System comprising plastic optical fiber

A process for fabricating an article comprising plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• placing a plastic optical fiber into a support apparatus, such that the fiber assumes a curvature;
• securing end portions of the fiber;
• pressing a blade onto the fiber between the secured end portions, such that the force of the blade reduces the curvature and the length of the fiber between the secured end portions, the reduced length inducing an axial compressive strain;
• and
• without removing the compressive strain, pressing the blade into the fiber to cut the fiber.

A process for fabricating an article comprising plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• placing a plastic optical fiber into a support apparatus;
• securing a first end portion of the fiber;
• securing a second end portion of the fiber such that the step of securing the second end portion induces axial compression on a length of the fiber between the first and second end portions;
• and
• cutting the length of the fiber at a location between the first and the second end portions while the length is under the axial compression.

A process for fabricating an article comprising a plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a length of optical fiber;
• notching the length of fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the length to fracture the fiber,
• wherein the pulling is performed at a strain rate sufficient to keep the strain in an elastic region during the fracture, and
• wherein the radius of curvature of the notch is less than 10 μm.

A process for fabricating an article comprising plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first length of plastic optical fiber;
• notching the first length of fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the first length to fracture the first length;
• providing a second length of plastic optical fiber;
• notching the second length of fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the second length to fracture the second length;
• and
• connecting end faces of the first and second lengths,
• wherein the pulling is performed at strain rates suitable to provide a loss in the connection of less than 1 dB.

A process for fabricating an article comprising plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of;

• providing first and second lengths of plastic optical fiber;
• terminating the first length to provide first end faces;
• terminating the second length to provide second end faces;
• and
• connecting one of the first end faces with one of the second end faces such that the resultant connection exhibits a loss less than 1 dB.

A process for fabricating an article comprising a plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a length of optical fiber;
• notching the length of fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the length to fracture the fiber,
• wherein the pulling is performed at a strain rate sufficient to keep the strain in an elastic region during the fracture, and
• wherein the notch is provided by cutting the fiber to a depth of about 10 to about 30% of the fiber diameter.

A process for fabricating an article comprising a plastic optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a length of optical fiber;
• notching the length of fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the length to fracture the fiber;
• wherein the pulling is performed at a strain rate sufficient to keep the strain in an elastic region during the fracture;
• providing a second length of plastic optical fiber;
• notching the second length of optical fiber;
• pulling at least one end portion of the length to fracture the fiber;
• wherein the pulling is performed at a strain rate sufficient to keep the strain in an elastic region during the fracture;
• and
• connecting together end faces of the first and second lengths of fiber resulting from the fracture by a dry, non-polished technique, such that the connection exhibits a loss of less than 1 dB.