An end face polishing apparatus and a polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle
By using a multi-station clamping and synchronous polishing device and cerium oxide polishing fluid, the problems of low polishing efficiency and poor consistency of flexible fiber bundle end face were solved, realizing efficient and low-cost fiber bundle end face processing.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA BUILDING MATERIALS ACADEMY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing end-face polishing methods for flexible fiber bundles suffer from low processing efficiency, poor product consistency, and high costs, making them unsuitable for mass production needs.
A multi-station clamping and synchronous polishing device, combined with automated control and cerium oxide polishing slurry, is used to achieve synchronous polishing of multiple fiber bundles through the design of polishing discs and fixing blocks, and cerium oxide polishing slurry is used for polishing treatment.
It significantly improves processing efficiency, enhances end-face processing quality, reduces production costs, ensures product consistency and adaptability, and is suitable for large-scale production.
Smart Images
Figure CN122142900A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical fiber bundle fabrication, and in particular to an end-face polishing apparatus and method for flexible optical fiber bundles. Background Technology
[0002] Optical fiber is a type of optical fiber that transmits optical signals based on the principle of total internal reflection. It typically consists of a core and a cladding. Flexible optical fiber bundles are flexible light transmission elements composed of multiple monofilament optical fibers arranged in an array and covered with an outer protective layer. They have excellent bending performance and image fidelity and are widely used in medical, sensing, and industrial inspection fields.
[0003] To ensure optical transmission efficiency, imaging quality, and system reliability, the end face of flexible fiber bundles must possess excellent properties such as high flatness, low roughness, and no edge chipping or fiber breakage. Therefore, the end face polishing process is crucial. Currently, for flexible fiber bundles with a length of 500-800mm, due to their long size, high flexibility, and difficulty in fixing, operators typically need to hold the fiber bundle by hand and polish it on a rotating polishing pad, relying on the operator's experience to control the force, swing amplitude, and time. Existing manual polishing methods suffer from uneven pressure, inconsistent polishing trajectories, and a tendency to cause fiber breakage or damage, as well as difficulties in controlling flatness and surface roughness. Polishing a single flexible fiber bundle sequentially is time-consuming and inefficient. Furthermore, there are significant differences in results between different operators or even multiple operations by the same operator, leading to unstable product qualification rates and poor product consistency. Existing polishing methods rely on skilled technicians, resulting in long training periods, high labor costs, and difficulty in adapting to the needs of large-scale, standardized production. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a method for polishing the end face of flexible optical fiber bundles that features high processing efficiency, high flatness, low fiber breakage rate, and low cost.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A flexible optical fiber bundle end face polishing device includes a polishing disc, characterized in that the polishing disc has a pressure groove at its center, the pressure groove is used to connect to a driving device that provides oscillation and pressure, a plurality of grooves are provided along the outer periphery of the polishing disc, a fixing block is fixed to the outer periphery of the polishing disc, and screws are provided on the fixing block at the corresponding groove positions, each groove is used to place one end of the optical fiber bundle to be processed, the other end of the optical fiber bundle is tied by a cable tie, and a rotatable polishing pad is provided below the polishing disc and the fixing block.
[0006] The groove is a V-shaped groove.
[0007] The polishing disc is circular, and the fixing blocks are two semicircles. The two ends of the fixing blocks are fixedly connected to the side wall of the polishing disc by screws.
[0008] The lower end faces of the polishing disc and the fixing block are flush, and the end face of the fiber bundle to be processed extends 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc.
[0009] The present invention also provides a method for polishing the end face of a flexible optical fiber bundle using the aforementioned flexible optical fiber bundle end face polishing device, comprising the following steps: Fix both ends of the fixing block to the polishing disc with screws; Place one side of the fiber bundle against the V-shaped groove of the polishing disc, with the end face of the fiber bundle extending 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc. Tighten the other side of the fiber bundle at the end to be processed by screws passing through the fixing block. Insert fiber bundles into the remaining grooves in sequence, place the end of the fiber bundle to be polished on the polishing pad, suspend the polishing disc and the fixing block as a whole, connect the pressure groove of the polishing disc to the swing device and the pressure device, and tie the other end of all the fiber bundles above with cable ties. Prepare cerium oxide polishing slurry; Set the polishing parameters: polishing pad rotation speed 40-90 r / min, polishing pressure 1-2.5 psi, oscillation amplitude 15-25 mm, oscillation speed 10-15 times / min; polishing time 10-20 min; Turn on the swing device and pressure device, then spray the cerium oxide polishing liquid evenly onto the contact surface between the fiber bundle and the polishing pad. Polish according to the set polishing parameters. After the set polishing time is reached, the polishing is finished. Release the external swing device and pressure device, take out the polishing pad, remove the fiber bundle, rinse the polished end face with pure water and wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth. Fix the unpolished end of the fiber bundle in the groove of the polishing pad and repeat the polishing operation to obtain the polished flexible fiber bundle.
