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NC/AC 3005 - Norland Products, Inc.

1. e Tighten the two screws indicated in the picture e Make sure that the lamp mount is securely in place Step 10 e Using the 1 16 allen key reattach the left side panel and the top side panel on the interferometer with the 8 screws e Turn the interferometer on Step 11 e Place a connector into the mount and adjust the focus knob to maximize the fringe pattern e Look at the illumination in the red light mode and the white light mode e Are the illuminations similar between the two modes e If yes bulb replacement is complete If no proceed to step 12 Step 12 AutoAdiust e Select Red mode e Go into the Action gt Illumination Calibration and press Auto Adjust e Click Save and Exit when auto ee adjust is completed e Repeat above for White light mode Default Set Bright mae 0 Set Contrast G NC Bulb Replacement Procedure Step 1 e Obtain the following e 20 watt quartz halogen bulb e NC 3005 microscope unit powered off and allowed to cool e A computer and monitor on with the ACCIS software running e Rubber tipped tweezers supplied with unit e Flat Head Screwdriver Step 2 e Remove the four allen head screws located behind the microscope stage e Lift off the cover plate and set aside e Allow the bulb to cool is still hot Step 3 e Note how the bulb is orientated in the socket It is best to place the new bulb in similarly to how the old on
2. Max Diff Fib Ht 0 126 Pla Diff Ht 0 258 Fiber Pla Sts Core Dip oe oo e Fail 3 ROC mm Y ROC mm 2 Endface ngfdeg Y Endface ngfdeg Flatness Deviationfum Max Diff Fib Ht Adifurn Planar Diff Ht Totalfurn Fiber Planar Protrusion Core Dip Fiber Fiber Sph Fiber Fiber Fiber Sph Fiber Planar Protrusion Core Dip Planar Protrusion Core Dip Protrusion Protrusion Length Oum omn Dap wh April 19 202 Surface Contour Display Height 12722 nm I i H k i A J ka Ly ii at cA i a A 2000 2500 3000 3500 i Live Ima g um 14 12 01 11 19 54 X Surface Angle deg 0 030 Comments Y Surface Angle deg 0 045 Flatness Deviation um 0 12 Pianar Diff Ht Total um 0 24 X Radius of Curvature mm 9099 54 Y Radius of Curvature mm 166 77 i A rs 3 4 5 0 14 1 Planar Prot 4 29 147 1 47 143 142 145 143 1 43 1409 1 51 153 1 39 REPORT FROM MEASUREMENT Noncontact White 9 1 F AC Bulb Replacement Procedure Step 1 e Obtain the following e 20 watt quartz halogen bulb e NC 3005 microscope unit powered off and allowed to cool e A computer and monitor on with the ACCIS software running e 1 16 Allen Key Step 2 e Remove the four allen head screws located on the left side of the microscope And the four allen heads on the top of the microscope only two of these are indicated in the picture e Lift of
3. NC AC 3005 AUTOMATED NON CONTACT INTERFEROMETER SYSTEM USER MANUAL FOR MULTIPLE FIBER CONNECTORS amp ARRAYS ACCIS RC VERSION 3 02 For WINDOWS NT Norland Products INC 2540 Route 130 Suite 100 P O BOX 637 Cranbury NJ 08512 Tel 609 395 1966 Fax 609 395 9006 Web Address Email techsupport norlandproducts com TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 3 1 1 How It Works 3 1 2 Novel Features 4 1 3 Vibration Issues 6 1 4 Specifications 7 1 5 Quick Start 8 CHAPTER 2 SYSTEM PREPARATION __ 10 2 1 Package Inspection 10 2 2 Unpacking the System 10 2 3 Assembling the system 1 2 4 Tilt Stage amp Micrometer Installation 12 CHAPTER 3 ACCIS PROGRAM _ 15 3 1 Starting ACCIS Program 15 3 2 Menu Bar Features 16 3 3 Tool Bar Features 19 3 4 Info Bar Features 21 CHAPTER 4 CONFIGURING DATA 22 4 1 Set Up Parameters 22 4 2 Recommended Set Up Parameters 27 4 3 Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking 28 4 4 Option Parameters 30 CHAPTER 5 CALIBRATION TOOLS 33 CHAPTER 6 MEASURING a CONNECTOR 35 6 1 One Pass 37 6 2 Two Pass 42 E CHAPTER 7 DATA INTERPRETATION 48 CHAPTER 8 INTERFEROMETRY BASICS o 53 E CHAPTER 9 CARE of the SYSTEM 56 9 1 Repacking Procedures 57 LU APPENDIX 61 A Magnification Calibration Procedures 62 B 8 Calibration Standard Procedures 70 C End face Angle Calibration Procedures 78 D MT Reference Calibration Procedures 85 E Report Generation 89 F AC Bulb Repl
4. Data Path The directory where nld xls and csv files will be stored The Default directory is C Program Files Norland Products data Users can change the data storage directory by typing a new directory ID into this field if desired Configuration Path The directory where cfg files will be stored cfg files are copies of user defined setups These setups are created by pressing the Save button in the Setup Menu These files can be loaded back into the Setup menu by pressing the Load button and selecting the appropriate file The Default directory is C Program Files Norland Products system Users can change the configuration directory by typing a new directory ID into this field The System Option setting can be reset to its original values by pressing the Default button SECURITY Configuration Option Security Tab General System Security Add Users on this machine ACCIS Administrators Update Edministrator Cancel ACCIS supports two different levels of users which are allowed different privileges Users on the machine These are operator level users These users cannot change the setup structure They are permitted to load a setup configuration cfg file that was created by a ACCIS Administrator Some functions e g Calibration related operations will be eliminated from the Menu choices ACCIS Administrators These are manager level users ACCIS administrators are able to access all a
5. Do not touch the connector until all segments have been measured and the stage has returned to the starting position At the completion of a scan a beep is sounded to indicate the completion of frame capturing from the camera Once the beep has sounded the connector under test can be removed from the mount and a new connector can be inserted in preparation for the next scan Results will be displayed when data analysis is complete 36 6 1 One Pass Step e Obtain the following e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running e NC AC 3005 microscope unit e Mount e Pin Alignment Use Angle Correction OR e Edge Alignment e Alcohol amp Lint free wipes or the supplied connector cleaner e Connectors to be analyzed Step 2 e Do Calibrations if needed e Pin Alignment Mount Magnification calibration if the fibers do not coincide with the templates rarely needs to be done 8 Calibration if the accuracy of the micrometer needs to be verified only if ordered End face Angle Calibration to determine the Angle Correction factors of the mount being used for analysis e Edge Alignment Mount e Magnification calibration if the fibers do not coincide with the templates rarely needs to be done e 8 Calibration if the accuracy of the micrometer needs to be verified only if ordered Refer to the CALIBRATION TOOLS section to determine which if any calibrations are needed An ACCIS Administrator is needed in or
6. If selected the software will display warning messages to the User when fiber detection and or fiber height measurement does not succeed for one or more fibers during a scan However a situation may arise when a User is aware of a missing fiber but chooses not to mask it The User will receive a warning message each time this connector is scanned and will have to respond to each message For this situation scanning can be simplified and streamlined by deselecting this option The figure below illustrates fiber masking on fibers 5 8 of a standard 12 fiber MT connector With this feature the Region of Interest 1s indicated in the Surface Contour Display by the large dashed rectangular region Arrow A The fiber masking area is also indicated in the Surface Contour Display by the hatched rectangular region Arrow B After a User defines the desired exclusion sections of the connector and performs a scan the measurements are calculated only from the remaining unmasked sections inside the Region of Interest fibers 1 4 and 9 12 in the figure below For fibers that have been masked the fiber height planar or spherical protrusion will appear in the measurement results as N A not applicable on screen in print and in exported files Also the fibers will not be included in related calculations such as Fiber Differential Height or Adjacent Maximum Differential Height IMPORTANT NOTES e Fiber masking will not directly affect the 3D display
7. Style Name MT Minimum Ferrule T Mets gt inimum 5 Se IRS Center Locator Templates 7 Modulation y o 20 Fiber Height Type Planar Fiber Count 12 Heights Used Top Hts 3 Connector Type PC Fiber Type Single Mode Y Excluded Fiber Dia um fi 26 Auto Focus V Two Pass I IEC Fit V alia Pass Fail I _Saveds Load E Default ok Cancel Option x General System Security Group Name Defaut Maxiniun Windows 5 T Auto Print T Auto Increment W Auto Save in Database Ask Before Export I M Include Images F Norland Image Format nid I Microsoft Excell sls Spreadsheet Settings D ASCILCS Formati ce irror Screws Step 10 e Press F12 Measure on the Toolbar or F12 on the keyboard e Follow the command prompt e Since there are no fiber on the MT reference lining up the fibers in the template does not have to be done e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen e Press OK e If desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed e Make sure not to cause any vibrations Step 11 e The interferometer will go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the MT reference e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into vie
8. TMC Before purchasing equipment a technical representative of the isolation equipment supplier should visit the site where the instrument is installed to recommend the appropriate equipment to isolate the instrument from the vibration sources present 1 4 Specifications DIMENSIONS Measured in Inches Interferometer Monitor Computer INTERFEROMETER Michelson Light Source Camera Image Frame Size Vertical Resolution Magnification Lateral Resolution Field of View COMPUTER Pentium IIT Speed Hard Disk Graphics Adapter Bios Operating System Frame Grabber RAM REPEATABILITY RANGE PLOTTING Planar Fiber Height Flatness Deviation Differential Height surface Angle Contour Map X Profile Y Profile 3 D Isometric DISPLAY PROPERTIES Settings Color Palette Font Size Desktop Area LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT 17 0 11 0 8 3 17 0 17 0 17 0 17 5 17 0 5 25 White Light Tungsten Halogen CCTV with 8 8mm x 6 6mm Sensing Area 256 x 240 Pixels 1 1 nanometers 45X um 1 600 um 1 7 GHz 15 0 GB EIDE Drive Matrox Productiva Phoenix 4 0 Microsoft Windows NT 4 0 Matrox Meteor 128MB SD RAM Installed 0 02 um 0 04 um 0 04 um 0 01 Standard Standard Standard Standard 16 million colors Large 1024 x 768 pixels Subject to change due to improving technology 1 5 Quick Start If you are already familiar with the Norland Interferometer or you just can t wait to start go through th
9. e If Pass Fail is selected in the Set Up Dialog masked fibers will not be checked against the Pass Fail limits e If conducting two pass measurements the fiber masking regions must be symmetrical for both orientations For one pass measurements no special actions have to be taken 2 Conni_Msk5678_3 Burtoe Contour Di rola p a Feces se Rleee j i Be ny hod ead Cail Group Hame MaskT estin Connector ID Conn_Msk5678_3 o Y Endface Angle deg 0 008 Pe E Curv Radius mm F latness Deviationfum Do0 See OoOo Max Adj Diff Fib Hilum E Planar Ditt Ht T otal urn DE Fiber Ho Pla Prot um 29 4 4 Option Parameters GENERAL Configuration Option General Tab Option Option General System Security General System Security Group Hame Defaut Group Hame Defaut Masimum Windows 5 Maximum Windows E Auto Print Auto Print Auto Export F Auto Increment Auto Increment M Auto Save in Database Ask Before Export W Include Images Norland Image Format nid spreadsheet Settings I Microsoft Excell sls Spreadsheet Settings M ASCI_CS Format csv Cancel Auto Export and Auto Save in Database is selected Group Name Names the Excel Spreadsheet where connector measurement data will be saved Group names can be changed to any 50 character alphanumeric name desired by the user Typing in an existing Group Name will locate an existing sprea
10. portion of the live image screen Picture B Step 9 e Turn the y axis knob clockwise to bring the fringe pattern on the flat surface into full view in the image screen e Adjust focus knob if needed to obtain fringe pattern Measure Setup x Microscope Type Nc Ac3005 x Scan Type Normal Ferrule Type Ceramic ba Fiber Height Type Plana v Connector Type PE Fiber Type Fiber Dia um ROI Length um 300 Width um 675 r Ribbon Style Style Name MiniMT x Center Locator Templates 7 Fiber Count Filter Settings Minimum 2 Modulation a 2 Single Mode 126 Auto Focus M Two Pass D Use Angle Correction Pass Fail Save s Load Default OK Live Image A Live Image Step 10 e Adjust mirror knobs one at a time to expand the fringe pattern until 1 horizontal fringe can be obtained 1 e an entire white fringe or black fringe takes up the live image screen e NOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the slightest movement of the mirror knobs so be very gentle when turning them Step 11 e Press F12 Measure on the Tool Bar e Press OK to bypass the prompt that asks you to line up the fibers e If desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress e Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed e Make sure not to cause any vibrations Step 12 e The interferometer will go through
11. the epoxy well facing the front of the interferometer e Make sure the guide holes are correctly placed on the guide pins If inserted incorrectly the guide pins in the mount may be destroyed e Push the connector all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector Step 6 e Change to WHITE light mode if not already in it Guide Holes Step 7 e Go into the Set Up screen by pressing the F2 Setup button on the Toolbar Measure Setup x Microscope Type NC AC3005 7 ADI Lenath urn 2900 Width um 675 e Click Default Ribbon Style Scan Type Endface Angle Calilfixg Stule N ai m Filter Settings e yle Name x is e Select Microscope Type NC AC 3005 eg aa FEE Mime e Fiber Height Type Planar Fiber Count EA Heights Used 20 Top Hts 3 Connector Type PC Fiber Type Single Mode Excluded Fiber Dia um fi 26 e Change Scan Type to End face Angle Calibration e This will automatically change to Two Pass mode e Change Style Name to the connector being measur ed 1e MiniMt Or MT Auto Focus MV Two Pass M IEC Fit V Pass Fail I e Click OK to save the parameters and exit eee Bee er ee the set up screen Step 8 e Go into the Configuration Option screen l General 5 Secuii e Click on the General Tab eneral System Security e Enter Group N
