Exfo has added the FIP-430B fully automated fibre inspection probe to its portfolio of portable fibre-optic test equipment.
Built to simplify and speed up connector certification, the FIP-430B integrates advanced automated features, such as a high-performance, fibre image-centring system and onboard connector-endface pass/fail analysis based on IEC or custom standards to deliver accurate and consistent connector certification in seconds. The probe's image-centring function is capable of achieving time savings of up to 57 per cent, and the automatic focus adjustment enables the process to be 100 per cent automated. The focus protection feature prevents image capture in the event of improper focus adjustment, thus ensuring that no defects or residues affecting performance can be ignored by the analysis.
Users simply connect the FIP-430B to the connector port, following which the probe will automatically detect the connection, find and centre the fibre image, adjust and optimise the focus and capture, run the pass/fail analysis, and even save and report the results. The whole process takes just slightly longer than cleaning a connector port, making it difficult to justify overlooking this critical step.
'By automating the full test process, this innovation eliminates all complex and time-consuming operations, as well as the risk of human misinterpretation, making it easier for the end user to follow best practices,' said Étienne Gagnon, Vice-President of Exfo's Physical-Layer and Wireless Division. "The autofocus facilitates identification of defects, and focus protection prevents reporting of false-positive results-all of which leads to more accurate and consistent test results for first-time-right network deployment.'