LVF Catalog

Fluoride Glass Fibers

Tutorials

How to cleave a fluoride fiber

Please note that because they are softer than silica, fluoride glass optical fibers are not compatible with standard cleaver devices.

How to cleave a fluoride fiber by hand :

This video shows how to cleave optical fibers by hand with a blade.

How to cleave a fluoride fiber with specialty cleaver device :

Several companies provide high precision cleaver device compatible with soft glass.

In order to use those cleaver devices, you will first have to strip fibers.

  • Fluoride fibers: coated with polyacrylate, LVF stripping gel as described here can be used.
  • Germanate fibers: coated with polyimide + hytrel, stripping gel cannot be used and another solution has to be prepared (ask us for information).

Most of cleaving devices are based on the tension-and-scribe process. You will find in the table below the tension range you should apply, depending on fiber cladding diameter, in order to get a flat and perpendicular cleave. 

Fiber cladding diameter
ZFG
IFG
GeG
125 µm
≈ 90-100 g
≈ 85-95 g
150 µm
≈ 110-120 g
≈ 100-110 g
260 µm
≈ 220-260 g
≈ 200-240 g
≈ 200-240 g
360 µm
≈ 370-410 g
≈ 340-380 g
460 µm
≈ 500-540 g
≈ 460-520 g
≈ 500-560 g (500µm clad)
680 µm
≈ 670-730 g
≈ 610-690 g