5.1-inch screen with resolution of 800×480 pixels and adjustable brightness makes the operation simple and intuitive, even in difficult lighting conditions. The optical system offers magnification factor of 300, making it very easy to observe the splicing operations and visual analysis of the results (in two planes). The minimum splicing time is 6 seconds, and sleeve heating time (40 mm sleeves) is only 15 seconds. The built-in LED lamp enables the operator to work even without any other light source.

The universal fiber holders ensure comfort and speed of operations – they can hold 250 μm or 900 μm SM, MM fibers in tight buffer or loose tubes, pigtails, rubber-insulated fibers, multi fiber and DROP cables. The splicing machine offers various programs and Auto mode that works well in most situations.

The housing body is made of metal , underneath covered with rubber protection. The splicing chamber and heater cover are made of high quality plastics. The kit includes a practical box containing all the necessary tools, power supply and accessories (placed in two-level drawer mounted on durable metal guides). What is important, the installer does not have to take the splicer out of the box for splicing operations – the box provides a solid and stable support. The box is made of durable plastic and has a detachable element that can be used as a stool or small table.

The device is equipped with 7800 mAh rechargeable battery which has enough energy to perform 240 splices with sleeve heating cycles. The battery charging time is only 3.5 h. “Press & remove” design of the battery compartment allows for very fast battery change (there is a possibility to buy a spare battery). Additionally, the AI-8 splicer is equipped with a USB connector for charging a smartphone in the field from this high-capacity battery.

The splicer software allows user to enable the so-called “intelligent lock”. In this mode, the user has the possibility to limit the use of the splicer – for example when renting it. The following restrictions can be made:

• the splicer is locked by default; it is necessary to unlock using a pre-defined phone,
• the splicer is unlocked to perform a certain number of splices – after that it will remain blocked,
• the splicer is unlocked for a specified time (user defines a range of dates); after that, the splicer will remain blocked.

Key features

• 6 motors for fiber positioning
• core alignment or cladding alignment options
• AUTO mode option
• x300 magnification factor
• quad-core processor providing fast response times
• splicing time from 6 seconds
• quick sleeve heating period (15 s for 40 mm sleeve)
• configuration with dedicated smartphone app (Android/iOS)
• the app can create operation reports (export to xls)
• large (5.1”) display with adjustable brightness
• metal casing underneath covered with rubber layer
• built-in LED lamp
• high-capacity exchangeable battery (7800 mAh, ca. 200 splicing and heating operations)
• battery charging time: ca 3.5 h
• USB adapter for smartphone charging
• universal fiber holders
• high quality practical toolbox
• large set of accessories

The splicer is immediately ready for operation. For daily work it does not need any configuration or additional application. The application available in Google Play oraz AppStore is required only for advanced management, e.g. for changing the default splicing program or calibration settings due to extremely changing environmental conditions. The application also includes an instruction manual in English and instructional videos.

The application offered by the manufacturer allows the user to change parameters for both basic and advanced functions of the splicer. It is also possible to work in full manual mode with manual positioning of fibers in two planes. The application enables the user to view the history of splices made (optionally with pictures of bad ones) and export it to a spreadsheet (with date filtering option).

How to begin splicing? – preliminary steps and configuration

The prerequisite is to download the dedicated application for an Android device from Google Play store, or for an iOS device from AppStore. In most cases the device is a smartphone, so it will further be referred to as the phone.

The preliminary steps include running the downloaded app, switching on the splicer and selecting “Connect device” option. The connection uses Bluetooth technology. After selecting the splicer from the list of devices visible on the phone, the activation of the connection will be confirmed with an appropriate message in the main application window.

One of the advantages of the solution consisting in the configuration of the splicer using the app running on a mobile device is the ability to quickly and easily verify the availability of newer software versions. The user does not have to remember to check for a new software on the website of the manufacturer or distributor. It is enough to select the “Software update” option in the main window of the app.

In the case of a firmware update, it will be automatically downloaded to the phone and uploaded to the splicer. This process may take several minutes. It is recommended to periodically check the availability of the new software.

After entering the “Splice settings” menu, select the type of the fibers to be welded (“Mode”: SM – single-mode, MM – multimode, Auto – single-mode and multimode), “Endface quality” requirement (we recommend the “Standard” option), and “Align mode” (aligning to the core or cladding).

The other settings apply to the arc parameters. Their correct values are the consequence of the calibration described later in this article. Generally, it is not recommended to manually change any value of the parameters.

The “Function configuration” menu provides control of functions available before of after the splicing operation. By switching off some of them, the whole procedure can be shortened, but we do not recommend to change the default settings. The detailed description of each function can be found in the user manual.

By default, the shrinkage time for the heating reinforcement sleeve is set to 15 seconds. This period should be sufficient for most 40 mm sleeves. In the case of 60 mm sleeves we recommend to increase the time to 20 s. In each case, the time should depend on the obtained results (sleeves from various manufacturers may require a little bit different settings).

Calibration

The calibration of a fiber optic fusion splicer consists in adjusting the power and temperature of the electric arc to the prevailing environmental conditions. Properly adjusted arc parameters guarantee high quality of the splices, – both in terms of optical attenuation and mechanical strength. Therefore, the calibration should always be performed before splicing operations – at the beginning of work or in the case of changing the environment (e.g. from indoor to outdoor part of a system, especially when the difference in temperature between the locations is high).

Signal Fire fusion splicers use popular calibration method – the fibers located in the splicing chamber are subjected to a number of electric arcs. The fibers are melted and the software of the splicer measures and analyzes the distance at which the fiber faces move backward. On the basis of the measurements, the splicer determines the appropriate parameters of the electric arc.

The calibration of Signal Fire AI-8 is done by selecting “ARC calibration” option in the management application. When the fibers are inserted into the splicing chamber and the cover is closed (as in the case of normal splicing), the calibration process starts automatically. The whole procedure may take several minutes and sometimes should be repeated. When finished, the splicer switches to normal mode, i.e. is prepared for regular splicing operations. This fact is indicated by an icon on the display.

Splicing

Fibers should be prepared before splicing, starting with the removal of the acrylic protective coating (jacket) over a length of about 3-4 cm. Next, the fiber should be cleaned using a dust-free wipe and IPA alcohol. The cleaned fiber then goes into the cleaver:

When placing the fiber in the cleaver, make sure that the jacket lies between 10 and 15 mm of the scale. Depending on the fiber diameter (250 μm or 900 μm), use the appropriate v-groove in the cleaver. On the left side, you can see the fiber of a cable, on the right side, the fiber of a pigtail.