What is the typical step after preparing fibers for splicing?

After fibers are prepared for splicing, performing end-face preparation is a crucial step that follows. This process ensures that the ends of the optical fibers are clean and properly shaped for optimal light transmission. Effective end-face preparation involves trimming and polishing the fiber ends to achieve a smooth finish and precise alignment.

This step is essential because any imperfections, dirt, or damage on the fiber ends can lead to significant losses in signal strength and quality when the fibers are spliced. By ensuring that the fibers have been correctly prepared with well-defined end faces, you enhance the likelihood of a successful splice that minimizes attenuation and reflects good practices in fiber optic installations.

In contrast, directly connecting fibers would occur after splicing is complete. Verifying the splice settings on the machine is typically done before splicing begins to ensure the equipment is correctly configured for the specific type of fibers being used. Conducting a visual inspection for fiber quality might happen before or after preparation but is part of an overarching quality assurance process rather than a direct follow-up to the preparation of fibers.