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Fiber Array Prototype and Mass Production (view source)
Revision as of 19:36, 11 November 2009
, 19:36, 11 November 2009→Gluing
==Gluing==
==Gluing==
The first of many trial gluing sessions was completed this week (8/31-9/4) with favorable results. Only three of the eleven fibers broke after curing which is an increase from past attempts. This is attributed to the new gluing station that was designed earlier which allows the glue to stay out of contact with anything but the ends of the fibers. I plan on keeping notes on which of the eleven gluing channels produced successful fibers so that I can determine if there is a slight defect in the alignment of the two opposing channels.
The first of many trial gluing sessions was completed this week (8/31-9/4) with favorable results. Only three of the eleven fibers broke after curing which is an increase from past attempts. This is attributed to the new gluing station that was designed earlier which allows the glue to stay out of contact with anything but the ends of the fibers. I plan on keeping notes on which of the eleven gluing channels produced successful fibers so that I can determine if there is a slight defect in the alignment of the two opposing channels.
==Fiber Splicing==
After completing the first 5x5 bundle it was clear that the optical epoxy was not going to offer the strength required for our setup. Turning to new ideas for joining fibers our group came across three alternatives to splicing the fibers together, they are as follows.
1) Research and design of a fiber splicing laser setup-
*Dr. Richard T. Jones has written a program that simulates the temperature field in an optical fiber that is being locally heated by a time-dependent external source.
*Using this program it is possible to predict how the polystyrene fibers will heat and cool depending on changes made to constants of the plastic, air flow, ambient temperature, and power of the laser used for heating.
*We can then find the optimum conditions which include a localized pulse of energy that does not heat the outer cladding past 200°C (boiling point of polymethylmethacrylate) and develop a splicing station of our own.
2) Michigan State University loan-
*Ron Richards, mechanical design specialist for the physics department at M.S.U. is loaning us a custom fiber splicer.
*Once received, the splicer must be refitted to splice square fibers as it is currently set up for round.
3) Outsource-
*[[User: mcintyre|Jim McIntyre]] has been in contact with several companies that specialize in precision plastic welding.
*Samples have been sent and are currently being tested to see which company has the ability to splice the fibers.
*Jim will update with results from said companies.
==Painting==
==Painting==