July 11, 2005 Austin, TX -- 3M has introduced its "hot melt" LC connectors. Designed for installation in fiber-optic networks, the connectors accommodate singlemode or multimode fiber, and come in simplex and duplex versions for a variety of cable sizes ranging from 250 and 900 micron buffer up to 3-mm jacketed cable. The company says the easy-to-install, field-mount connectors offer the reliability of an adhesive, and require no internal splice.
According to the company, the connectors offer all the advantages of its patented, pre-loaded, hot melt technology (fast installation, ease of termination, reliability, low insertion loss, and high yield), but at half the size of SC and ST connectors. The company says that, with its factory-injected hot melt adhesive, the connectors exhibit no inconsistent mixing or application of epoxy and no adhesive shelf life issues. With the adhesive, polishing is three to four times more consistent because of simplified process and tooling (patents pending), according to the company. Suitable for premises and LAN applications, the LC connectors meet and exceed TIA 568-B.3 specifications.
Also, according to the company, installers who already have a 3M hot melt kit can buy an LC expansion kit that includes a weighted polishing jig, which gives a finish that provides precise centering of the physical contact at the fiber end face; this results in high performance with low optical loss and reflection, according to the company.