12. E i x inimum 5 Pamuk Tps Sabaa Center Locator Templates x Modulation Fue hae soba Center Locator Templates x Modulation Fiber Height Type Planar x Fiber Count r Heights Used 20 Fiber Height Type Planar Fiber Count Ha Heights Used 20 C tor T PC v Top Hts 3 Connector Type PC z Top Hts 7 3 sided coastal Ubi Fiber Type Single Mode Excluded Fiber Type Single Mode Excluded Fiber Dia um fi 26 Fiber Dia um fi 26 Use Angl F Auto Focus V Two Pass M IEC Fit V TARA M Pass Fail I Auto Focus V Two Pass M IEC Fit IV ae M Pass Fail M Save s Load Default OK Save As Load Default OK Angled MT Ferrules Connectors Microscope Type NC AC3005 v art Lenath um 2900 Width um 675 Ribbon Style Scan Type N z Fl i yp omal MENAR Mo a pp ee inimum Ferrule Type Ceramic Z Center Locator Templates Modulation a 2 20 Fiber Height Type Planar k Fiber Court Heights Used Top Hts 3 Connector Type APC Fiber Type Single Mode Excluded Mount Angle deg Fiber Dia um h Auto Focus Two Pass D IEC Fit M ee M Pass Fail M Save As Load Default OK NOTE ePin Alignment mounts select One Pass w Use Angle Correction eEdge Alignment mounts select One Pass w OUT Use Angle Correction eFnter the number of fibers in the connector in Fiber Count elf measuring e
13. When not checked use the SAVE or SAVE AS function keys to save data if desired Auto Increment When checked the Connector ID number will automatically increase by one digit at the successful completion of a measurement Auto Save in Database When marked scan results as well as scan configuration information will be automatically saved in a Microsoft Access database upon successful completion of a measurement A captured interferometric image and the scan s 3D surface map will also be saved to a linked 30 Microsoft Access database if Include Images option has been marked by the Operator These database files act as source for the ACCIS Report Generator as well as storage of all ACCIS Report configurations They can also be accessed externally using Microsoft Access or standard database interface utilities No access protections are in place on these database files so no log on is required Location of the database is configurable by the Operator through ACCIS main menu choice Configuration Option System setting the Data path The database file name is the same as the Group Name set through ACCIS main menu choice Configuration Option General The images if selected for automatic storage can be found by the Group Name with _Image appended to it These image database files can be periodically deleted when no longer needed in order to free up disk storage space 1f desired Spreadsheet Settings Pressing this button will bring up a
14. White light mode Illumination Calibration Ea Set Bright 0 Set Contrast AutoAdiust Test Default Save 99 H ACCIS Software Installation The ACCIS software is already installed into the computer although if at any time the software must be re installed follow the procedure below Software Requirements Operating System Microsoft Windows NT 4 0 or later Microsoft Office 2000 Default Installation At least Small Business Hardware Requirements Intel Pentium I 550 MHz 64 MB SDRAM SOMB free disk space INSTALLATION PROCEDURE 1 Make sure the NIDAQ National Instrument Data Acquisition hardware and associated drivers and the frame grabber hardware are installed on your computer and are connected to the microscope 2 Shut down any running programs 3 Insert the ACCIS RC 3_0x Installation CD into your CD ROM If the set up dialog does not start automatically do the following a Click Start b Select Run C Type E Setup exe where E is your CD ROM drive letter d Click OK 4 Follow the on screen instructions a During the Microsoft Data Access Components Installation a message box may appear suggesting you must restart the computer before the new settings will take affect and giving you the option to reboot or not DO NOT REBOOT AT THIS TIME Reboot the system only when the ACCIS installation is completely finished b When the software has finished installing a dial
15. a few scans to measure and map the surface of the calibration standard e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Live Image EIH HE Adjust in X and Y until Templates overlay the Fibers on Live View Focus fringes as needed and click OK when ready for scan 1 Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Step 13 e When the scans are completed note the readings obtained for the End face Angle in the X and Y direction shown by arrow A The goal is to have measurement readings of 0 0 02 for both the X and Y e If not repeat steps 10 13 until both measurement readings are 0 0 02 e If they are O 0 02 then the flat Group Name BtCalConnector O ect surface of the 8 standard 1s a perpendicular to the optical path Move on to step 14 i TE Comments fo Step 14 e Turn the y axis knob counterclockwise to bring the intersection of the two surfaces back to the middle of the screen e During the rest of the 0 8 calibration procedure NEVER ADJUST ANY OF THE THUMB SCREWS OR MIRROR _ _ _ prt tints tet ETEEREEETA amy am 000 00 Ao og X KNOBS AFTER THE CALIBRATION ER
16. dialog box This dialog box has a list of all data that will be saved in a spreadsheet A checkbox is placed in front of every field to appear in a spreadsheet Checking the box selects the field Unchecking the box deselects the field data still will be saved but will be hidden Click on Select All button to select all checkboxes and Clear All to deselect all checked boxes The Spreadsheet Settings option can also be used for selecting the fields that a user wants to view in a spreadsheet when opening it with an Open command from a File Menu or XL button on a toolbar This function is only available to ACCIS Manager Level Users Check to display in a spreadsheet EJ hf Group Name MS Surface Ang deal MS Surface And pf M Measure Method MY Surface Ang deal MY Surface Ana pif J Scan Date J Fatness Deviation um fy Flatness Dev pf W Scan Time MM Max Adj Diff Fb Httum o Max Adj Diff Ht pet W Connect ID Jf Pla Ditt Ht Total urn Jf Pla Ditt Ht Tot pet Wo AOI Width um I ROC mm J AOL Length um ff Y ROC mm M Mount Ang deg 24 Core Dips i Core Dip pt J Contig File 24 Sphencal Protrusiorns 24 Planar Protrusions i Fiber Protrusion put Clear All Cancel 0K 31 SYSTEM Configuration Option System Tab Option x General System Security Data Path C Program Files Norland Products 4CCISRC3_00 d c Config Path C Program Files Norland Products 4CCISRC3_O0 s aa OK Cancel
17. guide pins in the mount connector may be damaged e Push the connector all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector Step 8 Adjust the X and Y knobs until the crosshairs lie between the 6 and 7 fibers the middle of the connector in the Live Image Screen 6 fiber 7t fiber a K Step 9 e Adjust the Z focus knob to bring the fringe pattern to the center of view in the Live Image Screen e The fringe pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen e Note approximately how much of the live image the fringe pattern takes up e For example the fringe pattern takes up approximately 10 of the live image screen Step 10 e Rotate the connector 180 so that the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer e Adjust the Z focus knob to bring the fringe pattern to the center of view in the Live Image Screen e The fringe pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen e Note approximately how much of the live image the fringe pattern takes up e For example the fringe pattern takes up approximately the entire screen Live Image Step 11 e Turn the connector to the orientation that has the smaller fringe pattern In this case the epoxy well to the front e Adjust the mirror knobs to expand the fringe pattern to take up an average of the areas from steps 9 and 10 e NOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the sl
18. head screws into the holes marked by the arrows in the picture e Place the tilt stage on top of the microscope by lining up the screws with the four holes on top of the microscope unit e Tighten the screws with a 3 32 Allen Key Note Split Yoke Collar shown Step 2 e Remove the shipping screw and the warning label on the right side of the tilt stage Picture A e Remove the two screws the shipping block and the warning label from the right side of the superstructure Picture B Step 3 e Acquire the Regular or Digital micrometer from the Accessory Box Regular Micrometer e Make sure that the circular yoke collar is centered and level Adjust the position if needed e Insert the micrometer into position by seating the U shaped tip on the bottom of the micrometer onto the dowel pin in the hole marked by the arrow so that the numbers are facing the front of the microscope Step 4 e Push down on the micrometer and attach it to the top plate as follows e For a Set Screw Collar picture A e Insert the two set screws provided into the two threaded holes in the collar on the back of the tilt stage as shown by the arrows using a 1 16 Allen Key provided Tighten screws e For a Split Collar picture B e Insert the cap head screw provided if not already done so into the hole indicated by the arrow on the back of the tilt stage using a 3 32 Allen Key provided Tighten screws e The mi
19. on the glass Make sure not to damage the lines on the reticle as that will affect the data e Place the reticle mount onto the stage and lock into place with the mount screws Picture C Upon completion of the Magnification Calibration proceed to any of the following e 0 8 Calibration Standard procedures if ordered in order to verify the accuracy of the micrometer OR End face Angle Calibration procedures to determine the Angle Correction factors to calibrate the mount being used during analysis if using a Pin Alignment mount and performing One Pass w Use Angle Correction selected OR eMEASURING a CONNECTOR section Step 16 e Change to White Light mode if not already in it Step 17 e Go into the Set Up screen by pressing the F2 Setup button on the Toolbar e Click Default e Select Microscope Type NC AC 3005 e Change Scan Type to Magnification Calibration e This will automatically change Center Locator to Guide Holes e Click OK to save the parameters and exit the set up screen Step 18 e Go into Action on the Menu bar and select Calibrate screen as shown in the picture e Click on Auto Microscope Type NC AC3005 x AGI Length um 2900 Width um 675 Scan Type Maonification E T Filter Settings Style Name MT 7 M Ceramic E inimum 5 Ferrule Type slit af Center Locator Guide Holes Modulation Fiber Height Typ
20. operator level user or ACCIS administrator can load previously saved Set Up parameters Operator level users cannot change any Set Up parameters DEFAULT Returns all values to the default settings OK Exits the Setup Screen and returns to the Main Menu The settings will be saved automatically CANCEL Exits without saving changes 26 4 2 Recommended Set Up Parameters The latest IEC recommended procedure for measuring the angle of multifiber connectors uses the ideal end face perpendicular to the centerlines of the guide holes pins of the connector as the reference This is accomplished with the latest Pin Alignment Connector Mounts from Norland Products that use mounts with aperture plates and integral guide pins holes for holding connectors in the correct alignment Below are the recommended Set Up parameters for MT MiniMT type connectors based on the present guidelines being considered by the TIA Telephone Industry Association and the IEC International Electrotechnical Committee e e MT Ferrules Connectors MiniMT Ferrules Connectors Microscope Type NC AC3005 x a Lenath urn 2900 Microscope Type NC AC3005 7 Rot Length um 300 Width um 675 Width um 675 Ribbon Style Ribbon Style a mage a a es Scan Type Normal X ea mM sf Filter Settings yp orma Style Name Mnn E ka ae i Minimum 7 Ferrule T
21. the computer off ACTION MEASURE Activates scanning and measurement of the connector mounted in the interferometer It begins by displaying a window showing scan progress The operator can input a Connector ID at any time before clicking OK or pressing Enter During the scan a beep is sounded to indicate completion of frame capturing from the camera for the scan segment As many as six scan segments are used to make a complete composite scan The number of segments depends on the Ribbon Style selected in the Set Up Menu The connector is automatically shifted between each scan segment The operator is prompted to refocus as needed before the start of each segment unless the Auto Focus option has been selected in the SETUP menu Do not touch the connector until all segments have been measured and the stage has returned to the starting position MAGNIFICATION CALIBRATION Stores the Magnification Calibration Factors into the system e Only active when Magnification Calibration is selected in the Set Up Scan Type ILLUMINATION CALIBRATION This menu choice available to all levels of ACCIS users provides capability for automatic as well as manual adjustment of the default Brightness and Contrast settings and an intensity profile display that is constantly updated and uses the middle row of live grabs Pressing AutoAdjust Brightness and Contrast settings are automatically adjusted and using the slide bars Brightness and Cont
22. will be used Into this form the user can also enter their Company information including logo and select which measurement data will appear along with the other entered information w Report Creator Company Information Select Test Parameters lj Fiber Diameter Adress T RO Lengercumn RO Vaihi r Cty Sle M scen type mo Country j Fermite Type pien r Conector Type l m m ec O Fier Hat Type Incest Logo T Mart Angie deg F Us Ribbon Style T Pate Fat Mode W 4 gt w T Style Name Filter Settings Carter Locator xh l Fobo core m Pier Type SM or M Client Information Crt es wm jal oj Select Test Results F ROCKIN F Mex Off Pm 4 Adun fF 1950 ne Select Layout fh ROConm Penner Diti ht Totatlun E Layout m F X Ondtece Angie aeg F fiber Plane Prorusion F Yirndiace Argie deg f Pier Spherical Protrusion Mew Sve emn ine TSN Select ReturnInsertion Loss Measure dA G Automatic F Orm Select All Select None e F 10ra Liter Wend A Enter a Client Name in the Client Information section If there are multiple Clients enter a name and then click the single Right arrow button to move to a new blank record for entering a new Client Name Repeat this process as needed e The four arrow buttons work as follows Left and right buttons bring up the first and last entries respectively The middle left and middle right buttons cause a move to the previous and next entries respectively from the p
