3M 6901 Multimode ST* Crimplok Connector Technical Report June 1999 80-6110-1442-6 11.0 Product Description & Requirements The 3M ST* MM Crimplok Connector is designed to provide the customer with an easily installed, low- cost, high performance, epoxy-free, multimode connector for use in indoor applications, such as local area networks. The main advantage of this connector is a lower installed cost, due to time saved at installation and a minimal initial investment in tooling. Some mechanical connectors grip the fiber buffer coating which results in poor performance characteristics in initial insertion loss measurements, as well as during temperature cycling. Reliability of this method is also questionable due to differences in buffer coating materials (and Tolerances) encountered with different manufacturers. Other mechanical connectors grip the glass portion of the fiber with soft compliant materials, such as plastics, which have demonstrated poor performance characteristics at initial insertion loss and during temperature cycle testing. Reliability is again questionable due to the materials/properties involved, which provide inadequate grip onto the glass fiber. The 3M ST* MM Crimplok Connector grips the glass fiber with a small Fiberlok-style element that is integrated inside the backbone of the ST* connector version. Activation of the element is achieved by depressing an element cap located in the ST* backbone. The 6955-T Crimplok Activation Tool, which is part of the new 6955 kit, activates the element cap and secures the fiber. The Activation tool also sets the amount of fiber protrusion within strict tolerance limits for faster polishing times. The connector is removed, and a simple one step polish is performed on a fine grit lapping film that requires less than 30 seconds to complete. The connector is then ready for use. 2.0 Test Program The purpose of the test program is to assess the long-term performance of the 3M ST* Crimplok fiber optic connector product. A series of optical, environmental and mechanical tests were conducted, which expose them to conditions more severe than those anticipated in actual use. All tests are performed in accordance with TIA- 568A. Field mount Crimplok connectors in the evaluation were obtained directly from 3M factory stock, assembled on cable, and spliced into the test system. A list of tests performed is presented below. New Product Environmental Group 0 Mechanical Group 1 Mechanical Group 2 New Product Cold Impact Vibration Temperature Life Flex Connector Durability Humidity Twist Connector Intermatability Cable Retention Sample Preparation: The ST* Crimplok Connectors were cleaved using the Model 6955-T Crimplok Activation Tool, and were processed according to the Crimplok Instruction Manual P/N 78-8073-7660-9, Issue 2, July 1997. The fiber protrusion specification after cleaving is 105 25 m (using the 6955-T Activation Tool), and the final fiber protrusion specification after polishing is 10-50 m (typical values range from 15-40 m). The ST* Crimplok Connectors tested in this report had a fiber protrusion range of 98-119 m after cleaving, and the final fiber protrusions after polishing were: Mean.................................. 25.7 ( m) Sigma ................................ 4.5 Minimum .......................... 15.2 Maximum .......................... 31.2 2