The Fiber Optical Cleaver is arguably the most critical tool for creating a successful fiber optic connection or splice. Its function is deceptively simple but requires extreme precision.
1. What is a Fiber Optical Cleaver?
A fiber optic cleaver is a tool used to precisely cut (cleave) an optical fiber to create a perfectly flat, smooth, and perpendicular end-face.
It is not a cutter that shears the fiber. Instead, it uses a controlled process of scoring (creating a microscopic scratch on the fiber's surface) and then applying tensile stress (bending or pulling) to cause the fiber to break cleanly along its crystalline structure.
Think of it like scoring a piece of glass with a glass cutter and then snapping it—but on a microscopic scale where perfection is mandatory.
✅ Cleave Angle: The most important specification. Look for <b>< 0.5°</b> for fusion splicing and high-quality terminations.
✅ Blade Life: Cleaver blades are consumables. A good diamond blade can last for thousands of cleaves. The cleaver should have a way to track usage and rotate the blade to a fresh edge.
✅ Consistency: The tool must produce the same high-quality cleave every single time.
✅ Fiber Type Compatibility: Most cleave standard SMF/MMF (125µm cladding). Ensure it works with any specialty fibers you might use (e.g., coated fibers, HCF).
✅ Durability: A cleaver is a precision instrument. It must be built to withstand the rigors of a tool bag or van.
The cleaver is used at the final step of fiber preparation, just before:
✅ Fusion Splicing: The two fibers to be spliced are cleaved and then placed into the splicer.
✅ Mechanical Splicing: The fibers are cleaved and then inserted into the splice unit.
✅ Connector Termination: For field-assembly connectors (like the FastConnect SC APC), the fiber is cleaved to a specific length before being inserted into the connector body and secured.
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