23. zero degree polish APC Angled Physical Contact angled polish MICROSCOPE TYPE Specifies the choice of the interferometric system used with the ACCIS software NC AC 3005 Multi fiber system NC AC 3000 Single fiber system Listed but cannot be selected w this software Advantage Combination system for single and multi fiber measurements SCAN TYPE Displays the type of scan that will be used to measure the connector Normal Standard measurement mode for multifiber PC APC connectors For use with both edge alignment and pin alignment mounts Magnification Calibration Sets the required magnification calibration For use only with Edge Alignment mount or NIST Traceable Calibration Reticle End face Angle Calibration Determines the X and Y Angle Correction Factors for the Pin Alignment mount being used NOTE This feature should only be used for the NC AC 3005 with adjustable mirrors For Angle Calibration on the Advantage system or NC AC 3005 w Fixed Mirrors use the AC feature on the toolbar Refer to Chapter 5 for more details and procedures CONFIGURATION FILE Displays a drop down menu of the configurations files Set Up menus saved by ACCIS Administrators Can be used by any security level Information Method Live Image white Connector Type PE Microscope Type NC AC3005 Scan Type ContigFile Normal 21 CHAPTER 4 CONFIGURING DATA Before running measurements it is nece
24. E i STANDARD HAS BEEN LEVELED co o Derr Agadazpiem Flatt De anoniurn pem Corman Piana DE He Tiotadiern d Pier Mei 1 Fra Prox Seng thet act doce Sint ANORLAND PRODUC BSAC doe Menon e Accia sacl Step 15 e Verify the lock collar on the micrometer is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Turn the micrometer clockwise to 8 Lock Collar e Lock the micrometer into position by turning the lock collar in the clockwise direction Step 16 e Turn the y axis knob counterclockwise to bring the fringe pattern on the angled surface into full view in the image screen e Adjust the focus knob until the maximum fringe pattern is obtained Step 17 e Press F12 Measure on the Tool Bar e Press OK to bypass the prompt that asks you to line up the fibers e If desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress e Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed e Make sure not to cause any vibrations Step 18 e The interferometer will go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connector e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Live Image EIH HE Adjust in X and Y until Templates overlay the Fibers on Live View Focus fringe
25. K to save the parameters and exit the set up screen LS lod Det o Step 8 e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the middle of the live image screen Step 9 e Adjust the mirror knobs one at a time to expand the fringe pattern over the surface of the connector so that it seems to bubble out from the center of the connector or vice versa when adjusting the focus knob Refer to Step 9 in the One Pass measurement process e NOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the slightest movement of the mirror knobs so be very gentle when turning them Pe ae irror Screws Step 10 e Press F12 Measure on the Toolbar or F12 on the keyboard Follow the command prompt e Adjust the focus knob to move the fringe pattern out of the view Picture A e Place the guide hole into the box so the left edge is touching the box bottom I e The left vertical line and is centered vertically in the template picture A e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen Picture B e Press OK e Make sure not to cause any vibrations e If desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed Step 11 e The interferometer will go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RE
26. Magnification calibration if the fibers do not coincide with the templates rarely needs to be done e Refer to the CALIBRATION TOOLS section to determine which if any calibrations are needed An ACCIS Administrator is needed in order for EAC and Magnification Calibration to be done Step 3 e Choose White Light mode if not already in it F12 Measure F2 Setup White Oy a ca Ld al aa Step 4 eSelect the Set Up Parameters F2 Setup for connector to be measured and mount used onio DEE wae picture A eACCIS Administrators can modify setup mee ewan go according to the connector to be analyzed by FouHedtTice rw I 3 T Heute a pressing F2 on the toolbar or keyboard Connac Tyee fy myg o Administrators can save the set up as Config Files Flr Dis umni by pressing Save As Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Recommended Set Up parameters and Pass Fail parameters eClick OK to save and exit ee aa eOperator level users do the following imes toot deine ook 1 Click on ConfigFile button on the Info Bar 2 Select the Set Up configuration appropriate to the NOTE Set Up parameters for Two Pass shown for an MT 12 fiber connector being analyzed connector eSelect the Connector Configuration Parameters Configuration Connector according to the connector being tested picture B Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking The connector configurat
27. Procedures on the next page NOTE Norland Products strongly recommends that the NC AC 3005 original shipping containers be saved for future transportation needs These containers may be purchased from Norland Products as P N A 800100 Microscope Shipping Kit 56 9 1 Repacking Procedures Step 1 e Place the shipping block on the right side of the interferometer with the two screws and washers external washers as shown It may be a necessary to adjust the X amp Y knobs to line up the holes for the shipping block Screws and external e Tighten screw 1 first and then screw two Not following this order may damage the X and Y axis Step 2 e Place the shipping screw into the right side of the Tilt Stage as shown and screw into place Step 3 e Remove Micrometer e For set screw collar Loosen the two set screws that hold the micrometer in place The two screws are located towards the back of the tilt stage on the side of the round pivot collar as indicated by the arrows in picture A e For Split Collar e Loosen the cap head screw that holds the micrometer in place as shown in picture B e Remove the micrometer from the tilt stage and place into the accessories box Step 4 e Remove the Tilt Stage from the interferometer by removing the four screws and place the stage and screws into the accessories box Step 5 e Next place the Objective Insert over the lens being very careful not to damage the mir
28. TRY to the connector perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe Esty conc pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region e A prompt may appear Picture B informing you that no fibers were found this is due to the flat and mirror like polish on the connector endface Press OK Step 12 e Upon completion of the scan a prompt will appear that displays the suggested Magnification Calibration Factor value e If the new value differs from the value in the field by more than 0 2 as shown The current Magnification Calibration Factor is 41 359 in the picture to the right click Yes The new Magnification Calibration Factor is 41 576 to change to the new Magnification Calibration factor e If it differs by less than 0 2 click No in the prompt Magnification Calibration Factor Do you want to apply new Magnification Calibration Factor Step 13 e Change to Red light Mode Step 14 e Repeat Steps 7 12 to do the Magnification Calibration for the Red light mode Step 15 NIST Traceable Reticle e Wipe all oils dirt dust off the surface of the tilt stage with alcohol Picture A e Clean the bottom of the mount and reticle with alcohol Picture B e Use compressed air to remove and dirt dust
29. acement Procedure 92 G NC Bulb Replacement Procedure 96 H ACCIS Software Installation 100 o I FAQ s for the NC AC 3005 101 Q PART LIST 107 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the Norland NC AC 3005 Automated Non Contact Interferometer System for multi fiber and array type connectors With this instrument you will now be able to see and measure sub micron variations in the surface contours of fiber optic array connector end faces No other instrument is so versatile handling rough or smooth surfaces curved or flat polish standard or angled connectors and fiber protrusion or undercut while providing clear detailed information with easy automated operation This manual provides detailed information of the AC 3005 and NC 3005 along with the latest ACCIS software version 3 0x as well as detailed procedures of calibration and measuring processes Since the operation is identical for both these systems we will use the term NC AC to refer to either unit The new AC 3005 has improved electronics and a new illumination system to minimize maintenance requirements From an operators standpoint the only difference is the procedures for replacing lamps Most questions that arise are answered in this manual but if additional technical support is needed contact our technical service department at 609 395 1966 techsupport norlandproducts com or your authorized distributor Be sure to fill out and send in the warran
30. ame and select auto save Group Name Defaut and auto increment if desired T e Click OK to exit screen and return to the eeu program T Auto Increment W Auto Save in Database Ask Before Export I M Include Images F Norland Image Format nid I Microsoft Excell sls Spreadsheet Settings D ASCILCS Formati ce Step 9 e Adjust the X and Y knobs until the crosshairs lie between the 6 and 7 fibers the middle of the connector in the Live Image Screen eo te ee th fj th fj e If it is difficult to see the fibers the live OF Es aa ur image can be enlarged by double clicking K on the live image Scans can be taken with the live image enlarged Step 10 e Adjust the z focus knob slowly until a fringe pattern can be seen over the fibers in the center of the Live Image View e The fringe pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen e Note approximately how much of the live image the fringe pattern takes up e For example the fringe pattern takes up approximately 10 of the image screen Step 11 e Rotate the connector 180 so that the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer e Adjust the Z focus knob to bring the fringe pattern to the center of view in the Live Image Screen e The fringe pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen e Note approximately how much of the live image the fringe pattern takes up e For example the fringe pattern takes u
31. an which makes data available for a report upon successful completion From the main ACCIS window pull down menu select Report Generate or click the Report Generate icon at far right on the main ACCIS window toolbar NOTE Steps a b c amp d only need to be done the first time a report is printed or if a change is required later ij Generate Report Iof Xx Select Report Layout ig Enter Return Insertion Loss Info Select Report B gt Portrait C Landscape FOR COHHECTOR ID Current C _ Print Last f Scans WAWE LENGTH IL RL 1350 nm 1550 nm Print To D HF DeskJet 660C Print Report Print Label Print Preview Close E Close a Choose a previously configured report layout in the PRINT REPORT selection field b If a standard printer has been selected specify the desired printout orientation with the Portrait or Landscape radio buttons C Select the number of most recent scans to print d Select a printer to use in the PRINT TO selection field e Enter the IL RL information for particular Connector when prompted Report Configure form has an option to manually enter the insertion loss and return loss for particular connector at the time of Report Generate for the chosen wavelengths Wavelengths available are 850 nm 1300 nm and 1550 nm A If desired view how the report will look by clicking lt Print Preview gt button When clicked a view of the report is generated In the Print Previ
32. bility to load a previously created setup configuration that sets scan type to Calibration e Refer to Security in the Configuring Data Option Parameters Section e NC AC 3005 microscope unit e Edge Alignment Mount not needed if using NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle e Alcohol amp Lint free wipes or the supplied connector cleaner Step 2 e If using the Optional NIST Traceable Reticle proceed to step 15 e If using the 12 fiber Magnification Standard do the following e Wipe all oils dirt dust off the surface of the tilt stage with alcohol Picture A e Clean the bottom of the mount with alcohol Picture B e Using compressed air blow off any dust particles that may be inside the mount Picture C e Place the mount onto the stage and lock into place with the mount screws Picture D Step 3 e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Set the micrometer to 0 0 e Note For the greatest accuracy and Lock Collar repeatability final adjustments should always be done by turning the micrometer in a clockwise direction e Turn the lock collar clockwise to lock into position Step 4 e Clean the MT 12 fiber Magnification Calibration Standard with the connector cleaner supplied e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner if desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped off before
33. crometer is installed correctly when the part of the plate where the mount is attached is lower than or even with the main top plate If it is higher the micrometer was installed incorrectly Correct this by loosening the screws making sure the micrometer is seated correctly over the dowel pin and then tightening the screws Step 5 Unlock the micrometer by turning the black collar indicated by the arrow in the picture clockwise Step 6 e Turn the micrometer clockwise to 0 0 e Lock collar into position by turning the black collar clockwise e When changing the angle of the stage always remember unlock the micrometer by turning the black lock collar counterclockwise When the correct angle is reached lock the micrometer into position e NOTE If micrometer has to be re installed turn the micrometer head counterclockwise by the amount listed on the micrometer picture A from the 0 0 position Repeat installation procedure SAFETY COVER It is important to protect the piezo electric device on the interferometer with the safety cover included in the Accessory Box To install place the safety cover over the piezo device being careful not to harm the wire Attach the safety cover to the interferometer with the two screws also included in the Accessory Box Refer to Figure 1 NOTE The shipping block has to be removed BEFORE A attaching the safety cover FIGURE 1 CABLE SUPPORT Single Fiber The cabl
