3M used this week’s FTTH Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to launch the Easy Cleaver. As the name implies, the new cleaver is meant to accelerate and simplify fiber connectorization, specifically with 3M fiber-optic connectors that use flat endfaces.
The Easy Cleaver features what 3M says is a unique fiber clamping design and a diamond wire cleaving mechanism instead of a blade. The device therefore requires no maintenance or blade rotation. Cheryl Liu, product marketing manager, 3M Communication Markets Division, said at the show that the cleaver, developed in-house, will be packaged along with its No Polish Connectors, Crimplok + Connectors, and Fibrlok II Splices. The hard-plastic cleaver is lighter yet more robust than conventional cleavers. It is designed to support 120 cleaves, along with overages, after which it can be discarded and replaced with another Easy Cleaver. A built-in lifecycle counter helps technicians keep track of how close they are to the cleaver’s designed end of life.
The cleaver requires no specialized training to operate, the company says.
“We believe the Easy Cleaver will revolutionize installation of fiber to the home,” said Liu in a company press release. “With the ever-increasing demand for rapid fiber deployment, we saw the need for an easy-to-use, inexpensive fiber cleaver that could be deployed quickly. This new tool allows telecommunications services providers to put more cleavers in the hands of installers with no specialized training required, thereby increasing overall installation speed and breadth.”
For more information on connector technology and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
Want to learn more about cabling innovation? Attend the Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit
The Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit will feature panels and presentations that will illuminate where optical innovation is required in carrier and enterprise/data center networks, what it should look like, and when it might appear. A wide range of experts from the user, technology development, academic, and analyst communities will offer their views on innovation in a variety of areas, including fiber-optic cable. Find out more about the Summit, which will be held in Austin, TX, July 14-16, at the Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit website.