Method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform using air flow to remove debris generated during laser welding and system for performing the method

A system for manufacturing a fiber preform comprising:

• a workpiece support configured to support a fiber preform workpiece, the fiber preform workpiece comprising
• a first preform end, a second preform end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first preform end to the second preform end;
• an outer preform cladding through which the fiber longitudinal axis extends, the outer preform cladding comprising an inner cladding surface facing and disposed radially around the longitudinal axis;
• and
• inner preform tubes coupled to the outer preform cladding at the inner cladding surface of the outer preform cladding, each of the inner preform tubes comprising (i) a tube axis extending therethrough parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiber preform workpiece, (ii) an inner tube surface extending radially around the tube axis, and (iii) an outer tube surface facing away from the tube axis, and wherein the inner preform tubes collectively defining a preform core that extends radially from the longitudinal axis and that is tangential to the outer tube surface of each of the inner preform tubes;
• a laser configured to generate a welding emission, the laser positioned to direct the welding emission into one of the inner preform tubes of the fiber preform workpiece proximate the second preform end;
• and
• at least one of:
• an outlet in fluid communication with a source of gas, the outlet positioned to
• introduce gas of the source of gas to flow through one or more of the outer preform cladding and the inner preform tubes of the fiber preform workpiece at the first preform end;
• and
• a suction inlet in fluid communication with a source of suction, the suction inlet
• positioned to be proximate the second preform end and, when activated, to draw in at least a portion of the gas that has flowed through the one or more of the outer preform cladding and the inner preform tubes.