[0010] The cerium oxide polishing slurry uses cerium oxide (CeO2) polishing powder as the matrix, the particle size of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 0.8-1.0μm, the pH of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 7, and the density of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 1.5-3.
[0011] Before being placed into the V-groove, the end face of the optical fiber bundle is ground with W28-mesh coarse sand and then with W10-mesh fine sand. The outer periphery is then covered with a flexible metal sheath, exposing the end face.
[0012] By employing the above technical solution, the present invention has at least the following advantages: 1. Significantly improves processing efficiency: This invention enables batch continuous operation through multi-station clamping and synchronous polishing.
[0013] 2. Improve end face processing quality: The present invention adopts fixture fixation and constant pressure control to avoid excessive local stress, and automated motion control ensures uniform polishing trajectory, significantly optimizing flatness and surface roughness.
[0014] 3. Reduced production costs: This invention reduces reliance on manpower, increases product qualification rate and production capacity, and is suitable for large-scale production.
[0015] 4. Ensure product consistency: Controllable process parameters avoid human error, improve product standardization, and ensure high processing consistency.
[0016] 5. High scalability: The device of the present invention can be adapted to optical fiber bundles of different diameters and lengths, and the process can be flexibly adjusted.
[0017] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible optical fiber bundle end-face polishing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0019] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve its intended purpose, the specific implementation methods, structures, features, and effects of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. In the following description, different "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments can be combined in any suitable form.
[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, an end-face polishing device for a flexible optical fiber bundle includes a polishing disc 2, a pressure groove 7 on the polishing disc 2, an external swinging device and a pressure device connected to the pressure groove 7, a plurality of grooves along the outer periphery of the polishing disc 2, a fixing block 4 fixed to the outer periphery of the polishing disc 2, and screws 5 on the fixing block 4 corresponding to the groove positions. Each groove is used to place one end of the optical fiber bundle 3 to be processed, and the other end of the optical fiber bundle 3 is tied by a cable tie 6. A rotatable polishing pad 1 is provided below the polishing disc 2 and the fixing block 4, and the polishing disc 2 and the fixing block 4 are suspended on the polishing pad 1.
[0021] The device of this invention can process multiple fiber bundles simultaneously due to the presence of multiple grooves, which greatly improves processing efficiency. This invention adopts automated control, reduces reliance on manpower, and improves product qualification rate and production capacity. This invention is applicable to flexible fiber bundles with a diameter of 500mm-800mm.
[0022] Preferably, the groove is a V-shaped groove, which can be used for polishing after fixing fiber bundles of different diameters.
[0023] Preferably, the polishing disc 2 is circular, and the fixing block 4 is two semicircles. The two ends of the fixing block 4 are fixedly connected to the side wall of the polishing disc by screws.
[0024] The polishing disk is set to be circular, so that the fiber bundle placed in the groove on the outer periphery of the polishing disk is subjected to uniform force during the polishing process, thus ensuring the consistency of the processing.
[0025] The lower surfaces of the polishing disc 2 and the fixing block 4 are flush, and the end face of the fiber bundle 3 to be processed extends 0.5-2mm beyond the lower surface of the polishing disc 2.
[0026] The fiber bundle should extend 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc to ensure effective transport of polishing fluid and removal of debris. This effectively suppresses the amplification effect of lateral vibration caused by the rotation and oscillation of the polishing disc at the end, ensuring clamping accuracy and uniform polishing pressure. If the extension length is too short, the polishing fluid flow will be obstructed, and debris cannot be removed in time, leading to numerous scratches and "edge collapse." If the extension length is too long, excessive local bending stress will increase the fiber breakage rate, damage the flatness of the end face, and result in an irregular surface shape.
