AutoCoater 2 - series
Short facts
- Consistent, high quality recoating
- Automatic and operator independent
- Short cycle time
- Rigid and soft mould options
- Linear and rotary strength testing
- Overcoating capability with rigid moulds
- Overcoating as well as uniform and undersize recoat diameter capability with soft moulds
- Easy exchange of recoating resin type
- No need for compressed air or vacuum
Description
Designed for high strength applications, the AutoCoater™ restores the protective coating on spliced acrylate-coated optical fibers. It is fully automatic, allowing for operator skill independence in factory environments with high productivity and cost advantages.
Available with two mould options – rigid moulds in a fixed mounting or rapidly exchangeable soft silicone moulds – the AutoCoater™ platform can be customized for a variety of different recoating applications.
AutoCoater™ with rigid moulds
In the rigid mould version, the resin is automatically injected into the mould at programmable speed and quantity, and cured through the transparent walls of the mould. The rigid mould is designed to produce consistent, high quality recoatings over a long period of time which makes it well suited for standardized high volume production. Due to the robustness of the rigid moulds, mould replacement will seldom if ever be required, enabling continuous factory operation over many years with very little in the way of routine maintenance requirements.
The rigid mould AutoCoater™ is therefore the ideal choice for high-volume production recoating or continuous recoating to the same specifications.
AutoCoater™ with soft moulds
In the silicone mould version, the AutoCoater™ is used with soft moulds identical to those used in the NYFORS line of manual recoaters. The recoating compound is automatically injected via the injection pump and needle. Silicone moulds are easily exchangeable with no realignment required.
With different sizes and custom moulds available, the operator can not only easily exchange moulds to meet requirements for different fiber and fiber coating diameters, but he can also choose whether to (a) recoat to uniform diameter that exactly matches the original fiber coating diameter, (b) recoat with a cross section slightly smaller in diameter than the original fiber coating (undersize), or (c) recoat with a larger diameter that overlaps the primary coating at each end of the recoat section (overcoating). This provides a convenient way to swiftly change between different types of optical fiber and also makes the system easy to set up, optimize and rapidly reconfigure for different recoating applications and requirements.
The AutoCoater™ with silicone moulds is therefore the ideal choice for fully automatic skill-independent recoating operations where flexibility is required to meet many different recoating needs and specifications.
Rapid exchange of recoating resin type
Both the rigid mould and soft mould AutoCoater™ models automatically inject the customer-selected recoating compound from an easily attached 1 oz Nalgene bottle. The 1 oz bottle functions as the recoater reservoir tank. This greatly simplifies refilling in high volume production.
In the case of the soft mould AutoCoater™, the 1 oz bottle as well as the injection pump, supply lines, and injection needle may be removed and exchanged as a single unit. This completely eliminates the need to purge or cleanse the injection pump and supply lines when changing from one type of recoating resin to another. The combination of mould sizes and mould types (for uniform and undersize recoating as well as overcoating) and the simplicity of exchanging recoating compounds underscores the flexibility of the soft mould AutoCoater™ as the most versatile and easily adaptable automatic recoater in the world.
Other AutoCoater™ features
Short curing times are achieved through an efficient UV LED array arranged along the length of the mould. Curing times depend on the fiber and fiber coating diameter as well as the properties of the customer-selected recoating resin, but are typically as short as 3 seconds which allows for very fast recoating operations with total cycle times of about 15 seconds – faster than any competing recoater on the market.
Both a linear and a rotary strength tester are available as options. Linear proof tests can be performed up to 22 N, while the rotary mandrels allow for tensile tests with forces up to 100 N. Levels of force, pulling rate and hold times at maximum force are programmable. Clamping force is software controlled and can be set to different levels.
The AutoCoater™ comes in an ergonomic, bench-top design for comfortable operation. The main operator interface is a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate GUI on the touch screen control panel. System software supports storable and user-defined programs for easy process change. Remote monitoring and supervision can be carried out through an Ethernet interface.
Technical Data |
Rigid Mould |
Soft Mould |
| Curing time | Programmable, 3 s typical | Programmable, 3 s typical |
| Cycle time | 15 seconds typical | 15 seconds typical |
| Light source | UV LED | UV LED |
| Wavelength | 380-385 nm | 380-385 nm |
| Injection | Automatic from 1 oz bottle | Automatic from 1 oz bottle |
| Mould mounting | Fixed | Exchangeable |
| Recoating length | 55 mm | 55 mm |
| Recoating diameter (µm) | 200, 280, 450 & 1100* | 165, 250, 300, 400 & 900* |
Proof Testing (optional) |
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| Linear proof test | Programmable, 0-22 N | Programmable, 0-22 N |
| Rotary tensile test | Programmable, 0-100 N | Programmable, 0-100 N |
| Resolution | 0.01 N | 0.01 N |
| Hold time & pulling speed | Programmable | Programmable |
| Display units | lbs, kg, N, kpsi, GPa | lbs, kg, N, kpsi, GPa |
Interface & Dimensions |
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| PC connection | Ethernet & USB flash drive | Ethernet & USB flash drive |
| Power supply | External 12 V DC, 60 W | External 12 V DC, 60 W |
| Compressed air | Not needed | Not needed |
| Dimensions | 270 mm x 182 mm x 96 mm | 270 mm x 210 mm x 100 mm |
| Weight | 4.5 Kg | 4.5 Kg |
NYFORS part number: 42000000
* Custom moulds available