015 =
Prior to the spring of 2015, I had, wearing lab gloves, cut light-guide fibers with a dremel and stored them in the fiber dark box.
Prior to the spring of 2015, I had, wearing lab gloves, cut light-guide fibers with a dremel and stored them in the fiber dark box.
In the later part of the semester, I learned fusing. Fusing seemed to be down to an efficient science, and the fusing unit had no problems at all. The only issue is ensuring the pressures remain where they should be, and this is easily adjusted. Production is slow but consistent, with little confounding factors. I had one bad fuse, and I’m not quite sure yet as to what occurred. It may have been that I let a fiber slip by without inspecting the end (perhaps it was chipped) or perhaps some sort of air bubble formed during fusing. The only other issue is the presence of many SciFis that are about .1 millimeters thicker than the acceptable range. Seemingly, there was a good portion of the spool that was much thicker than expected. The other fibers are at an acceptable width of about 1.95 mm.
In the later part of the semester, I learned fusing. Fusing seemed to be down to an efficient science, and the fusing unit had no problems at all. The only issue is ensuring the pressures remain where they should be, and this is easily adjusted. Production is slow but consistent, with little confounding factors. I had one bad fuse, and I’m not quite sure yet as to what occurred. It may have been that I let a fiber slip by without inspecting the end (perhaps it was chipped) or perhaps some sort of air bubble formed during fusing. The only other issue is the presence of many SciFis that are about .1 millimeters thicker than the acceptable range. Seemingly, there was a good portion of the spool that was much thicker than expected. The other fibers are at an acceptable width of about 1.95 mm.
= Summer 2015 =
Over the summer I worked significantly longer hours in order to expedite the fusing process. In addition to completing polishing for SciFis and LGs, I completed about 280 fuses. Fiber measurements were marked on the "Fibers - 2015" sheet before and after each fuse.
For one reason or another the lateral and vertical pressures we were using for fusing proved to be too high, creating large wings on each fuse site. Re-calibration of pressures through fusing of test fibers resulted in lateral and vertical pressures of 26 and 82, respectively, being preferred.
Unfortunately, however, the fusing seems to have become more art than science; a variety of factors influence each fuse, requiring intuitive and immediate reaction from the researcher. Two examples follow, though it seems more appropriate to leave the adjustments to an experienced researcher's discretion. First, there seems to be considerable play in the pressure gauges, as the numbers presented sometimes seem to have little bearing on how the fuse turns out. Thus, some fuses are adjusted based on the results of the previous fuse, which seemingly has produced many fuses of better quality than solely following the pressures recorded. The adjustments may require more or less pressure, as fuse quality seems to drift in either direction. Second, if multiple consecutive fuses occur, lateral and sometimes vertical pressure may need to be lowered slightly for each fuse (possibly due to the lamp heating up and causing the fibers to melt faster).
== Sanding ==
When learning to fuse, I was taught that the wings created on the fibers are best reduced by sanding them down with 1000 grit sandpaper.
My schedule also allowed me to attend weekly meetings and give progress reports.
= Fall 2015 =