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Abstract
Three high performance instruments, developed over the last 15 years to answer the demands in optical fibre production plants, generate a complete line of real time data for measurement and defect detection (events). In order the fiber manufacturers can fully benefit all the data, in view to get a maximum in line quality check, CERSA-MCI has been working on software to easily set the instruments parameters, display, record and report, as clearly as possible, all real time measurement and events generated but also check at the process performance. The last instrument made for coating (LIS-Coating) and the very last software version, CIM, both introduced in 2010 complete the tools for a whole in line optical fibre quality certification. Keywords: LIS, NCTM, CIM, Optical fibres, optical fibers, coating, quality check, diameter, non circularity, ovality, eccentricity, measurement, internal defect, airline, bubbles, lump and neck, detection, record, report, data base, network, supervisor.
LIS/NCTM
1. Introduction
Since 1999, more and more draw towers have been using our Laser Interferometric measurement Sensors for bare fibre (LISGlass), as well as, more recently (2004), our Non Contact Tension Measurement sensor (NCTM). According to the number of data generated by our instruments, we developed software to record, display, report on the bare fibre quality from in line measurements. Just having introduced, early 2010, in production, our last Laser Interferometric Sensor for Coating (LIS-Coating), whose specifications are given here below, CERSA-MCI has now a complete offer of high performance measurement and defects checks instruments for optical fibre draw towers. Also, at the benefit of more than 15 years experience in optical fibre production, a new advanced software called Cersa Instruments data Management (CIM), was made to offer a system package that includes all the features needed to continuously check at the stability of the process, at the constant quality of the fibre and to insure the display, record and report on the production. This presentation includes the last performances of the system, especially for coating measurements and defect check performances and the whole data management, and its validations.
2. Instruments performances
To well understand the capabilities of the system it is important to review the measurement characteristics. All the specifications are given for real time measurement, without averaging, over an ambient temperature from 10 to 40C. Incident laser rays
Glass Fig 1
Fig 1, shows the laser rays propagation through the glass fibre (Transmitted rays).
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CIM specific LIS-G Feature: Real time oscilloscopes: diameter, diameter FFT, spinning profile, fringe signal, Fringe FFT. Parameter setting. **********
NCTM, (Non Contact Tension Measurement), for in line drawing force measurement. It is based on birefringence principle. The benefit of this method is the high sensitivity, the capability to work from very low to very high tension.
Fig 2
Specifications:
Drawing force: Range: 0 to 400 gr. Repeatability: 1gr Accuracy: 1gr. Measurement frequency: 1 000 Hz.
Fig 2, shows the phenomenon used by the LIS instruments, Reflected (R) and Transmitted (T) rays on the fibre that generate the Interferometric signal
These characteristics are the basis of the process improvements and mastering, as well as the continuous check of its stability. Complementary measurements: Event: Ultra fine airline detection (0.7m min. diameter) Local defect. Tolerances Spinning frequency profile (at the top of the tower). Non circularity. Fiber position, X-Y. Pulse length counting and fibre speed measurement.
These characteristics allow a continuous check of the diameter stability, fine lump and neck detection. Complementary measurements: Lump and Neck: min. 0.3m at 300 000 Hz. Coating asymmetry (concentricity) Spinning measurement (advance) Non circularity. (advance) Fiber position, X-Y. Pulse length counting and fibre speed measurement. Coating fine defect density.
Comment: Coating asymmetry or concentricity is especially efficient when both coating layers are concentric. This is the case on wet on wet, widely used today. The primary coating independent
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eccentricity on wet on dry, doesnt allow an exact concentricity measurement after secondary layer deposition. We have to notice that on single coating layer these uncertainties could be leveled, then the primary coating index could be measured, and then the coating temperature evaluated in line. Event: Internal defect detection (bubbles, delaminations, inclusions). External diameter change (Lump and neck). Tolerances
Top square display: list of parameters displayed in the graphs with corresponding colors. List of graphs, from the left side: Diameter in m, (red) Spinning max frequency (t/m) (yellow) Non circularity in m (bleu). Bare fibre positions (green) Coating diameter (Violet dark). Coating asymmetry (pink dark), Tension (brown), Fibre speed (Pink) Coating defect density (yellow) Coated fibre positions (green). Bottom of the screen: Instruments statuses, G, N and C Bare fibre tolerances o Diameter o Non circularity o Spinning Bare fibre events o Defect o Airline Bare fibre drawing force Coated fibre tolerances o Diameter o Asymmetry Coated fibre events o Lump and neck o Internal defect (bubbles, inclusions, .)
Fig 4
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4. CIM Supervisor
Supervisor is a PC software planned to be used by the factory manager. It will allows the permanent display of the production statuses, statistics, efficiencies. It will allows the access to each individual CIM data and displays.
5. Marketing information
This system was introduced in production early 2010. Several customers are evaluating these packages to adapt to each case. At August 2010, validation should be made shortly for extensions. We expect to have several complete factories using this system by end of 2010.
6. Conclusion
All along the 10 past years, optical processes improved in a significant ways, drawing speed, preform size and drawing time in view to cost reduction. In parallel, demands for quality improvement and certification rose to higher levels. The technologies developed by CERSA for measurement instruments all along these last 15 years in close cooperation with the producers, are well suited to follow these requirements. The in line real time and full quality check would improve the quality certification (100% check) as well as would reduce the off line tests and then the production costs. The next steps, with Supervisor software, would be to improve the production efficiency itself.
Fig 5
7. Acknowledgments
Many thanks to the fibre producers that closely cooperate with our CERSA team for long time, opening the production facilities to our team, that allows us to validate and adapt our development works to the industries needs. Thanks to the CERSA team for their continuous personal investments in developments and production efficiencies. Special thanks to the IWCS organizers and staff for this world renowned yearly event.
8. References
[1] J.F. Fardeau, European patent n 00920792.9, Dispositif pour la mesure des fibres optiques en production April 1999. [2] IWCS 2008 conference : Optical fibre spinning measurement at the top of the draw tower.
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9. The Authors
JF Fardeau, President and CEO at CERSAs was graduated engineer in automation engineering in 1972 in France. After seven years as project engineer he started CERSA company for automation engineering in 1980. At the end of the eighties, the part of the measurement instrument business grows well enough to justify a specific organization, named Measure and Control Instruments division (MCI). CERSA-MCI brand name is today world renowned in wire and optical fibre industries. David Miara, General Manager at CERSAs, graduated in instrumentation technologies. He joined CERSA early 2000s to work on optical fibre applications, coating especially. Sebastien Gathier, graduated engineer in electronic and telecommunication in France joined CERSA MCI team early 2005 to reinforce the R&D team. He is now in charge of on board electronic and real time software development.
Jos Romro, master in optoelectronic, high wave and telecommunication, joined the company early in 2007. He is in charge of industrial optronic applications.
CERSA-MCI, Parc Expobat n16-53, 13480 CABRIES, France Tel. : +33 4 4202 60 44, email : sale@cersa-mci.com Web : www.cersa-mci.com
USA : Finoptics, M. Jukka Kohtala, 285 Camden Creek Ct. LAWRENCEVILLE GA 30043. Tel. : +1 (404) 247 1324 Email : j.kohtala@cersa-mci.com
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