Application of UCFibre : LAN
When it comes to data transmission cables, more and more users decide for fibre technology. It is the undisputed number one in today’s Local Area Networks (LAN) – structured cabling in campus and riser networks.
The decision to use either fibre optic or copper data cables as an ideal solution for horizontal networks depends on many factors like application environment, previous network basis and future needs.
Next generation 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s are already here. Using MaxCap advanced optical fibres from Draka insures that your network can be upgraded to the coming generations of network in all cases where the protocols are compliant.
Application of UCFibre : Data Center
Every data centre is a unique structure. There are various segments of different requirements which need to be understood before creating any solution.
Data centre backbones are already equipped with optical fibre technology. Optical fibre technology offers lowest attenuation, highest bandwidth and longer link lengths. Thus supporting the highest data rates which is a prerequisite for backbone data links. Within data centres it forms one of the most critical components due to the highly aggregated data traffic there.
Today’s recommendation is clearly to take this future proof solution which is the only short-link technology that is also part of the 40 Gigabit Ethernet and likewise 100GbE Ethernet. It is based on multi-lane structures of OM4 or OM3 channel links. A data centre backbone in OM4 can therefore be easily expanded to the Next Generation Ethernet and secures investments for a longer pack-off time.
Application of UCFibre : Industry
Ethernet – the classic office application – is increasingly accepted also in industrial automation. In addition to bus solutions still to be encountered, Ethernet makes it possible to manage communication. It is possible to selectively access every single point in the network which makes adjustments and modifications much easier and in the end leads to a reduction of idle times and an increase in productivity.
Fibre optic cables of the series UCFIBRE are the first choice for Ethernet in a rough industrial environment. Here the cables prove their superiority as to mechanical, chemical and climatic capacity - and, of course, you don’t have to care about electromagnetic interferences.
International Standards
ISO/IEC 11801 Informationstechnologie
- Generic cabling for customer premises
ISO/IEC 11801 (2002) Information technology
- Generic cabling for customer premises
ISO/IEC 24702 (2006) Information technology
– Generic cabling – Industrial premises
ISO/IEC 24764 (2010) Information technology
- Generic cabling for data centres
ISO/IEC 15018 (2004) Information technology
– Generic cabling for homes
How does Pysmian Group make Optical Fibre?
Optical fibres used for Telecom or Datacom applications are thin threads of glass – 0.125mm in diameter – and surrounded with a polymer protection coating, in total 0.242mm diameter (Roughly the size of a human hair). They are drawn from a 15cm diameter glass rod, which is called a Preform. This preform already contains the light-guiding area of the final fibre – the core – built up in many layers. After all, an optical fibre is composed of different areas of glass and polymers.
The essence is a core of very high quality glasswith a 0.009mm diameter (single mode fibre if you are a specialist). A multimode fibre – used in Datacom - has a larger core diameter of e.g. 0.05mm. The core is where the light and thus communication signals passes through. The core is surrounded by a different type of glass (the cladding), followed by a double layer polymer coating. The process of manufacturing an optical fibre may vary from one manufacturer to the other. Here is an explanation of how Draka produces optical fibres.
How to make a preform
The PCVD process (Plasma Chemical Vapour Deposition) is being used for the production of a glass preform. The basis of the preform is a high-grade quartz hollow tube. This tube is placed in a PCVD-lathe, allowing a special gas mixture to pass through, which is ionized into plasma by using high power microwaves. This microwave power is created in a magnetron 6 (similar to that in your kitchen, only more powerful) and is connected to a resonator. This assembly moves up and down the length of the tube, coupling power into the asses passing through the tube. The high power creates plasma (ionized gases, similar as in a fluorescent lamp). The plasma causes the gases, to react, depositing thin glass layers onto the inside of the tube. PCVD is a unique highly efficient process developed by Philips, now owned by Draka.
Collapsing: transforming a tube into a solid rod
In the PCVD deposition process, the wall thickness of the tube is increased because of the newly deposited glass layers. To render this tube into a solid rod, this hollow space needs to be removed and for that the preform is placed into a so-called ‘Collapsing’ lathe. Here, an induction furnace at about 2000°C moves up and down the quartz tube and the heat causes the tube to ‘collapse’ into a solid glass core rod, due to surface tension. The beauty of this method is that it doesn’t change the qualities of the final preform, maintaining the core-tocladding ratio.