[0027] The present invention also provides a method for polishing the end face of a flexible optical fiber bundle using the aforementioned flexible optical fiber bundle end face polishing device, comprising the following steps: Fix both ends of the fixing block to the polishing disc with screws; Place one side of the fiber bundle against the V-shaped groove of the polishing disc, with the end face of the fiber bundle extending 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc. Tighten the other side of the fiber bundle at the end to be processed by screws passing through the fixing block. Insert fiber bundles into the remaining grooves in sequence, place the end of the fiber bundle to be polished on the polishing pad, suspend the polishing disc and the fixing block as a whole, connect the pressure groove of the polishing disc to the swing device and the pressure device, and tie the other end of all the fiber bundles above with cable ties. Preparation of cerium oxide polishing slurry: The cerium oxide polishing slurry uses cerium oxide (CeO2) polishing powder abrasive as the matrix, the particle size of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 0.8-1.0μm, the pH of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 7, and the density and specific gravity of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 1.5-3.
[0028] Set polishing parameters: Polishing pad rotation speed 40-90 r / min. If the rotation speed is too low, the polishing slurry flow rate is slow, resulting in low cutting efficiency of the cerium oxide abrasive grains, leading to uneven material removal from the end face, increased flatness deviation, and a significantly longer polishing time. If the rotation speed is too high, polishing slurry splashing and uneven supply occur, causing axial micro-movement of the flexible fiber bundle due to high-speed centrifugal force, increasing system vibration, leading to a higher fiber breakage rate and increased flatness deviation. Polishing pressure 1-2.5 psi, preferably 1.5-2.5 psi. If the polishing pressure is too low, the contact pressure between the abrasive grains and the fiber end face is insufficient, resulting in small material removal, inadequate end face polishing, inability to correct initial surface shape errors, and a significantly longer polishing time. Excessive polishing pressure leads to excessive local bending stress, making the flexible fiber bundle prone to brittle fracture and causing a surge in breakage rate. Furthermore, excessive polishing pressure may cause localized overheating due to friction, resulting in bumps and compromising flatness. The oscillation amplitude should be 15-25mm, and the oscillation speed 10-15 times / min (one oscillation counts as one cycle). Too small an amplitude or too slow an oscillation speed results in excessive overlap of polishing tracks, localized overheating due to friction, and uneven end-face polishing, easily leading to surface shape errors with higher center and lower edge. Too large an amplitude or too fast an oscillation speed subjects the fiber bundle to additional axial force, increasing the breakage rate. The polishing time should be 10-20 minutes. Too short a time results in incomplete removal of material from the fiber end face, leaving unresolved grinding marks and poor surface roughness. Too long a time can cause edge collapse and chamfering of the fiber bundle, reducing flatness.
[0029] Turn on the swing device and pressure device, then spray the cerium oxide polishing liquid evenly onto the contact surface between the fiber bundle and the polishing pad. Polish according to the set polishing parameters. After the set polishing time is reached, the polishing is finished. Release the external swing device and pressure device, take out the polishing pad, remove the fiber bundle, rinse the polished end face with pure water and wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth. Fix the unpolished end of the fiber bundle in the groove of the polishing pad and repeat the polishing operation. After both ends are polished, check the fiber breakage rate, flatness, and surface roughness to obtain the polished flexible fiber bundle.
[0030] The cerium oxide polishing slurry uses cerium oxide (CeO2) polishing powder as the matrix, the particle size of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 0.8-1.0μm, the pH of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 7, and the density of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 1.5-3.
[0031] A cerium oxide polishing slurry with a particle size of 0.8-1.0 μm represents an ideal balance between "coarse polishing" and "fine polishing." It effectively removes the damaged layer from grinding while achieving nanoscale surface roughness within a reasonable timeframe, eliminating the need for multiple polishing steps. The neutral polishing slurry effectively avoids selective corrosion of specific glass components by acidic or alkaline environments, preventing corrosion pits or interface steps on the end face and ensuring the integrity and compositional uniformity of the end face. A density range of 1.5-3 ensures good suspension and dispersibility of the abrasive particles in the polishing slurry. If the specific gravity is too low, the abrasive content is insufficient and prone to sedimentation, leading to decreased and uneven polishing efficiency. If the specific gravity is too high, the abrasive particles tend to agglomerate, causing surface scratches. Furthermore, the high viscosity and poor fluidity of the polishing slurry result in slow inflow and outflow, also affecting the consistency of the polishing effect.