34. ction of the arrow button pressed The right mouse button will move the crosshairs to whatever position the cursor is on the contour map The distance between two points can also be determined by the use of the mouse Click and hold down the right mouse button on the first point drag the mouse to the second point and release the right mouse button The distance between the two points is shown in the upper right corner of the contour map in the Length field The height difference in reference to the first point is also shown in the Height field to the left To bring the crosshairs back to the center of the contour map press the home button on the keyboard The best fit plane used as a reference for planar fiber height measurements is displayed in the X and Y axis sections as a dashed purple line Contour Map Y axis Best Fit Plane ZO X axis FIGURE 2 EPOXY WELL FACING THE GACK OF THE INTERFEROMETER FIGURE 1 49 2 GROUP NAME Displays the name of the Excel Spreadsheet that the data is saved to Can be entered modified in Configuration Option General or the toolbar button G before the measurement process 3 CONNECTOR ID Displays the name of the measurement scan Will increment automatically if Auto Increment is selected in Configuration gt Option gt General 4 3D DISPLAY Clicking the 3D button will activate a new window containing a_three dimensional representation of the scanned c
35. d power cords into a power source 12 Attach the Tilt Stage and Micrometer to the interferometer Procedures on next page NOTE Because of constantly improving equipment some models may vary in the location of serial ports MONITOR Power Cord CPU Controller Power Cord Power Cord AC Adapter B amp W MONITOR OPTIONAL EEA Power Cord KEYBOARD 11 2 4 Tilt Stage amp Micrometer Installation The tilt stage is designed to hold mounts for various fiber optic connectors and has the capability of tilting the connectors to angles up to 13 in increments of 0 01 by using the variable tilt micrometer Each full turn of the micrometer dial represents a 0 50 change For the greatest accuracy and repeatability when changing the angle of the tilt stage final adjustments should always be done by turning the micrometer in a clockwise direction If you approach the final setting from a counterclockwise direction go past it and return to it from the clockwise direction In order to maintain the precision and accuracy of the Norland Interferometer the tilt stage and the variable tilt micrometer are shipped unassembled from the microscope unit The engineering staff at Norland Products Inc has designed these precision components for quick and easy assembly by you our customer Follow the simple step by step instructions to complete the assembly of the interferometer Step 1 Insert the four cap
36. de you with solutions to your special needs 1 3 Vibration Issues Background Because of their precise nature interferometric measurements are sensitive to vibration Vibration can occur from rotating machinery nearby traffic acoustic noise and a variety of other sources Touching the instrument or the surfaces on which it sits during measurements can also affect the measurements Symptoms of vibration are poor repeatability and can be seen as ripples on the computer generated images Connecting a separate black and white monitor to the video output of the instrument can assist in determining the presence of the vibration Instrument placement considerations The instrument should be placed on a solid support away from obvious sources of vibration e g rotating machinery Ideally the instrument should rest on a separate surface so that vibrations from using the computer keyboard and vibrations from other activities are not transferred through the surface to the instrument Vibration Isolators If the vibration is present even after the instrument is located on its own surface away from vibration sources then additional vibration isolation needs to be employed A low cost solution for vibration isolation is to place the instrument on a piece of vibration isolation material such as Sorbothane More sophisticated vibration isolation tables are available from manufacturers such as Newport Herzan and Technical Manufacturing Corporation
37. der for EAC and Magnification Calibration to be done Step 3 e Choose White Light if not already selected Flz Measure F2 Setup White Oy a ca Ld P AcE Step 4 eSelect the Set Up Parameters F2 Setup for cen ES wen connector to be measured and mount used Oe wah um FE picture A e ACCIS Administrators can modify setup ae Come a een a unar E according to the connector to be analyzed by r Fie pect TTE pressing F2 on the toolbar or keyboard Correcta e gery u Administrators can save the set up as Config Files bea re by pressing Save As Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Recommended Set Up parameters and Pass Fail parameters Click OK to save and exit 2 a see 7 a poled level users will have to do the a jae ara ollowing 1 Click on ConfigFile button on the Info Bar NOTE Set Up parameters for One Pass w Use Angle Correction 2 Select the Set Up configuration appropriate to the shown for an MT 12 fiber connector connector being analyzed Select the Connector Configuration Parameters Configuration Connector according to the connector being tested picture B Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking Step 5 eClick on Configuration Option General Tab eFnter the Group Name data is to be stored General System Security under Can also be done by pressing G on tac beet F the toolbar eer ae eSelect Auto Save Auto Increm
38. der of test parameters to be shown on the report and click on View to view the chosen configuration Click on Save to save the format to any name with chosen name appearing in the Layout list box The Layout list box shows all the previously saved layouts allowing user to make the selection Click on Exit to close the configure form HELP HELP TOPICS Accesses an online version of the User Manual for the ACCIS program and microscope unit ABOUT ACCIS Check the copyright or version of the ACCIS version 18 3 3 Tool Bar Features The ACCIS Toolbar offers a quick way to access the most commonly used functions in the program F12 Measure F2 Setup White G 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 MEASURE can also be accessed by the F12 Function Key e Activates scanning and measurement of the connector mounted in the interferometer It begins by displaying a window showing scan progress The operator can input a Connector Identification at any time before clicking OK or pressing Enter During the scan a beep is sounded to indicate completion of frame capturing from the camera for the present scan segment As many as six scan segments are used to make a complete composite scan The number of segments depends on the Ribbon Style selected by the operator in the Set Up Menu The connector is automatically shifted between each scan segment The operator is prompted to refocus as needed before the start of each segment unless the A
39. diate Some assembly however is necessary The following section will help you get your system up and running After all items have been carefully unpacked obtain the following tools that are needed to set up your system An uncluttered sturdy table located near a grounded power outlet A power filter surge protector optional A small slot type screwdriver The picture below labels the step numbers accordingly 1 Obtain the box labeled Cables from the Microscope Box 2 Plug the BNC cable BNC 1 into the back of the interferometer gt IfaB amp W monitor is ordered A Attach the other end of the BNC cable BNC 1 into the Video In port on the back of the monitor B Attach the BNC cable BNC 2 sent with the B amp W monitor into the Video Out port on the back of the monitor 3 Attach the other end of the BNC 1 cable Gf B amp W monitor ordered then BNC 2 to the connection at the back of the CPU 4 Plug the 25 pin Controller Cable into the back of the interferometer as shown by the picture 5 Attach the 68 pin end of the Controller Cable into the back of the CPU 6 Attach the monitor to the CPU by inserting the 15 pin D shell connector to the back of the CPU 7 Attach the keyboard to the CPU 8 Attach the mouse to the CPU 9 Plug the AC adapter into the back of the interferometer 10 Attach the Power Cords to the AC adapter CPU monitor and B amp W Monitor if ordered 11 Plug the three four if B amp W monitor is ordere
40. dsheet and append data to it Gf Group Name was used previously to give a name to a spreadsheet Make sure the correct data path is entered Use Default as the default setting NOTE Spreadsheet is created after first scan Maximum Windows The value entered here determines the Maximum number of Measurement Results windows that will be shown on the screen Default setting 5 Auto Print When checked the operator will be prompted to print a report at the completion of a measurement Will only print Surface Contour Surface Display 3D Mesh and data information Does not print Reports Refer to Print Chapter of this manual The printer attached to the parallel printer port on the computer must be compatible with Windows NT AutoExport When checked the operator will be prompted to save the results at the completion of a measurement If the Ask Before Exporting checkbox has been selected the operator will be prompted to save the results at the completion of a measurement if not checked saving will proceed without prompting Choose one of the file types for data storage e xls Microsoft Excel Files which contain quantitative data in spreadsheet form e nld Norland Files which contain data graphic images and set up parameters e csv Comma Separated Values which contains the quantitative data scan results contour data and set up parameters csv files can be exported to an external graphical analysis utility NOTE
41. e Planar 7 Fiber Count EA Heights Used 20 Top Hts 2 3 Connector Type PC Fiber Type Sinale Mode x Excluded Fiber Dia um fi 26 Ribbon Style Auto Focus Two Pass I IEC Fit crite Pass Fail I Save As Load Default OK Calibrate x Magnification os Calibration 40 326 OK Cancel si ead pee ES e Follow the command prompt Mount the Norland NIST Traceable Reticle standard Shift its verticle lines to the right in the Live Image until the leftmost line is at display center and is the e Adjust the X axis until the leftmost line Bo en ae ee ey eee in the live image view iS centered on Adjust focus until fringes appear and press OK the yellow crosshair e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern in view E Live Image e Press OK NOTE The directions in the command VIEW prompt are dependent upon the Microscope Type selected in the Set Up menu Placement of the line is different when Advantage is selected Step 20 z e The computer will go through a few scans and determine the magnification calibration The magnification calibration AN Magnification Calibration has been updated will be updated automatically if any changes are needed as shown in picture A e If the wrong line was placed in the live image an error message shown in picture B will appear e Press OK to save and exit data x ERROR Unable to detect expected nu
42. e guide holes or pins are clean e For Edge Alignment mounts make sure the shoulder on the back of the connector is clean Step 8 e Insert the connector into the mount with the epoxy well facing the back of the interferometer eIf using a Pin Alignment mount eMake sure the guide holes pins of the connector are correctly placed on the guide pins holes of the mount If inserted incorrectly the guide pins in the mount connector may be damaged eIf using an Edge Alignment mount eMake sure there is no play between the mount and the connector adjust the screw on the mount so the connector is held snuggly in place and that the back shoulder of the connector lies flat on the reference edge Make sure it is not too tight that it damage the connector when inserting removing the connector from the mount e Push the connector all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector Step 9 If using a Pin Alignment Mount move onto Step 10 If using an Edge Alignment Mount eAdjust the mirror knobs indicated by arrows in the picture one at a time to expand the fringe pattern over the surface of the connector so that it seems to bubble out from the center of the connector or vice versa when adjusting the focus knob eNOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the slightest movement of the mirror screws so be very gentle when turning them Shoulder NOTE MT 12 fibe
43. e Insert the MT reference into the mount e Push all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector e If there is play between the mount and the connector adjust the screw on the mount so the connector is held snuggly in place e Mount should not be too tight as this may damage the MT reference when inserting removing it Step 6 e Change to Red Light mode if not already in it Step 7 e Go into the Set Up screen by pressing the F2 Setup button on the Toolbar e Click Default e Select Microscope Type NC AC 3005 e Change Ferrule Type to Metal e Click OK to save the parameters and exit the set up screen Step 8 e Go into the Configuration gt Option screen e Click on the General Tab e Enter Group Name and select auto save and auto increment if desired e Click OK to exit screen and return to the program Step 9 e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the middle of the live image screen e Adjust the mirror knobs one at a time to expand the fringe pattern so that there is only one fringe that covers the surface e NOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the slightest movement of the mirror knobs so be very gentle when turning them Measure Setup Ed Microscope Type NC AC3005 x Length urm 2900 ROI Width um 675 Ribbon Style Scan Type Normal x Filter Settings
