Ferrule for use with an optical fiber connector and method for production thereof

In a method for the production of a ferrule for an optical fiber connection from a ceramic blank, grinding work for imparting an outside diameter to the ceramic blank comprises the steps of:

• providing a ceramic blank having a recessed engaging part adapted to receive a rotational driving force and formed in advance at a trailing end part thereof;
• rotatable supporting opposite end parts of said ceramic blank with a support center of a double center cylindrical grinder and a live center of said double center cylindrical grinder having formed thereon a projecting fitting part adapted to be engaged with said recessed engaging part of the ceramic blank;
• and
• rotating said live center thereby enabling said ceramic blank engaged with said live center to rotate and effecting grinding of an outer peripheral surface of said ceramic blank,
• wherein said engaging part of the ceramic blank comprises at least one groove formed on either one of outer and inner peripheral edges at a free end part of said large diameter part of the ceramic blank.

A method for the production of a ferrule for use in an optical fiber connector, comprising:

• (A) injection molding a ceramic blank which is provided with a through-hole formed linearly along an axis thereof, said through-hole comprising a small diameter part for the insertion of an optical fiber, a large diameter part for the insertion of a sheathed optical fiber, and a diametrically tapered part intervening between the small diameter part and the large diameter part and diverging from said small diameter part to said large diameter part and which is further provided at a free end part of said large diameter part with a recessed engaging part adapted to receive a rotational driving force;
• (B) calcining said ceramic blank;
• (C) imparting an inside diameter to said small diameter part of said ceramic blank for the insertion of said optical fiber;
• and
• (D) grinding an outside diameter to said ceramic blank, by rotatably supporting opposite end parts of said ceramic blank with a support center of a double center cylindrical grinder and a live center of said double center cylindrical grinder having formed thereon on a projecting fitting part adapted to be engaged with said recessed engaging part of the ceramic blank, rotating said live center thereby enabling said ceramic blank engaged with the live center to rotate, and bringing a rotating grindstone into contact with a peripheral surface of said ceramic blank to effect grinding work.

A method for the production of a ferrule for use in an optical fiber connector, comprising:

• (A) injection molding a ceramic blank which is provided with a through-hole formed linearly along an axis thereof, said through-hole comprising a small diameter part for the insertion of an optical fiber, a large diameter part for the insertion of a sheathed optical fiber, and a diametrically tapered part intervening between the small diameter part and the large diameter part and diverging from said small diameter part to said large diameter part and which is further provided at a free end part of said large diameter part with a recessed engaging part adapted to receive a rotational driving force:
• (B) calcining said ceramic blank;
• (C) imparting an inside diameter to said small diameter part of said ceramic blank for the insertion of said optical fiber;
• and
• (D) grinding an outside diameter of said ceramic blank, by rotatable supporting opposite end parts of said ceramic blank with a support center of a double center cylindrical grinder and a live center of said double center cylindrical grinder having formed thereon on a projecting fitting part adapted to be engaged with said recessed engaging part of the ceramic blank, rotating said live center thereby enabling said ceramic blank engaged with the live center to rotate, and bringing a rotating grindstone into contact with a peripheral surface of said ceramic blank to effect grinding work,
• wherein said engaging part of the ceramic blank comprises at least one groove formed on either one of outer and inner peripheral edges at the free end part of said large diameter part of the ceramic blank.