What is the difference between models of Fujikura optical fiber cleavers?
Brief introduction
Offered configurations of Fujikura welding machines 80S, 62S, 22S and 12S are equipped with one of two cleavers: CT-30A or CT-06A. In addition to these two models of cleavers, a simple and cheap model is also available: CT-02. This page details the differences between these models, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
General Information about Fujikura Optical Fiber Cleavers
Japanese company Fujikura now produces three models of cleavers, which differ in cost, accuracy of the cleavage angle and the level of automation of the cleavage process.
senior model: Fujikura CT-30A it is distinguished by an accurate cleavage angle (error of 0.5 degrees), a fully automatic mode of operation (when the cleaver cover is pressed, the fiber is cleaved and at the same time the fiber cut is pulled into the side container for scraps), a large resource of a replaceable knife (enough for 48,000 chips) and reliable Japanese movement (service life exceeds 10 years). This cleaver is ideal for medium to large volume jobs and where quality and ease of use are more important than price tag.
Medium model: Fujikura CT-06A differs by precise cleavage angle (error of 0.5 degrees), semi-automatic mode of operation (when the cleaver cover is pressed, the fiber is cleaved, after that it is necessary to turn the handle so that the fiber cut gets into the side container), a large resource of a replaceable knife (enough for 48 000 chips) and a reliable Japanese movement (service life exceeds 10 years). The cost of the CT-06A cleaver is almost half that of the CT-30A, making the CT-06A cleaver an ideal choice for medium to small volume jobs and where low cost matters a lot.
junior model: Fujikura CT-02 - this is the most inexpensive cleaver with a cleavage angle error of 1 degree and a small resource of a replaceable knife (one knife is enough for 1,000 chips). Designed for small volumes of work, as well as non-periodic work (for example, repair using not welded, but mechanical connection of fibers).
In each of the three models of cleavers, replaceable knives are used, which, when their resource is exhausted, can be replaced by the owner himself. The cleaver does not need to be sent to a service center for blade replacement.
Comparison of fiber optic cleavers by price level
For clarity, the figure below shows all three cleavers with their price levels, as well as the average number of cleaves per month. If you need detailed information on prices or technical advice on choosing the best cleaver, just call us or write to us at Email and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Fujikura Optical Fiber Cleaver FAQ
Question: What does "average number of chips per month" mean in the picture above? What if I have a CT-06A cleaver, but there is a job that requires a lot of stabbing? Does he have some kind of design limitation on the number of chips?
Answer: Fujikura cleavers have no limit on the number of cleaves, the only limitation is the wear of the replacement blade. Change the knife and you can prick as much as you like. In the picture above, "average number of chips per month" means the approximate level at which the optimal ratio of the price of the cleaver to the speed and convenience of working with it is achieved.
Question: If you compare the characteristics, then the CT-30A and CT-06A cleavers are the same, the only difference is that the CT-06A has to turn the handle to remove the fiber cut into the container. And the price of these two models differs by almost 2 times. Is such a difference in price just because of this pen, or is there something else that they don’t write about?
Answer: In addition to the handle and a slight difference in dimensions, there are no other significant differences in operation. The CT-06A model includes the best feature set you can buy in this price range, while the CT-30A model additionally provides maximum speed (for extra money).
Question: Why welding machines Fujikura 80S, 62S, 22S and 12S in the Plus package are equipped with the CT-30A cleaver, and in the Standard package with the CT-06A cleaver?
Answer: The Plus package is designed for those who want to buy the maximum package and includes, in addition to the older CT-30A cleaver, several additional accessories for the welding machine, providing maximum versatility in work. The Standard package is designed for those who want to buy a reliable device with excellent characteristics, but for less money, so it includes the CT-06A cleaver.
Question: The Fujikura CT-30A cleaver model has three varieties: CT-30A, CT-30B and CT-30. Similarly, there are three varieties of the CT-06A model, namely CT-06A, CT-06B and CT-06. What is the difference between them?
Answer: On the cleavers CT-30A and CT-06A, a removable bar with a ruler and a clamp is installed, on which the fiber is laid (bar model AD-30A). If this bar-ruler is unscrewed, then the CT-30 and CT-06 modification cleavers will be obtained, which are used in conjunction with removable fiber holders of the Fujikura FH-60 series. If instead of a bar with an AD-30A ruler, you install an AD-30B bar on the cleaver, which provides a fixed cleavage length of 16 mm, then you will get CT-30B and CT-06B modification cleavers (which are rarely used, since everyone prefers to work with either a bar- ruler or with removable holders FH-60).
Question: Why do we need removable fiber holders of the series Fujikura FH-60? In what cases does it make sense to use them? What benefits do they provide?
Answer: Removable holders are used as follows: the stripped fiber is clamped in the holder, then the holder is installed in the cleaver, the fiber is cleaved, the cleaved fiber together with the holder is transferred to the welding machine, we do the same with the second fiber, after that we weld. For different types of fiber sheath (bare fiber, pigtail, patch cord, drop cable), different holder models are used. The main advantage of removable holders is the exact preservation of the cleavage length when transferring the fiber from the cleaver to the apparatus (no need to aim when inserting the fiber into the apparatus). This is convenient for beginners who have not yet mastered how to quickly and accurately install fibers into the machine. In addition, removable holders are used when terminating an optical cable using Fujikura FuseConnect weldable connectors.