44. e following steps to measure a connector I System Preparation II Start the ACCIS Software When logging onto the the ACCIS software for the first time the security level is as an ACCIS administrator The program is capable of handling two security levels Manager level ACCIS Administrators and Operator level If desired the security levels can be configured according to the CONFIGURING DATA Option Parameters Security section in this manual Related information can also be found in the Windows NT manual sent with computer III Calibrate the machine if desired Refer to CALIBRATION TOOLS for more detailed explanations and procedures IV Measure a connector The following are the basic procedures for measuring a connector More detailed procedures are located in the MEASURING A CONNECTOR section of this manual 1 Select the Interferometric Mode Red or White The interferometric mode is dependent on the condition of the surface of the connector NOTE Most array type connectors require white mode e Red light is used for quick analysis of smooth surfaces e White light is used for detailed analysis of rough surfaces or surfaces with step heights i e fiber protrusion 2 Modify load Set Up parameters F2 Set Up on the tool bar or Config File on the Info Bar to control the data during the measurement process according to the connector being tested as well as the mount being used Controlling the Set up parameters is dependent
45. e from the highest point on the connector to the lowest The fringe pattern at the beginning of the measure function needs to be positioned approximately at the middle of the connector using the focus knob which can be done by focusing the fringe pattern in the middle of the live image screen After the measure function is started the objective moves up approximately 15 microns so that the fringes are off the surface and then scans a distance of 30 microns down as shown by connector A in the illustration below The software is capable of measuring a connector with a maximum surface height differential the highest point to the lowest point of the surface of a connector that occupies up to 20 microns of the total 30 micron scan range for auto focus to work correctly If auto focus fails the fringe pattern may not have been set to the middle of the connector as shown in connector B where the fringe pattern is focused on the highest point of the connector or the surface height differential of the connector may be larger than 20 microns as shown by connector C SER Z Up 15 ae ee ee ee ee ee a piai giai pia aa ae a ie ee ee es ee 7 microns AEP cai es j STEP Down 30 4 ee S cU hi l microns ae ne a morons PO SUreMent m a a 101 How does the 3005 system handle wide connectors larger than the field of view With a field of view of 1560 microns the 3005 is able to map the region of inter
46. e interferometer to scan the entire region Step 17 e When the scan is completed the results will be shown on a Surface Contour Display The angle will be an average of the two orientations and the fiber heights will be according to the orientation of the connector with the epoxy well facing the back of the interferometer e If Auto Save or Auto Print is selected the operator will be prompted at the completion of a scan whether or not to save or print the data e If Auto Save or Auto Print is NOT selected the program will only show the results e Remove the connector from the mount Step 18 e Clean the next connector with the connector cleaner supplied e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner is desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped of before inserting the connector in the mount e Make sure the guide holes or pins are clean e Insert the connector into the mount with the epoxy well facing the front of the interferometer e Make sure the guide holes pins of the connector are correctly placed on the guide pins holes of the mount If inserted incorrectly the guide pins in the mount connector may be damaged e Push the connector all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector e Repeat steps 13 18 Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perfo
47. e is placed which will decrease the amount of alignment needed later in this procedure e Using the rubber tipped tweezers grab onto both sides of the bulb and remove the bulb by pulling it straight up e A slight rocking motion side to side may be necessary Step 4 e Remove the new bulb from its packaging being very careful NOT to touch the bulb with bare fingers e Using the rubber tipped tweezers insert the two prongs of the lamp into the base making sure that it is completely seated and orientated similarly to the old bulb e Turn the interferometer on e Double click on the live image to enlarge it Step 5 e If the illumination seems uniform across the entire screen move onto step 8 Live Image e If the illumination is not uniform across the screen as shown by the live image to the right the lamp may not be seated correctly so adjust the position of the lamp on the stage slightly with the flathead screwdriver or tweezers Please remove rubber tips from tweezers first The bulb will melt the rubber until the illumination is uniform across the screen If this does not work move onto step 6 Step 6 e Using a 1 16 Allen wrench adjust the two allen head screws at the lamp assembly indicated in the picture by the two arrows e Loosening one slightly and tightening the other will move the lamp up or down on the screen e When the illumination is centered on the screen tighten the two allen
48. e scan mapping only what is visible in the Live View when the scan is started Fiber spacing follows same as MiniMt CENTER LOCATOR Determines the location of the center of the connector so that scans can be accurately measured Select Templates when Guide Holes are not visible on Live Image display for example due to use of fixture with integral guide pins 1 e Pin Alignment mounts Choose from the 23 following e Guide Holes measures entire end face including guide holes use w Edge Alignment Mnt e Templates provides a template at the beginning of a scan to align fibers use w True Angle Pin Alignment Mnt FIBER COUNT The number of fibers in the connector that will be measured Enter the correct fiber count to assure accurate measurements Allows values of 1 24 For fiber spacing information review Style Names FIBER TYPE Choose the type of fiber to be measured Choose from the following selections Single Mode Multi Mode When selected the amount of the fiber center surface used to calculate its fiber height is increased to a 100 micron diameter region instead of 50 micron for Single Mode fiber and a set of Core Dip measurements is added to the data output FIBER DIAMETER Specifies the fiber diameter in microns within 2 accuracy of the connector being tested 126 microns is the default setting This number actually represents the average diameter between the fiber O D and ferrule I D Enter the f
49. e support stabilizes the connector when placed into the mount Should be used when measuring connectors with stiff cables To attach remove one of the screws indicated in Figure 2 with a 1 16 allen key and screw on the cable support as shown in Figure 3 FIGURE 2 CABLE SUPPORT Multi Fiber The cable support stabilizes the connector when placed into the mount Should be used when measuring connectors with stiff cables To attach remove the two screws indicated in Figure 4 Place the cable support on the stage as shown in Figure 5 and attach using the two screws included FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 14 CHAPTER 3 ACCIS PROGRAM The following section of the User Manual will help you familiarize yourself with the ACCIS Program installed in the computer It provides simple explanations and graphics of all the features the ACCIS program offers This section consists of the following e Starting the ACCIS Program e Menu Bar features e Tool Bar Features e Info Bar Features 3 1 Starting ACCIS Program 1 Turn on the computer monitor and interferometer Allow the interferometer to warm up for at least 2 3 minutes 2 Press Ctrl Alt Del when prompted 3 A log on prompt will appear with the user name Administrator Press OK to log on 4 Windows will display the NORLAND PRODUCTS group with the ACCIS Icon Double click the ACCIS v3 02 icon to activate the program Double Click rg Info Bar 5 The following screen will appea
50. ecessary to move your unit to another location or to ship it to another facility use the following guidelines to prevent damage to your NC AC 3005 Cleaning the CPU Monitor and Interferometer Use a damp lint free cloth to clean the computer unit and monitor Avoid at all costs abrasives or solvents as they can permanently damage the finish Turn off the monitor and use a soft cloth and window cleaner to wipe the monitor screen of any dust or dirt that may have collected If liquid is spilled inside the keyboard unplug the keyboard immediately and turn upside down to allow the liquid to drain out Let the keyboard dry overnight before attempting to use it again If the keyboard is inoperable after this contact Norland Products Technical Service Use a damp lint free cloth to clean the outer skirt of the interferometer If any dust or dirt has collected on the x y and z axis slides or the tilt stage and mounts use compressed air to blow off particles An alcohol wipe can be used on the tilt stage and mounts if excessively dirty NOTE Do not attempt to clean the internal parts of the microscope unit Use of a dust cover when the unit is not in use will prevent foreign particles from collecting on the equipment and will make maintenance of the system much easier Repacking Unit For Shipment If the interferometer needs to be repacked for moving or shipping it 1s very important that it is packed as it was received Follow the Repacking
51. ector it is recommended to perform a Magnification Calibration Auto Calibration procedure to assure that the correct magnification calibration factor is being used A Magnification Calibration Standard is supplied with the system A NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle is an optional item that can be used for greater accuracy and assurance If measuring APC connectors it is recommended to perform a 0 8 Calibration procedure to assure that the micrometer controlled variable tilt stage accurately tilts to 8 A NIST traceable 0 8 flat is used during this procedure To calibrate a Pin Alignment mount to the interferometer it is recommended to perform an End Face Calibration An End Face Calibration adjusts the mirror and determines the X and Y Angle Correction Factors in order for the optical path to be perpendicular to the reference surface Once the correction factors are stored a One Pass w Use Angle Correction measurements can be done To calibrate an Edge Alignment mount to the interferometer it is recommended to perform an MT Reference Calibration This calibration procedure adjusts the mirror in order for the optical path to be perpendicular to the flat reference surface Once the calibration procedure is completed One Pass w OUT Use Angle Correction measurements should be done For more information please refer to Chapter 5 Which mounts do I need to use to measure connectors Pin Alignment The lat
52. ed in three separate boxes four if the optional B amp W monitor is ordered Microscope Box Monitor Box and the Computer Box Carefully open the three boxes making sure not to puncture too deeply into the box if using a box cutter Remove the items in the box very carefully The table below lists the items that should be included in each box Check off if received If any equipment is missing or damaged please contact Norland Products immediately NOTE Norland Products strongly recommends that the NC AC 3005 original shipping containers be saved for future transportation needs These containers may be purchased from Norland Products as P N A 800100 Microscope Shipping Kit eer Keyboard Monitor Stand accessoryox Bew monitor Computer Manuals Monitor Manuals f f Titseee f BNCCae ACCIS Software CD Monitor Micrometer Powercon NiDAQ CD Power Cord f f owa o po O E a o o h Mionc TP po S eeo Pp smmeabiesuppot a po Moun ordered TP pT vwawa pT a pT E a ee ee ee 2 E 2 C i 2 ee i ee oF 7 a 2 E E a Office 2000 Package 2 ACCIS Manuals Mouse Pad Mouse Power Cord Computer Service amp Training Policy CABLE BOX 3005 Interferometer Dust Cover 2 3 Assembling The System Your Norland Interferometer System NC AC 3005 w ACCIS software is fully ready to operate No programming or extensive application software experience is necessary All functions are self contained and imme
53. ed to obtain the correct magnification needed for the interferometer and ACCIS program Also offered as an optional item is the NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle This precision reticle offers a higher degree of assurance and accuracy Magnification Calibration must be performed for both the red and white light modes Magnification Calibrations should be done when reliability is questionable or when fibers guide holes do not line up with the templates NOTE Magnification Calibration can only be done by an ACCIS administrator or by a non administrator if a set up configuration file with the scan type set to Calibration has been previously created 0 8 CALIBRATION STANDARD Optional The 0 8 calibration standard is used to verify the accuracy of the micrometer and the variable tilt stage Mirror adjustments and tilt stage adjustments are made during this procedure so the calibration standard is perpendicular to the optical path Once the calibration standard is level it can be determined whether the micrometer and tilt stage are working correctly and if the micrometer is accurately tilting the variable tilt stage to the desired setting The 0 8 Calibration should be done whenever the accuracy of the micrometer and tilt stage are questionable or whenever any adjustments have been made to the tilt stage or mirror NOTE If measuring connectors using a Pin Alignment mount conduct the End face Angle Calibratio