[0032] Before being placed into the V-groove, the end face of the optical fiber bundle is ground with W28-mesh coarse sand and then with W10-mesh fine sand. The outer periphery is then covered with a flexible metal sheath, exposing the end face.
[0033] This invention rapidly removes numerous cracks and damage to the initial end face of optical fibers after dicing using W28-mesh coarse abrasive, followed by fine finishing with W10-mesh fine abrasive, resulting in a uniform, minimally damaged base surface. This allows subsequent polishing to remove only minute amounts of material to achieve the final quality, significantly reducing the total polishing time. Using a flexible metal sheath to encase the flexible fiber bundle effectively isolates the tightening screw from the flexible fiber bundle body, preventing damage to individual fibers from the screw's hard tip. This provides a reliable clamping foundation, preventing micro-movements or slippage that may occur during polishing, and ensuring clamping accuracy and consistency.
[0034] The present invention will be further described below through specific embodiments: Table 1 Polishing parameters and performance of each embodiment Project / Parameters Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Example 9 Example 10 Cerium oxide particle size (μm) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8 Polishing slurry density and specific gravity 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 1.5 2.5 2.0 2.5 Length of fiber bundle extending beyond the lower end of the polishing disc (mm) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0.5 Polishing pad rotation speed (r / min) 90 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 80 50 Polishing pressure (psi) 1.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.2 2.4 Swing amplitude (mm) 20 20 25 20 20 20 20 20 22 15 Swing speed (times / min) 13 13 13 15 13 13 13 13 14 10 Polishing time (min) 15 15 15 15 20 15 15 15 10 20 Broken fiber rate (%) 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.2 Flatness (μm) 1.8 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.9 1.2 Surface roughness Ra (nm) 12 10 9 11 8 13 12 12 13 6 Example 1
[0035] A method for polishing the end face of a flexible optical fiber bundle includes the following steps: Fix both ends of the fixing block to the polishing disc with screws; The fiber bundle is ground with W28 coarse sand and then W10 fine sand. The outer periphery is covered with a flexible metal sheath, exposing the end face of the fiber bundle to be processed. One side of the fiber bundle to be processed rests in the V-shaped groove of the polishing disc, and the end face of the fiber bundle extends 1mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc. The other side is fixed by screws passing through the fixing block. Insert the fiber bundles into the remaining grooves in sequence, place the end of the fiber bundle to be processed on the polishing pad, and suspend the polishing disc and the fixing block as a whole. Connect the external swinging device and the pressure device to the pressure groove of the polishing disc, and tie the other end of all the fiber bundles above with cable ties. Preparation of cerium oxide polishing slurry: The cerium oxide polishing slurry uses cerium oxide (CeO2) polishing powder abrasive as the matrix, the particle size of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 0.8μm, the pH of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 7, and the density and specific gravity of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 2.5.
[0036] The polishing parameters were set according to the data in Example 1 in Table 1: polishing pad rotation speed 90 r / min, polishing pressure 1.5 psi, oscillation amplitude 20 mm, oscillation speed 13 times / min, and polishing time 15 min. Turn on the swing device and pressure device, then spray the cerium oxide polishing liquid evenly onto the contact surface between the fiber bundle and the polishing pad. Polish according to the set polishing parameters. After the set polishing time is reached, the polishing is finished. Release the external swing device and pressure device, take out the polishing pad, remove the fiber bundle, rinse the polished end face with pure water and wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth. Fix the unpolished end of the fiber bundle in the groove of the polishing pad and repeat the polishing operation. After both ends are polished, check the fiber breakage rate of 0.3%, flatness of 1.8μm, and surface roughness Ra of 12nm to obtain the polished flexible fiber bundle. Example 2
[0037] The end face polishing method of a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters set and the performance obtained are those in Example 2 in Table 1. Example 3
[0038] The end face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters set and the performance obtained are those in Example 3 in Table 1. Example 4
[0039] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 4 in Table 1. Example 5
[0040] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 5 in Table 1. Example 6
[0041] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 6 in Table 1. Example 7
[0042] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 7 in Table 1. Example 8
[0043] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 8 in Table 1. Example 9
[0044] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is as shown in Example 9 in Table 1. Example 10
[0045] The end-face polishing method for a flexible optical fiber bundle is basically the same as that in Example 1, except that the polishing parameters are set and the performance obtained is the same as in Example 10 in Table 1.
