In the era of 5G and AI data centers, The core diameter of single-mode fiber is only about 9 μm. To ensure ultra-low Insertion Loss (IL), the alignment between the optical fiber and the ceramic ferrule must achieve micron-level precision. However, traditional thermal curing (80°C to120°C for tens of minutes) has a fatal flaw: thermal expansion and contraction during the heating and cooling cycles generate significant internal stress. This causes a micron-level shift in the perfectly aligned fiber cores, leading to spikes in insertion loss and high defect rates.

Solution: 365nm UV LED Flash Cold Curing

To overcome this challenge, the industry has introduced a 365nm UV LED curing system specifically designed for high-precision fiber coupling.

At the instant the active alignment equipment completes optical power coupling, pure 365nm ultraviolet light is used for precise irradiation, instantly locking the micron-level structure within 1 to 3 seconds.

Why is 365nm the optimal choice?

High-precision UV adhesives used in optical communication (such as epoxy resin-based adhesives) have the highest absorption efficiency at a wavelength of 365nm. This wavelength has strong penetrating power, ensuring thorough curing deep within the ferrule, and the cured adhesive exhibits extremely low shrinkage, high hardness, and excellent long-term weather resistance.

Comparison of Core Advantages of 365nm UV LED Curing Compared to Traditional Thermosetting

In fiber optic connector manufacturing, our 365nm UV LED curing technology exhibits a significant advantage over traditional thermosetting processes:

Firstly, regarding alignment accuracy, traditional thermosetting is highly susceptible to damage to the micron-level alignment structure due to thermal expansion and contraction. Our process, however, utilizes a pure cold light source with no thermal effect, achieving zero impact and zero displacement. Secondly, in terms of curing speed, traditional processes take 15 to 30 minutes and are inefficient. Our technology achieves flash curing in 1 to 3 seconds, perfectly suited for fully automated production lines.

Furthermore, regarding light intensity uniformity, our light source boasts an tremendously high uniformity of over 95%, completely resolving the pain point of uneven adhesive shrinkage during the curing of multi-core MPO connectors. Finally, regarding equipment lifespan and stability, traditional mercury lamps have a lifespan of only 1,000 hours and suffer from severe degradation, while our UV LEDs have a lifespan of over 20,000 hours, constant output, and can ensure product consistency of over 99.9%.

A globally renowned manufacturer of 5G optical transceivers and MPO fiber patch cords implemented our 365nm UV LED curing systems and achieved outstanding results:

• Yield Rate Breakthrough: The first-pass yield rate for fiber connector Insertion Loss (IL) jumped from 88% to 99.6%.
• Excellent 3D Geometry: Adhesive shrinkage was perfectly controlled, bringing the height differential of multi-fiber connectors down to the nanometer scale and 100% passing IEC international standards.
• Exponential Capacity Growth: Bulky thermal ovens were eliminated. The single-station cycle time was reduced from minutes to seconds, freeing up 50% of floor space.

In the field of optical communication manufacturing, where the pursuit of ultimate low-loss technology is paramount, 365nm UV LED curing technology has become an indispensable standard process. Shenzhen Super-curing Opto-Electronic CO., Ltd. is committed to providing global optoelectronic packaging customers with the most stable and highest-performance UV curing hardware support.

Contact our application engineers for free prototyping and customized light source solutions! 

Email: Ericuvled@szmylighting.com