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→Jim on Color Codes and Fusing
A lint-free cloth does clean the fibers, but it can move some dirt down to the end where it should not be. It would be good if we could use compressed air to clean the fiber cladding and ends before fusing as well as using a lint-free cloth. Even compressed air might mess with the cladding, though, so we should be careful with it.
A lint-free cloth does clean the fibers, but it can move some dirt down to the end where it should not be. It would be good if we could use compressed air to clean the fiber cladding and ends before fusing as well as using a lint-free cloth. Even compressed air might mess with the cladding, though, so we should be careful with it.
Jim and I talked while he was working on getting the ferrules back in the splicing unit.
Jim and I talked while he was working on putting the new ferrules in the splicing unit.
I said I thought if I fused rough cut fibers strong enough, I would definitely fuse polished fibers strong enough since the polished fibers have much better contact than rough cut ones. But Jim said the rough cut ones with their rough surface might absorb more light and heat up more than polished fibers. The light might be more likely to shine through polished fibers and not heat them as much. We don't know for sure, so it is best to polish the scrap fibers before fusing and weight testing them. We only need to polish as far as 5 micron grit, though.
I said I thought if I fused rough cut fibers strong enough, I would definitely fuse polished fibers strong enough since the polished fibers have much better contact than rough cut ones. But Jim said the rough cut ones with their rough surface might absorb more light and heat up more than polished fibers. The light might be more likely to shine through polished fibers and not heat them as much. We don't know for sure, so it is best to polish the scrap fibers before fusing and weight testing them. We only need to polish as far as 5 micron grit, though.
5/8: Next I want to highly polish the downstream ends of all the spares. When we are done with that, we can label the new ones with color codes on the downstream ends. We also need to work on labeling all the fibers at the downstream ends.
5/8: Next I want to highly polish the downstream ends of all the spares. When we are done with that, we can label the new ones with color codes on the downstream ends. We also need to work on labeling all the fibers at the downstream ends.
We need to start color coding the fibers, and it seems good to start with the bundle we will be fusing. I started fusing bundle 403, so I should start color coding that bundle. I will probably choose one fiber as an example of where to put the color codes and try to get them in the same position at the downstream end as they are now at the upstream end.
Today I moved all the color codes on the fibers in bundle 403 from the upstream end to the downstream end.
I also bundled the spare bundle and I am about to polish it. However, I have some misgivings now about whether I correctly identified the spare bundle (bundle 408). It is supposed to have a cyan strap, but it does not. I put a white strap around it for now. I do see one or two cyan straps in the storage box. I wonder if one of those is marking the spare bundle. I should check the color codes.
When I checked the color codes, they matched the records of spare bundle 408.
5/9: I looked for canned air on amazon.com.
[https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Duster-Canned-Air-Pack/dp/B008BU67DK 12-Pack]
5/10: I found yesterday that the collar around the short scrap bundle was cracked because I tightened it too much. This morning I found that the collars around sci-fi bundles 3 and 9 are cracked also. The cracked ones are no good anymore.
5/11: Jim suggested increasing the pressure in the splicing unit to avoid wings. I tried that today and it doesn't reliably work by itself.
One possibility is that I am pressing too hard on the fibers. I should try reducing the force I put on them.
5/14: Jim adjusted the splicing unit so that we could push the top ferrule down without the strong force resisting its motion. I started to adjust the minimum pressure for the compressor. I unplugged the compressor and turned the setting screw. I did that twice because the pressure still seemed inadequate after my first try.
Later I started to try fusing, but instead of lowering easily as I expected, the top ferrule seemed harder to push down than before Jim worked on it.
5/18: I need a plan for next week.
1. Get canned air.
2. Get 1000 grit sandpaper.
3. Ask if we can get compressor air for cleaning the fibers.
4. Get more neon elastics.
5. Find out why the splicer is not pushing the fibers together horizontally.
6. Find the lint-free cloths if possible.
5/21: I got the air duster from the stockroom for $3.79 per can.
I found that the splicer seemed to be working differently from last week. The top ferrule was coming down too fast. I started adjusting the screws for the valves leading into the piston chamber.
I need to reduce the heat and cool times temporarily. The heat time is normally 2.25 and the cool time is 5.
The Optik Wipes in the conference room are the new lint-free cloths. Since I was expecting them to be similar to the old cloths, I didn't recognize them.
We can use the small compressor for painting to provide air to blow off the fibers.
5/22: I had the horizontal pressure in the splicing unit around 20 to 25 PSI early this morning. I had to push to get the fibers to fuse. Then I raised the pressure over 30 PSI and I started getting wings when I pushed just a little.
I found a [https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/95000-95999/95810.pdf manual for the Central Pneumatic Deluxe Air Brush Kit]. I am not sure if we could use that tool as a nozzle for blowing on the fibers. It is meant for spraying paint, so probably it would not be the right choice.
Dr. Jones said the small compressor would probably not do the job either, though I could try it. It is a [https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/95000-95999/95630.pdf Central Pneumatic Mini Air Compressor]
5/29: We cannot use the Optik Wipes as lint-free cloths for the fibers because they are wet like baby wipes and they contain 1-propanol.
I moved and added color codes to all the fibers in spare bundle 408.
5/30: Jim brought me a camera memory card reader and said I should have a main folder for my pictures and subfolders such as for each date I took pictures. In each folder and subfolder there should be something like a ReadMe Word Document to explain what is in the folder and what is particularly important. If there are any other files such as for programs in Python or LabVIEW, I should also explain those.
Andrew finished polishing the short fibers today. There is one bundle still in the collar, but I should take it out soon.
5/31: I need to get canned air tomorrow. I put some long fibers with lips on the table with the drill press and the saw. I want to discuss them with someone because I don't see how they are interfering with fusing.
Andrew and I started testing spare bundle 408 today.