Fusion Splice

Fusion splice is the process of fusing or welding two fibres together by the application of localized heat sufficient to fuse or melt the ends forming a continuous single fibre. The splicing process begins by preparing each fibre end for fusion. Fusion splicing requires that all protective coatings be removed from the ends of each fibre. The fibre is then cleaved. The quality of each fibre end is inspected using a microscope. In fusion splicing, splice loss is a direct function of the angles and quality of the two fibre end faces. The basic fusion splicing apparatus consists of two fixtures on which the fibres are mounted and two electrodes. Inspection microscope assists in the placement of the prepared fibre ends into a fusion splicing apparatus. The fibres are placed into the apparatus, aligned, and then fused together. The small size of the fusion splice and the development of automated fusion splicing machines have made electric arc fusion one of the most popular splicing techniques in commercial applications.
Multimode fibres can be harder to fusion splice as the larger core with many layers of glass that produces the graded-index profile are sometimes harder to match up, especially with fibres of different types or manufacturers.

See also Mechanical Splice