Automated large outside diameter preform tipping process and resulting glass preforms

An automated large outside diameter preform tipping process for yielding a tipped glass preform having predetermined tip geometries and shapes, reduced glass waste, and minimal clad-to-core waveguide distortion in the fiber drawn from the preform, the process comprising:

• creating a glass preform in an apparatus having a heating zone, a first holding unit adapted to hold one end of the preform, and a second holding unit adapted to hold the opposite end of the preform;
• heating an area of the glass preform in the heating zone, thereby initially softening the preform in that area;
• adjusting the temperature of the heating zone;
• positioning the preform relative to the heating zone in a tipping position by moving the first and the second holding units simultaneously in a synchronized manner;
• applying heat to the heating zone until the preform area softens;
• moving at least the second holding unit away from the heating zone along a predetermined non-linear velocity profile;
• once the velocity of the second holding unit achieves its maximum value, which creates a thinned glass strand in the area of the preform, at least reducing the temperature of the heating zone;
• and
• cutting the thinned glass strand to yield the tipped glass preform.