What are fusion splicers?

Fusion splicers, also sometimes called fibre splicers, fusion fibre splicers, or fibre optic splicing machines, are devices used to splice together the ends of two optical fibres. Commonly used in building modern telecommunications and data transfer systems, the aim is to splice together the optical fibres precisely and effectively so that light is not scattered or reflected when passing through the spliced fibres.

How do fusion splicers work? 

The splicing machine uses heat to melt and fuse together the two fibres without the splice reflecting or scattering the light passing through the fibre. Usually, an electrical arc is the source of the heat used to splice the fibres. 

Before splicing, you will need to slide the fusion splice protection sleeve onto one of the fibres to be joined, and then use a stripper to strip the plastic layer off both optical fibres. Then, clean the fibres using isopropyl alcohol and use an optical fibre cleaver to cut the fibres at an angle of 90°. After this, you can insert them into the optical fibre fusion splicer, where the machine will heat and splice the fibres. Finally, gently slide the protective sleeve over the joint and seal it using the heater on the spicing machine.

Do fusion splicers require calibration?

To get the best splices from your equipment, calibration is a necessity. When used in the field, it is likely that your fusion splicing machine may get knocked around, dropped, or exposed to high or low temperatures, all of which can contribute to inaccurate readings. To ensure total accuracy for all your test readings and create high-quality splices, calibrating your fusion splicing machine is important.

Are fibre cleavers included with splicing machines?

Although some fibre optic splicers for sale come with a cleaver included (such as the Fujikura Fusion Splicer 12S Kit or Sumitomo Fusion Splicer T-502S Kit), most splicers do not come with a fibre cleaver so it will need to be purchased or rented separately.

How much do fusion splicers cost?

The cost of splicers varies substantially from a few of hundred to a few of thousand pounds, depending on the type, make, and condition of the fibre optic fusion splicer. To help you get the best value for money, we offer a range of options including used fusion splicers, rentals, and finance options for your purchase. 

Why choose a used fusion splicer?

With the best new fusion fibre splicers costing thousands of pounds, opting for a used device can be a more cost-effective way of accessing top-of-the-range equipment. Our 23-step pre-owned certification process means that all our used fusion splicers for sale are high quality and fully checked, configured, and calibrated ready for you to use. The used fusion splicers are like new, but at a fraction of the cost. 

Which is the best fusion splicer?

This depends on your needs and budget, but we highly recommend any Sumitomo fusion splicer or Fujikura fusion splicer for their high quality, reliability, and battery life which will last you a long time.

Handheld fusion splicers

For use in the field, handheld fibre fusion splicers are ideal. These models such as the Sumitomo TYPE-201E-VS are li-ion battery powered and highly portable. Their small size makes them great for working in small spaces or on the go.

Core alignment splicers

Core alignment fusion splicers are high-end devices that use multiple cameras to automatically move the fibre cores to align them before fusion. This core-to-core alignment results in extremely precise fibre splicing with a typical splice loss of just 0.02dB. If you are looking for the most precise and powerful splicers on the market, core alignment devices are your best option. For example, the Fujikura 90S (S017519) is an excellent fusion splicer with precise splices and a significantly reduced splice time as well as other great features such as highly reactive automated wind protectors and improved universal sheath clamps.

Clad alignment fusion splicers

While still offering great performance, clad alignment splicers offer slightly less precision than core alignment fusion splicers. They feature a V-groove in which the fibres are placed and use clad alignments to line them up. These splicers typically have a loss of 0.05dB because even when the outer diameters are aligned it is hard to ensure that the inner cores perfectly line up. This means that clad alignment splicers such as the Sumitomo T-502S-KIT_038 are often more budget-friendly than their core alignment counterparts.

Fibre splicing kits with cleavers

If you are also looking for a tool to cleave your fibre optic cables, why not opt for a kit including fibre optic cleaver and splicer? For example, the Fujikura 70S (S015591) includes a CT30A Cleaver so you can cleave fibres easily and accurately.