Fiber Cleaver, Electronic, 80-200 µm

The FK11 Electronic Fiber Cleaver enables every cleave substantially less than one degree. It is ideal for cleaving standard telecom fibers in preparation for fusion splicing and fiber testing. The FK11 features a patented anvil-less ultrasonic cleaving action that minimizes fiber end contamination, hackle, and misting – a cleaving technique that produces superb planar fiber ends of mirror quality.

A precision ground diamond blade is attached to a resonant acoustic stepped horn. The ultrasonic horn resonance is maintained by an electronic circuit for the duration of the cleave and then automatically terminated to preserve battery life. The ultrasonically vibrating blade moves slowly toward the tensioned fiber on stictionless damped bearings. Cleaving then takes place without the damage from compressive stresses and blade intrusion into the fiber that is typical of conventional cleavers. The adjustable diamond blade normally gives 20,000 cleaves and is replaceable.

Operation is simple: A stripped fiber is placed in specially designed low torsion V-groove clamps. Constant axial tension is then applied to the fiber with the flip of a lever. Cleaving is initiated by releasing another lever.