54. eight at the center of the connector between the best fit plane over the region of interest and the best fit bi parabolic curve to the data points according to the filter settings in the Set Up menu 8 MAXIMUM ADJACENT DIFFERENTIAL HEIGHT um Indicates the maximum difference in planar fiber height measurement found between two adjacent fibers 9 PLANAR DIFFERENTIAL HEIGHT um Indicates the difference between the highest and lowest protruding fibers eet ol le ee Ya sil 10 FIBER PROTRUSION PLANAR Indicates the distance between the height of the fiber and the best fit plane over the region of interest IEC recommended SIGN CONVENTION p protrusion o a m u a Planar p gt undercut 7 EAT Le Sohn BEST FIT PLANE SPHERICAL Indicates the difference between the height of the fiber and the final best fitting bi parabolic surface SIGN CONVENTION Spherical p protrusion l k Fiber 7 m a Protrusion p gt undercut BEST FIT BI PARABOLIC PLANE 11 CORE DIP only when Multimode is selected in the Set Up menu Indicates the height difference between the two shaded regions corresponding to the clad and core regions on the end face of a fiber as shown below The heights within the two regions are averaged and the difference between the two regions 1s known as the Core Dip The core material in a fiber tends to be softer than the clad material and therefore polishes a
55. ements do not include the region where ferrule erosion may occur during the polishing process therefore measurements more accurately represent the connectors performance when mated to other connectors eFndface Angle measurements remain consistent with results from a standard MT scan e Flexibility allows testing for a wider range of non standard connector designs e This method still treats the overall ferrule as one object and so may more accurately represent its performance when mated 106 PA RTS LIS T Pricing and other parts can be found on the Norland Products website www norlandproducts com TRUE ANGLE CONNECTOR MOUNTS Mounts with pins P N Description B801208 Mini MT Aperture Plate w pins B801210 MT Aperture Plate w pins A801131 NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle A801129 0 MT Metal Reference NIST Traceable 0 8 Tilt Calibration Standard A801110 OTHER ACCESSORIES Description Description Black and White 9 monitor Replacement 20 W Bulb for NC System Vibration Damping Table Replacement 20 W Bulb for AC System Microscope Controller Cable A800100 Microscope Shipping Kit 120V Power Supply for 12 V Microscopes B800759 Microscope Piezo Safety Cover gt 25545 27100 300 02 02 A800315 STRESS RELIEF ASSEMBLIES A801199 Cable Support l 7
56. ent and or Maximum Windows 5 Auto Print if desired Auto Print elf Auto Save is activated select desired Auto peremnen format into which data will be saved M Auto Save in Database eClick on Spreadsheet settings and Ask Before Export 7 M Include Images choose field to be shown on the Excel Norland Image Format nid Spreadsheet if Auto Save to Excel M Microsoft Excell xls Spreadsheet Settings chosen ASCILCS Format csv eNote The ACCIS program will save all data information but will hide them 1f not selected eClick OK when done Step 6 e If measuring PC connectors e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Set the micrometer to 0 0 e Lock the micrometer position by turning the lock collar clockwise Fi Lock Collar If measuring APC connectors e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar in a counter clockwise direction e Turn the micrometer clockwise to the degree of the polish indicated by the mount angle in the Set Up menu e Lock the micrometer position by turning the lock collar clockwise Step 7 e Clean the connector with the connector cleaner supplied e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner is desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped off before inserting the connector in the mount e For Pin Alignment mounts make sure th
57. erferometers use a single coherent light source In order to produce two separate light waves for interference to occur a partially reflective beamsplitter is used As the light hits the beamsplitter one wave front is transmitted through the beamsplitter though an objective lens and to the object being examined The other light wave reflects off of the beamsplitter onto a stationary reference mirror After both light waves are reflected off of the surfaces the surface of the object being examined and the reference mirror the waves combine to produce constructive and destructive interference waves also known as light and dark fringes respectively Each dark fringe 53 Vistance in Wavelengths identifies a specific height on the surface of the object being examined Typically two adjacent dark fringes have a height difference of A 2 of the light being used and can thus show a surface contour of the connector end face very similar to the concept of Contour maps which are used to show the different elevations of a land surface Surface Contours of various connector end faces ae Ba aot ea ee ee F j ff ee i el geet H LSA j T fi i 1 B ae ki Ir Pam og tag Pi i 1 ui AS Noe nD SCALE 1 24 000 Ta i F 1 1 MILE ani TE y 200 4000 BOOT 6000 O00 FEET Eneee 5 0 l KILOMETER CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET Phase shift Interferometry goes a step further by us
58. ermine the region in which fringes appear Scans will only be done on the region determined by auto focus Occasionally auto focus may fail and the user will be prompted to manually refocus If not checked the program will scan the entire range and will stop between scan segments to ask the operator to manually refocus if no fringes are visible prior to the next scan segment 24 TWO PASS When not checked the measurement mode will go through a One Pass Measurement When checked this mode automatically guides the user in scanning a connector in two consecutive 180 rotations of the connector Following the sequence of two full scans each resulting End face Angle X amp Y measurement will be computed as an average of the first and second scan results for that Surface Angle Assuming the connector is being held in a Pin Alignment mount this computed End face Angle will be the true angle of the surface with respect to the Guide Hole Axis All other measurements relate to the second scan for example Fiber Height 1 is for the leftmost fiber on the screen when the connector is in the final scan position Refer to CALIBRATION TOOLS for more detailed explanation and procedures for End face Angle Calibration Refer to MEASURING A CONNECTOR for procedures of One Pass and Two Pass Measurements NOTE The two pass method should not be used with Edge Alignment mounts Can be activated in Normal and End face Angle Calibration Scan Types only using a mou
59. est IEC and TIA test procedures recommend measuring the angle of the multifiber connector using the guide holes of the connector as the reference with the ideal end face perpendicular to the axis of the guide holes This is accomplished with the patented True Angle Connector Mounts from Norland Products which use integral guide pins for holding the connectors in alignment The pins are held on a precision aperture plate at the bottom of the mount and allows viewing of connector in the region of interest Inserting the connector simply requires sliding it into the mount onto the guide pins This is very similar to the alignment of two connectors that are being mated in a bulkhead or in a termination Aperture plates are also available with holes for mounting connectors with pins Edge Alignment These mounts align the ferrule by using the outside edges of the ferrule similar to the way that they are held in the polishing process The entire ferrule end face is in view and the surface can be mapped from guide hole to guide hole Since the ideal end face should be perpendicular to the guide hole axis this method assumes that the outside edges are parallel to the guide holes Edge alignment mounts provide greater stability for ferrules which have stiff cables attached to them What is the difference between the print command and the report generation command The print command prints all data and surface displays of the connector measurement Report genera
60. est for a MinIMT ferrule in a single scan For larger surfaces such as MT ferrules the system uses Multiple Image Overlay software which programs it to scan one section of the connector then automatically traverses to the next section After the complete surface has been analyzed the multiple sections are combined into a complete image of the connector The field of view is optimal for providing detailed information of the individual fibers as well as the entire region of interest This is extremely versatile as fiber counts expand to multiple rows because the system is capable of measuring up to 6 rows high of fibers No other system has this versatility How does the system find the fibers on the connector The 3005 system is different from all other systems in that it can measure connectors with the fibers flat polished protruded or recessed in the connector The system is programmed to find the fibers with the knowledge that they are symmetrically spaced from the center of the ferrule By having the operator align on an initial feature such as the guide hole or the fibers on one side of the ferrule this provides the information needed to find the fibers across the entire connector How does the system measure fiber protrusion With IEC FIT selected in the Set Up menu the 3005 follows the IEC TIA fiber optic test procedure for multifiber end face measurements Fiber protrusion is typically desired for most connectors to perform their be
61. ew screen the Reports can be exported to Microsoft Word rich text or pdf formats by selecting the export button on the Print Preview dialog displayed when the lt Print Preview gt option has been selected When export button is clicked user can select the format and location to save the reports g If a printout to a standard printer is desired click the lt Print Report gt button When clicked a report is printed in portrait or Landscape mode of the most recent measurement with report format according to the chosen report layout h If a printout to a label printer is desired click the lt Print Label gt button When clicked this button causes only a label with company name and basic scan information such as Connector Id to be printed with connector ID also coded and printed as a barcode 1 An example of the layout of the report is shown on the next page 90 EXAMPLE of REPORT PRINT OUT created by using Report Configuration and Report Generation on the menu bar and on the toolbar HO Label area as explained in step h on the preceding page EXAMPLE of RESULTS PRINT OUT created by using print function on the menu bar and tool bar un l Connector ID Currentt4 Group Name Default INDIVIDUAL CONNECTOR TEST REPORT Group Name 0417 PlateN NewC Connector ID Current 04 Current Sean Date 041902 Sean Time 16 28 55 System Accis 3005 2 Endface 4ng 0 052 Y Endface 4ng 0 074 Flatness Dey 0 147
62. f it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe Retry Cancel pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region e If Auto Focus is NOT selected the interferometer will scan through the entire range in sections stop between sections and ask the operator to manually refocus if needed Step 12 e When the scan is completed the results will be shown on a Surface Contour Display e If Auto Save or Auto Print is selected the operator will be prompted at the completion of a scan whether or not to save or print the data e If Auto Save or Auto Print is NOT selected the program will only show the results Fisies Dior tetor ure Planer Lal FA Tosu Step 13 e Remove the connector from the mount and move it onto the next step in the process line depending on whether the connector passes fails e ACCIS Administrator can set up Pass Fail criteria Refer to Configuration Section of this manual for more detailed information e Repeat Steps 7 12 4 6 2 Two Pass Step 1 e Obtain the following e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running e NC AC 3005 microscope unit e Pin Alignment mount e Alcohol amp Lint free wipes or the supplied connector cleaner e Connectors to be analyzed NOTE This procedure should not be conducted using an Edge Alignment mount or APC connector Step 2 e Do Calibrations if needed e
63. f the cover plates and set aside e Allow the bulb to cool if still hot Step 3 e Loosen the two screws indicated in the picture e Carefully pull towards the back of the interferometer to release the lamp mount Step 4 e Remove the socket indicated in the picture from the bulb by rocking it side to side slightly e Be very careful when removing DO NOT yank the socket from the bulb Step 5 e Remove the lamp clip that holds the bulb in place by squeezing the two ends indicated in the picture towards each other and then sliding out e Remove the bulb Step 6 e Remove the new bulb from its packaging being very careful NOT to touch the inner portion of the bulb with bare fingers Only handle the outer surface as shown in picture A e Lay the bulb mount onto the table on the side with the two screws e Place the bulb into the bulb mount as shown in picture B The prongs are orientated perpendicular to the long handle screw as shown in the picture Step 7 e Place the lamp clip back into position Insert the bottom of the lamp clip into the lamp mount in the area indicated by the box in picture A Insert the left and right ends of the lamp clip into the cut outs as shown by the arrows in pictures B Step 8 e Carefully attach the socket to the prongs on the bulb by rocking it slightly side to side Step 9 e Place the lamp mount back into the interferometer in the same orientation when taken out
64. ficult to center the fibers into the templates the live image can be enlarged by double clicking on the live image Scans can be taken with the live image enlarged Also the system automatically shifts the stage during measurement The number of shifts is dependent upon the set up parameters selected Do not touch the connector until all segments have been measured and the stage has returned to the starting position At the completion of a scan a beep is sounded to indicate the completion of frame capturing from the camera Once the beep has sounded the connector under test can be removed from the mount and a new connector can be inserted in preparation for the next scan Results will be displayed when data analysis is complete 9 CHAPTER 2 SYSTEM PREPARATION 2 1 Package Inspection When your system arrives check the shipping cartons for wrinkled or damaged corners holes through the cardboard or other signs of rough handling or abuse If you find any signs of damage insist that the delivery service make a note describing the damage on the delivery receipt If your NC AC 3005 system arrives in very cold weather allow the boxes to warm to room temperature before opening them Exposing a cold unit to a warm room causes condensation that could damage the system If condensation forms wait for the unit to dry completely before setting it up and connecting it to an electrical outlet I 2 2 Unpacking the System Your system is shipp
