Fiber Polishing Procedure

Overview The non fused ends of each fiber must be polished to a mirrored finish. This allows the greatest amount of light transmission through the end of the fiber. Fibers are polished in their appropriate collars, SciFis in their 6x6 collar and light guides in their 5x6 collar. Polishing bundled fibers in their collars affords a number of advantages, the main ones being square fiber ends and minimal cladding flaring. Because the fibers are polished in their collars, it is important that the fiber ends are flush with one another. The scintillating fibers are easily made flush in their collar, but with light guides it is not so easy. For this reason, the light guides are polished as soon as they are returned from end-milling and while they are still in their collars. The end-milling process leaves the fiber ends flush with one another, and so that step can be skipped with the light guides.

Procedures

• Clean the table that you will be polishing fibers on. Any dust, sand, or dirt on the table will translate through the paper and scratch the fibers.
• Set out 2-4 pieces of clean copier paper in a stack, and tape them to the table on each corner.
• If polishing recently end-milled light guides, find the side that has the most flush fibers. This is the side you will polish.
  • Remove the collar from the end of the fibers that is not being polished.
• With a firm grip and steady pressure,