Long Gauge Length

IBER

IGMA

Specialists in Mechanical Testing and Reliability of Optical Fibers

Long Gauge Length, Multiple Specimen Tensile Tester for Fiber Tensile Strength and Fatigue Measurement

Purpose

The equipment uses rotating capstans to load fibers. The gauge length can be set arbitrarily by the user for any length over about half a meter, but is useable for fibers up to 20 meters or longer. Up to 8 fibers can be tested simultaneously. The loading rate on each fiber is individually servo controlled.

Description

The fiber is gripped by winding onto two capstans. One capstan is connected to a precision load cell while the other is rotated by a high torque stepper motor. Up to 8 independent channels are controlled by software running on a PC computer. The system comprises:

	load cell unit comprising up to 8 capstans attached to precision load cells.
	motor unit comprising up to 8 rotating capstans turned by individual stepper motors.
	software for complete control of the system from a PC.
	servo control of individual fiber specimens to ensure precise loading rates compensating for and compliance or slippage on the capstans.
	broad range of loading rates for dynamic fatigue, as well as static fatigue under constant load.
	load cell calibration integrated into software using calibration weights (not included).

Note: the customer must provide a rigid base for mounting the load cell unit and the motorized capstan unit. The customer must also supply any shielding and environmental control for the fiber test sections, as well as an IBM PC compatible computer.

Specifications

All specifications are for 125 mm glass diameter silica optical fibers. Call for information on other fiber sizes.

Maximum load (others available)	120 N
Load error (linearity, hysteresis, repeatability)	< ± 0.07 N
Maximum loading rate (1 meter gauge length - maximum stress and strain rates scale inversely with gauge length)	5 mm/s 25 %/min 250 MPa/s

Ordering Information

Description	Part#
Long gauge length tensile test system for testing one fiber – includes mounting hardware, software, load cell, capstans, motor and cables for testing one fiber	LGL-1
Additional channels for simultaneous testing of additional fibers (each) – includes load cell, capstans, motor and cables.	LGL-A