[0046] As can be seen from the polishing parameters and performance of each embodiment in Table 1: Example 1: Compared with other examples, the polishing pad rotation speed is slightly increased, the abrasive cutting efficiency is improved, the surface roughness is slightly better, the wire breakage rate increases slightly due to the increase in rotation speed, and the flatness is not significantly deteriorated.
[0047] Example 2: Compared with other examples, the polishing pressure is slightly increased, the abrasive grains make more sufficient contact with the end face, the roughness and flatness are optimized, and the wire breakage rate does not increase significantly.
[0048] Example 3: Compared with other examples, the swing amplitude is slightly improved, the end face polishing contact range is more uniform, the roughness is optimized, there are no additional broken wires, and the flatness is maintained excellently.
[0049] Example 4: Compared with other examples, the oscillation speed is slightly improved, the polishing slurry is renewed more quickly, the performance indicators are not degraded, and the benchmark optimal level is maintained.
[0050] Example 5: Compared with other examples, the time is slightly longer, the end face material is removed more thoroughly, the roughness and flatness are further optimized, and there is no excessive polishing degradation.
[0051] Example 6: Compared with other examples, the abrasive grain size is increased, the cutting force is increased, and the material removal rate is faster, but the surface roughness increases slightly, but still remains within the excellent range.
[0052] Example 7: Compared with other examples, the density and specific gravity of the polishing slurry are slightly reduced, the slurry has good fluidity, the polishing effect does not show obvious deterioration, and the suspension of abrasive particles can still be maintained.
[0053] Example 8: Compared with other examples, the fiber bundle extension length is slightly increased, the end rigidity is slightly weakened, the fiber breakage rate is slightly increased, and the flatness and roughness are slightly deteriorated, but still remain within the excellent range.
[0054] Example 9: Compared with other examples, this is a high-efficiency example. It uses large abrasive grains, medium-high speed, intermediate polishing pressure and short polishing time, shortening the polishing time to 10 minutes, greatly improving efficiency, and slightly increasing flatness and roughness, making it suitable for batch rapid processing.
[0055] Example 10: Compared with other examples, this is a high-precision example. It uses a shorter extension length, lower rotation speed, medium to high polishing pressure, small swing amplitude and longer polishing time to achieve optimal surface roughness and flatness, making it suitable for high-precision flexible fiber bundle processing scenarios.
[0056] Table 2 Polishing parameters and performance of each comparative example Project / Parameters Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Example 6 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Example 8 Cerium oxide particle size (μm) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 Polishing slurry density and specific gravity 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 Length of fiber bundle extending beyond the lower end of the polishing disc (mm) 1 1 1 1 1 1 2.5 / Polishing pad rotation speed (r / min) 200 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 Polishing pressure (psi) 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 handheld Swing amplitude (mm) 20 20 20 35 20 20 20 handheld Swing speed (times / min) 13 13 13 20 13 13 13 handheld Time (min) 15 15 35 15 15 15 15 10 Broken fiber rate (%) 1.2 1.7 0.2 1.0 0.5 0.4 2.0 2.1 Flatness (μm) 6.5 7.2 5.8 6.1 2.8 2.2 4.3 11.5 Surface roughness Ra (nm) 18 15 11 16 25 18 20 20 Comparative Examples 1-7 used the same polishing method as Example 1, except that the polishing parameters used were the corresponding polishing parameters in Table 2. Comparative Example 8 used a hand-held method to polish the fiber bundle.
[0057] From the polishing parameters and performance of the comparative examples in Table 2, it can be seen that: Comparative Example 1: Excessive rotation speed intensifies the impact of abrasive particles on the end face, causing axial micro-movement of the flexible optical fiber bundle, a sharp increase in the fiber breakage rate, micro-scratches on the end face, and a severe decrease in flatness.
[0058] Comparative Example 2: Excessive polishing pressure leads to excessive local bending stress, resulting in brittle fracture, a sharp increase in wire breakage rate, and the end face develops protrusion defects due to local pressure deformation and friction overheating, with a significant increase in flatness deviation.
[0059] Comparative Example 3: Long polishing time leads to micro-dimples on the over-polished end face, significantly deteriorating the flatness and slightly increasing the roughness. Although the wire breakage rate does not change significantly, it is meaningless to increase the processing time.
[0060] Comparative Example 4: Excessive swing amplitude causes slight axial stretching and deformation of the fiber bundle, while excessive swing speed causes intermittent impacts during polishing. The combination of these two factors leads to an increase in the fiber breakage rate, uneven end-face polishing, and simultaneous deterioration in roughness and flatness.
