Systems and methods for removing coating from an optical fiber

A method of removing a coating from a portion of a coated optical fiber, the method comprising:

• providing gas from a gas source;
• heating the gas with a heater;
• securing the portion of the coated optical fiber in a holder between a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature, wherein the holder is mounted to a base and wherein the coated optical fiber defines a removal path there between;
• aiming a continuous stream of heated gas through at least one nozzle towards the holder wherein a nozzle holder defines an arcuate track and the at least one nozzle is mounted to the nozzle holder and translatable along the arcuate track to angularly displace the nozzle to the removal path, wherein the at least one nozzle is directed towards the removal path at a pitch such that a direction of the at least one nozzle is non-perpendicular to the removal path;
• and
• moving the holder relative to the base and the at least one nozzle such that the continuous stream of heated gas passes from the first attachment feature, along the portion of the coated optical fiber, to the second attachment feature, thereby removing the coating along the portion, wherein the continuous stream of heated gas begins over or at an edge of the first attachment feature to clean strip the coating from the coated optical fiber.

A system for removing a coating from a portion of a coated optical fiber, the system comprising:

• a gas source for providing gas;
• a heater configured to heat the gas to form heated gas;
• a base;
• a holder mounted to the base and comprising a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature, wherein the first attachment feature and the second attachment feature are configured to secure the coated optical fiber along a removal path such that the portion of the coated optical fiber is exposed between the first attachment feature and the second attachment feature;
• a first nozzle connected to the gas source, configured to aim a first continuous stream of heated gas towards the coated optical fiber in a first nozzle direction to cause the coating of the coated optical fiber to soften;
• a nozzle holder defining an arcuate track, wherein the first nozzle is mounted to the nozzle holder and translatable along the arcuate track to angularly displace the nozzle to the removal path;
• and
• a second nozzle connected to the gas source, configured to aim a second continuous stream of heated gas towards the softened coating of the coated optical fiber in a second nozzle direction to cause the softened coating of the optical fiber to be removed therefrom and to expose the optical fiber,
• wherein the holder is configured to be moveable parallel to the removal path relative to the base such that the first continuous stream of heated gas contacts the coating of the coated optical fiber before the second continuous stream of heated gas.