Soldering Fiber Optics with Induction

Can fiber optics components be soldered with induction?

Our applications laboratory has considerable experience with a variety of soldering applications and would be happy to review your fiber optics soldering application.

Induction generates an electromagnetic field in a work coil that induces currents in the conductive material of a workpiece placed within or near the coil. Friction from these currents elevates the temperature of the materials to be soldered.

Benefits of Fiber Optics Sealing with Induction

Induction meets tight production tolerances delivering precise localized heat to small areas creating pinpoint accuracy. The process increases production rates with faster heating cycles, reduces defect rates with repeatable, reliable heat and eliminates variability from operator-to-operator, shift-to-shift.

Melting
Soldering

Heating a Kovar Ferrule for Glass Soldering

The solder formed a relatively uniform domed seal around the fiber despite the asymmetry of the open C coil. It took under 10 seconds to heat the part to soldering temperature

Hermetic Sealing a Ferrule & Fiber Optic Cable

To heat a Kovar ferrule and fiber optic cable to 297 °F within 10 seconds for a soldering application, to form a hermetic seal

Solder Fiber Optic Cable to Ferrule & Preform

Induction heating provides rapid localized heat only where needed, repeatable, consistent results with clean, controllable joints

Hermetically sealing a fiber optic cable in a kovar ferrule

Induction heating provides instant start up time, requiring very little power resources, pin point accuracy, a clean source of heat which is easily integrated into existing automated systems

Soldering fabric to kovar tip assembly

A three turn pancake coil is used to heat the tip of the cone to 300 °F (149 °C) in 2-3 seconds

soldering-a-kovar-piece-with-glass-to-a-copper-base

Induction heating provides ability to use same equipment for both assembly and repair, hands-free heating that involves no operator skill for manufacturing, and uniform control of heat from part to part

Soldering Ferrule and Module Assembly

To heat ferrule and module assemblies for a soldering application in the fiber optics industry.