[0061] Comparative Example 5: When the abrasive grains are too large, the cutting marks become deeper, the polishing uniformity decreases, and the surface roughness increases sharply.
[0062] Comparative Example 6: The polishing slurry has an excessively high density and viscous consistency, which increases the abrasive agglomeration effect and causes uneven distribution of the polishing slurry at the interface, resulting in increased surface scratches and significant deterioration of both flatness and roughness.
[0063] Comparative Example 7: The fiber bundle extends too far and the end rigidity is insufficient. The small vibrations during the polishing process are amplified at the end, the polishing pressure is unevenly distributed, the fiber breakage rate increases sharply, and the roughness and flatness deteriorate simultaneously.
[0064] Comparative Example 8: A skilled operator manually pressed one end of a single fiber bundle onto a polishing pad, controlling the pressure, angle, amplitude, and speed by touch. Polishing lasted 10 minutes, followed by cleaning and wiping before testing. The fiber breakage rate was 2.1%, the flatness was 11.5 μm, and the surface roughness was 20 nm. Uneven hand pressure led to excessive local pressure and insufficient polishing; irregular oscillation caused uneven contact between the end face and abrasive grains; the lack of fixed parameters disrupted the abrasive cutting efficiency; large operator error resulted in extremely poor batch consistency; and the end face was prone to scratches, burrs, and breakage of the entire fiber core.
[0065] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flexible optical fiber bundle end-face polishing device, comprising a polishing disk, characterized in that, The polishing disc has a pressure groove at its center, which is used to connect to a drive device that provides oscillation and pressure. Multiple grooves are provided along the outer periphery of the polishing disc. A fixing block is fixed to the outer periphery of the polishing disc. Screws are provided on the fixing block at the corresponding groove positions. Each groove is used to place one end of the optical fiber bundle to be processed. The other end of the optical fiber bundle is tied with a cable tie. A rotatable polishing pad is provided below the polishing disc and the fixing block.
2. The end-face polishing device for flexible optical fiber bundles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove is a V-shaped groove.
3. The end-face polishing apparatus for flexible optical fiber bundles according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The polishing disc is circular, and the fixing blocks are two semicircles. The two ends of the fixing blocks are fixedly connected to the side wall of the polishing disc by screws.
4. The end-face polishing apparatus for flexible optical fiber bundles according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lower end faces of the polishing disc and the fixing block are flush, and the end face of the fiber bundle to be processed extends 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc.
5. A method for polishing the end face of a flexible optical fiber bundle using the end face polishing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Fix both ends of the fixing block to the polishing disc with screws; Place one side of the fiber bundle against the V-shaped groove of the polishing disc, with the end face of the fiber bundle extending 0.5-2mm beyond the lower end face of the polishing disc. Tighten the other side of the fiber bundle at the end to be processed by screws passing through the fixing block. Insert fiber bundles into the remaining grooves in sequence, place the end of the fiber bundle to be polished on the polishing pad, suspend the polishing disc and the fixing block as a whole, connect the pressure groove of the polishing disc to the swing device and the pressure device, and tie the other end of all the fiber bundles above with cable ties. Prepare cerium oxide polishing slurry; Set the polishing parameters: polishing pad rotation speed 40-90 r / min, polishing pressure 1-2.5 psi, oscillation amplitude 15-25 mm, oscillation speed 10-15 times / min; polishing time 10-20 min; Turn on the swing device and pressure device, then spray the cerium oxide polishing liquid evenly onto the contact surface between the fiber bundle and the polishing pad. Polish according to the set polishing parameters. After the set polishing time is reached, the polishing is finished. Release the external swing device and pressure device, take out the polishing pad, remove the fiber bundle, rinse the polished end face with pure water and wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth. Fix the unpolished end of the fiber bundle in the groove of the polishing pad and repeat the polishing operation to obtain the polished flexible fiber bundle.
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cerium oxide polishing slurry uses cerium oxide (CeO2) polishing powder as the matrix, the particle size of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 0.8-1.0μm, the pH of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 7, and the density of the cerium oxide polishing slurry is 1.5-3.
7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, Before being placed into the V-groove, the end face of the optical fiber bundle is ground with W28-mesh coarse sand and then with W10-mesh fine sand. The outer periphery is then covered with a flexible metal sheath, exposing the end face.