65. he Calibration Section of this manual to level the stage Activates the Angle Calibration AC feature which is similar to the OC feature for single fiber stage leveling AC provides assistance in leveling the stage in order for the connector to be held exactly perpendicular to the interferometric objective lens which assures measurements of the endface geometry Correction factors are also calculated for fine tune leveling of the stage Any relatively flat multi fiber connector can be used during the AC procedure The Clear factors button in the AC dialog box sets the correction factors to zero not required during the normal use of AC The AC feature also includes a Use Known Angle selection if the angle of the connectors are known 11 REPORT prints a report of measurements made Refer to Report Generation Section 20 3 4 Info Bar Features LIVE IMAGE Displays the live image of the connector being measured It helps in the location of the fiber and guide holes and shows the fringe pattern when correctly focused that represents specific heights across the surface METHOD Displays the measurement method used during the scanning process Red light or white light RED used for fast analysis of smooth surfaces WHITE used for rough surfaces or surfaces containing step heights CONNECTOR TYPE Displays the connector type selected in the Set Up menu for the connector being measured PC Physical Contact
66. he keyboard are plugged into the keyboard wedge device which is then plugged into the CPU s keyboard connection The information resulting from the scanning of a bar code symbol is treated by the PC or terminal as if it originated from the keyboard while the keyboard itself remains fully functional Because the terminal or PC cannot differentiate between bar coded data and actual keyboard data a keyboard wedge interface allows bar code reading capability to be rapidly added to an existing computer without changing the application software 105 What is Fiber Masking What are some advantages of Fiber Masking Fiber Masking is a feature of the ACCIS software that allows the user to choose individual fiber locations and some surrounding ferrule to be excluded from all surface analysis after the connector surface has been entirely mapped This versatile feature is helpful when measuring connectors that have different fiber configurations than the standard connectors in the industry Fiber Masking is controlled under Configuration Connector in the menu bar of the software ADVANTAGES e Prevents QC testing failure for fiber optic connectors eBy masking the unfilled fiber regions Fiber Height and related measurements such as Differential Fiber Height and Adjacent Maximum Differential are not compared to Pass Fail parameters and will not fail due to the missing fibers eFerrule curvature Flatness Deviation Endface Angle and Fiber Height measur
67. head screws set the stage in place Do not over tighten the screws so that the illumination is moved off center Step 7 e Using a 1 16 Allen wrench adjust the one allen head screw in the lamp assembly as indicated by the arrow in the picture e Loosen the screw slightly so that the stage is still snug yet slight adjustments can still be made e Move the stage side to side until the illumination is optimized on the screen This can be done by using the flathead screwdriver in the box indicated in the picture e When done tighten the allen head screw making sure that the stage is not moved out of proper alignment Step 8 f ae ve Image e Repeat steps 6 and 7 or repositioning of the bulb until the illumination is uniform as shown by the live image to the right e Screw the cover plate in place when replacement of bulb is completed Step 9 e Screw the cover plate in place when replacement of bulb is completed e Place a connector into the mount and adjust the focus knob to maximize the fringe pattern Step 10 e Look at the illumination in the red light mode and the white light mode e Are the illuminations similar between the two modes e If yes bulb replacement is complete If no proceed to step 11 Step 11 e Select Red mode e Go into the Action gt Illumination Calibration and press Auto Adjust e Click Save and Exit when auto adjust is completed e Repeat above for
68. iber diameter of the connector being measured to assure accurate measurements MINIMUM MODULATION Specifies the minimum amount of intensity change 1 e modulation required at a pixel during a scan For example if this field is set to 5 and a pixel has less than 5 of an intensity change the pixel will not be used during measurements If a pixel has 5 or more of an intensity change the pixel will be used The factory default setting of 5 has been chosen after extensive testing NOTE Care should be taken when changing from this value When measuring extremely rough surfaces the minimum modulation may be increased to 8 or 9 for greater repeatability PERCENTAGE OF HEIGHTS USED Specifies the percentage of highest points in the Region of Interest used to define the best fit plane used for data analysis That best fitting plane then determines the resulting Planar Fiber Heights X End face Angle and Y End face Angle This field only becomes active if the Planar Fit option has been turned On NOTE Percentage of Heights Used is only active if IEC fit is selected IEC specifies 20 to be used PERCENTAGE OF TOP HEIGHTS EXCLUDED Specifies the percentage of the highest points to be excluded in the Region of Interest NOTE Percentage of Top Heights Excluded is only active if IEC fit is selected IED specifies 3 to be used AUTO FOCUS When checked an auto focusing process will occur prior to each scan segment being mapped to det
69. igher throughput are desired 84 D MT Reference Calibration Procedures Step 1 e Obtain the following e Stainless Steel MT Reference optional e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running e NC AC 3005 microscope unit e MT Edge Alignment Mount e Alcohol amp Lint free wipes or the supplied connector cleaner Step 2 e Wipe all oils dirt dust off the surface of the tilt stage with alcohol Picture A e Clean the bottom of the mount with alcohol Picture B e Using compressed air blow off any dust particles that may be inside the mount Picture C e Place the mount onto the stage and lock into place with the mount screws Picture D Step 3 e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Set the micrometer to 0 0 e Note For the greatest accuracy and repeatability final adjustments should Lock Collar always be done by turning the micrometer 2 in a clockwise direction e Turn the lock collar clockwise to lock into position Step 4 e Clean the MT reference with the connector cleaner supplied e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner if desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped off before inserting the connector in the mount e Clean dirt dust ouls off of the shoulder of the connector the part that rests on the mount so that it rests flush to the mount Step 5
70. ightest movement of the mirror screws so be very gentle when turning them e Rotate the connector 180 to check the fringe pattern in the other direction The fringe Epoxy well to the front pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen e Rotating the connector and adjusting the mirror may have to be done a few times until the fringe pattern is equal in both the front and back orientations DO NOT TOUCH THE MIRROR KNOBS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED Step 12 e Rotate the connector so that the epoxy well is facing the front of the interferometer Step 13 ePress F12 Measure on the Toolbar or F12 on the keyboard eFollow the command prompt e Adjust the focus knob to move the fringe pattern out of the view eAdjust the X amp Y knobs to place the fibers in the center of the templates eMake sure the leftmost fiber is located in the leftmost template eNOTE f it is difficult to center the fibers into the templates the live image can be enlarged by double clicking on the live image Scans can be taken with the live image enlarged eAdjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen Press OK elf desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed eMake sure not to cause any vibrations Step 14 e The interferometer may go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connec
71. iled pictures and procedures for optics adjustment are located in the FAQ s section of this manual e For Two Pass the mirror screws are adjusted in order for the fringe patterns to be similar in both the front and back orientations of the first connector being analyzed Do not adjust the mirror after the first connector e For One Pass W Use Angle Correction the mirror screws should NOT be adjusted during the measurement process The mirror adjustment is done during an End Face Calibration which is done prior to this measurement method e For One Pass W OUT Use Angle Correction the mirror screws are adjusted to expand the fringe pattern so that it seems to bubble out from the center to the outer edges of the connector or vice versa during scanning 9 Measure the connector Press or click on F12 Measure to begin measurement process Follow screen commands to completion Results are displayed on a 2D color contour map with surface profiles displayed on the left and bottom of the map A 3D representation can also be displayed Measurements of angles and fiber heights are displayed in the lower left hand window e NOTE If it is difficult to center the fibers into the templates the live image can be enlarged by double clicking on the live image Scans can be taken with the live image enlarged Also the system automatically shifts the stage during measurement The number of shifts 1s dependent upon the set up parameters selected
72. ill give misleading and inaccurate measurements 6 Insert the connector properly into the mount Edge or Pin Alignment to assure accurate measurements during the scanning process e For Edge Alignment mounts insert the connector into the mount so that the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer and that the back shoulder of the connector is resting correctly on the reference edge the front edge of the mount For Pin Alignment mounts inserting the connector is dependent on the measurement method One pass measurements must have the epoxy well facing the back of the interferometer while Two Pass measurements start with the epoxy well facing the front of the interferometer Pin alignment mounts have proven to be more accurate in the measurement of a connector s end face angle and follows IEC and TIA test procedures Refer to MEASURING A CONNECTOR for more detail on One Pass versus Two Pass measurements 7 Adjust focus knob If there is any difficulty in bringing the connector into view there is a focusing scale located on the right of the superstructure Line up the major lines to bring the connector into view e Red light interferometric mode adjust the focus knob to optimize the fringe contrast over the entire surface e White light interferometric mode adjust the focus knob so the fringe contrast is optimized at the middle of the surface described in more detail in the FAQ s section If it is difficult to l
73. ing piezo electric devices to shift the interference pattern It compares the changing images to the initial fringe pattern to determine the physical coordinates for every point on the surface As a result the distance and direction between any points on the surface can be measured and the information can be displayed as a 3D image to visualize the entire surface or as cross sectional profiles for a simpler perspective Below are a few examples of the different images that can be obtained Multi fiber Images Surface Contour Display Height 14436 nm Contour Display with X and Y profiles Single fiber Images a anal Be anaf oe oe Be oe afie anaf De in i mla T Contour Display provides a 3D Mesh Display helps color coded contour of the surface as well as a cross sectional view the user visualize the surface under inspection 3D Mesh Display 3D Mesh a m prrrrpedr oe Surface Fit plots the difference between the actual and the ideal surface to zoom in on minute details 55 CHAPTER 9 CARE amp MAINTENENCE Your Norland Automated Interferometer is designed primarily for use at a fixed workstation supplied with a three wire grounded power outlet Do not cut or bypass the plug s grounding prong Any attempt to operate or service the computer without an adequate ground may result in serious personal injury and or damage to the system In the event that it proves n
74. inserting the connector in the mount e Clean dirt dust ouls off of the shoulder of the connector the part that rests on the Shoulder mount so that it rests flush to the mount Step 5 e Insert the Magnification Calibration Standard into the mount with the epoxy well facing the back of the interferometer e Push the connector all the way down into the mount by applying equal pressure on the left and right side of the connector e If there is play between the mount and the connector adjust the screw on the mount so the connector is held snuggly in place e Mount should not be too tight as this may damage the connector when inserting removing it Step 6 e Change to White Light mode if not already in it Step 7 e Go into the Set Up screen by pressing the F2 Setup button on the Toolbar Measure Setup x Microscope Type nc ac3005 7 ROI Length um 2900 Width um 675 e Click Default Ribbon Style Scan Type gnification C Filter Settings Style Name MT 7 a ee Ceramic H Center Locator Guide Holes x Modulation 5 e Select Microscope Type NC AC 3005 Fiber Height Type Planar Fiber Count az Henis Usai 20 Top Hts 3 Connector Type PC 7 Fiber Type Single Mode 7 Excluded e Change Scan Type to Magnification Fiber Dia um E Calibration e This will automatically change Center Locator to Guide Holes Auto Focus V TwoPass M IEC Fit oe Pass Fail I e Click O
75. ion must be symmetrical Step 5 eClick on Configuration Option General Tab eFnter the Group Name data is to be stored General System Security under Can also be done by pressing G on tac beet F the toolbar eer ae eSelect Auto Save Auto Increment and or Maximum Windows 5 Auto Print if desired Auto Print elf Auto Save is activated select desired W So larene format into which data will be saved eClick on Spreadsheet settings and Ask Before Export 7 M Include Images choose field to be shown on the Excel Norland Image Format nid Spreadsheet if Auto Save to Excel M Microsoft Excell xls Spreadsheet Settings chosen Note The ACCIS program F ASCII_CS Format cs will save all data information but will hide them if not selected eClick OK when done W Auto Save in Database Step 6 e Clean the connector with the connector cleaner supplied E a Guide Holes e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner is desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped off before inserting the connector in the mount e Make sure the guide holes or pins are clean NOTE MT 12 fiber connector with guide holes is shown Step 7 e Insert the connector into the mount with the epoxy well facing the front of the interferometer e Make sure the guide holes pins of the connector are correctly placed on the guide pins holes of the mount If inserted incorrectly the
76. is facing the back of the interferometer and that the back shoulder of the connector is resting correctly on the reference edge the front edge of the mount e For Pin Alignment mounts inserting the connector is dependent on the measurement method One pass measurements must have the epoxy well facing the back of the interferometer while Two Pass measurements start with the epoxy well facing the front of the interferometer Pin alignment mounts have proven to be more accurate in the measurement of a connector s end face angle Refer to MEASURING A CONNECTOR for more detail on One Pass versus Two Pass measurements 7 Adjust focus knob If there is any difficulty in bringing the connector into view there is a focusing scale located on the right of the superstructure Line up the major lines to bring the connector into view e Red light interferometric mode adjust the focus knob to optimize the fringe contrast over the entire surface e White light interferometric mode adjust the focus knob so the fringe contrast is optimized at the middle of the surface described in more detail in the FAQ s section If it 1s difficult to locate the fringes use the Red Light mode to focus initially because fringes are visible in more of the Live Image view Once the fringes are located switch back to white light 8 Adjust the optics to make sure that the optical path is perpendicular to the ideal end face of the connector gt Deta
77. l change by turning either of the mirror screws lt 4 Ideal End face FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 How does one know that the mirror is correctly adjusted so that it is parallel to the ideal connector end face The answer to this question is dependent upon the method selected to measure the connector end face The NC AC 3005 offers two measurement methods One Pass and Two Pass NOTE Procedures for One Pass and Two Pass are explained in detail in Chapter 6 of the manual The One Pass method can be done using either the Edge Alignment mount or the Pin Alignment mount both explained further in the Novel Features section of this chapter With the Edge alignment mount the ideal connector end face can be determined using the Stainless Steel MT reference or any other connector that 1s known to be almost perfectly flat The MT reference has been created so the end face is almost perfectly flat and perpendicular to the vertical edges thus acting as the ideal end face The mirror screws should be adjusted one at a time to expand the fringes over the entire end face To familiarize yourself with how the mirror is adjusted with the mirror screws it is best to turn the mirror screws one at a time It is easiest to turn one mirror screw in the direction in which the fringe pattern expands stopping before it begins to contract and then repeating the same process with the other 104 mirror screw Figure 3 is an example of the f
78. les It then calculates the center of the guide holes and calculates a magnification factor with the knowledge the distance between guide holes is 4600 microns NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle The NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration offers a higher degree of accuracy as compared to the Mag Cal MT Standard The 3005 software analyses the distance between the five deposited lines in the center of the reticle which are 375 microns apart to determine the magnification calibration factor needed to give exceptionally accurate results 0 8 Tilt Calibration Standard This precision glass substrate with NIST traceable 0 and 8 surfaces is mounted on the tilt stage in place of the mount and is used to confirm the calibration of the micrometer controlled variable tilt stage 0 MT Metal Reference Ferrule The SS MT reference is a duplicate of an MT connector made of stainless steel and the end face is polished to an accuracy of 0 01 perpendicular to the sides This reference is used with the Edge Alignment Mounts to set the mirror and the stage perpendicular to each other As technologies advance you can be sure that we will continue to improve our system offering more features and advantages for fiber optic testing If you have any special requirements regarding different connectors or related applications please contact us We are dedicated to making this product the best on the market and would be happy to provi
79. llowing Planar Spherical NOTE Both planar and spherical fiber heights will always be measured and if requested in Configure Options Spreadsheet Settings stored to the active spreadsheet upon successful completion of the scan Refer to OPTION PARAMETERS in this section for more information on spreadsheet settings Refer to the UNDERSTANDING and INTERPRETING DATA section for a more detailed explanation of Planar and Spherical Fiber Heights CONNECTOR TYPE Choose the connector type being measured Choose one of the following a J PC Physical Contact zero degree polish EE Fiber Height Type Planar APC Angled Physical Contact angled polish MOUNT ANGLE Connector Type ES field appears when selected Enter the polish angle of the MountAngle deg 6 connector being measured STYLE NAME Choose the type of Multiple Fiber connector to be measured Others will be added as software is developed to handle them Choose one of the following MT assumes a 250 micron center to center fiber spacing MiniMT center to center fiber spacing is dependent on the value entered in the Fiber Count field For a fiber count of 2 the ACCIS program assumes a 750 micron fiber spacing The software assumes a spacing of 375 microns for a fiber count of 3 For a fiber count of 4 and more a 250 micron spacing is used Si V Groove General Surface General Surface choice will activate a scan mode which performs a singl
80. lysis utility If save is selected a prompt will ask the operator to choose where to save the file under what name to save the file and what file type to save it as Choose OK to save the information Choose Cancel to return to the program SAVE will save the connector measurement under the Connector ID entered in the measurement process SAVE AS will save the connector measurement under a name different from Connector ID entered in the measurement process SAVE ALL will save all current files under the Connector ID entered in the measurement process PRINT SET UP Set up of the following printer parameters modify as needed Printer Page size source and orientation PRINT Prints Surface Contour Displays and measurement data The measurement data is included at the bottom Does not print reports NOTE Only prints nld file types 16 ADD FILE will add scan data to a selected Excel file from any measurement currently being viewed EXIT If selected a prompt will ask the operator whether or not to exit the program Select Yes to exit or No to return to the program If you have unsaved scan results displayed on the screen when you exit you will be asked whether to save those results Select Yes to save scan results or No Cancel not to If there are many unsaved scans and it is not desired to save any of them choose menu choice Window Close All before selecting File gt Exit Always exit Windows before turning
81. mber of vertical reticule lines Initial line placement possibly wrong Try shifting lines further to the right on the Live Image display Step 21 Change to Red light Mode Step 22 e Repeat Steps 17 20 to do the Magnification Calibration Factor for the Red light mode Upon completion of the Magnification Calibration proceed to any of the following e 0 8 Calibration Standard procedures if ordered in order to verify the accuracy of the micrometer OR End face Angle Calibration procedures to determine the Angle Correction factors to calibrate the mount being used during analysis if using a Pin Alignment mount and performing One Pass w Use Angle Correction selected OR eMEASURING a CONNECTOR section 69 B 8 Calibration Standard Procedures Step 1 The following is needed before starting this procedure e 8 calibration standard optional with mount screws e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running e NC AC 3005 microscope unit with a tilt stage and micrometer e Alcohol e Lens cleaning tissue Step 2 e Remove the mount on the tilt stage if there 1s one e In order to assure that the 8 standard will lie flush to the tilt stage all oils dirt dust must be wiped off the surface of the tilt stage with alcohol Step 3 e Acquire the 8 standard from its packaging Only handle the edges of the standard e The 8 standard must be handled very carefully Never place the s
82. n after the 8 Calibration Procedure ENDFACE ANGLE CALIBRATION for True Angle Pin Alignment Mounts End face Angle Calibration EAC calibrates the Pin Alignment mount to the interferometer A Pin Alignment mount if ordered and any relatively flat connector are used during the EAC process ie if calibrating an MiniMT mount use any relatively flat Mini MT connector for the EAC procedure NOTE For the MT mount the flat 12 fiber MT connector supplied with the interferometer can be used Mirror adjustments are made during this procedure in order for the optical path to be approximately perpendicular to the reference surface the ideal surface perpendicular to the center lines of the guide holes pins in the connector The EAC determines X and Y angle correction factors in order for the optical path to be perfectly perpendicular to the reference surface When an EAC is completed and the X and Y correction factors have been stored single pass scans can be used rather than two pass scans for faster measurement times and higher throughput EAC should be done whenever any adjustments have been made to the mount tilt stage micrometer or mirror NOTE EAC can only be done by an ACCIS administrator using a Pin Alignment mount This procedure should be done using a Pin Alignment mount Angle Calibration AC that can be selected on the toolbar is designed for the Advantage system and NC AC 3005 systems w Fixed MIrrors and should not be used f
83. n of a successful scan the quantitative results are compared against these limits and Pass Fail notifications are added to the data output NOTE The user must be logged on as an ACCIS Administrator to be able to modify the Pass Fail parameters The default Pass Fail values are subject to change as the Suggested Telcordia IEC FIT Pass Fail parameters change Microscope Type NC AC3005 x en Length um 2900 Width um 675 Ribbon Style Scan Type IN ee yp oma Spia Name M z ere i inimum 5 cee oe shalt Z Center Locator Templates Ea Modulation Fiber Height Type Planar 7 Fiber Count Piz Heights Used 20 Connector Type PC v Top Hts 3 a Fiber Type Single Mode x Excluded Fiber Dia ur fi 26 Pass Fail Limit x Endface YEndface FlatDey PlaDiffHt PlaDiffHt Fiber Prot Core Dip ng deg Ang deg furl Adja um Total fum furnl fuml Min 0 2 0 2 fo 0 fo fi 0 06 Max 0 2 0 2 fi 01 fi 3 0 06 Auto Focus I7 TwoPass I IEC Fit tial I Pasal W Eonrecihon e sn Save s Load Default OK 25 SAVE AS If multiple Set Up screens are used in production an ACCIS administrator can save the Set Up parameters into separate cfg files The saved parameters can be loaded when needed by operator level users Configuration Path for where the data will be saved can be changed in Configuration Option System Tab Configuration Data LOAD An
84. nt with pins End face Angle Calibration defaults to Two Pass to determine the angle correction factors for the mount being used When angle correction factors are determined Use Angle Correction can be selected during normal scanning for one pass data analysis If Fiber Masking is being done to the connector the masked region should be symmetrical in both orientations of the connector IEC FIT When this box is checked the ACCIS software is programmed to follow the IEC test procedure for Multi fiber connectors Filter settings are enabled with default settings for the present IEC standards If this option is not checked measurements will be derived from a single bi parabolic fit to data points selected only through settings of the Region of Interest dimensions and the Minimum Modulation percentage This option also will enable filter settings other than the IEC recommendations NOTE Heights Used and Heights Excluded cannot be selected or modified when IEC is not checked USE ANGLE CORRECTION When checked the program will conduct a One Pass measurement using the correction factors determined from a End face Angle Calibration Refer to CALIBRATION TOOLS for more detailed explanation and procedures for End face Angle Calibration Refer to MEASURING A CONNECTOR for procedures of One Pass Measurements PASS FAIL When this box is checked a set of fields appear that allow the Pass Fail criteria to be entered into the program At the completio
85. ocate the fringes use the Red Light mode to focus initially because fringes are visible in more of the Live Image view Once the fringes are located switch back to white light 8 Adjust the optics to make sure that the optical path is perpendicular to the ideal end face of the connector gt Detailed pictures and procedures for optics adjustment are located in the FAQ s section of this manual e For Two Pass the mirror screws are adjusted in order for the fringe patterns to be similar in both the front and back orientations of the first connector being analyzed Do not adjust the mirror after the first connector e For One Pass W Use Angle Correction the mirror screws should NOT be adjusted during the measurement process The mirror adjustment is done during an End Face Calibration which is done prior to this measurement method e For One Pass W OUT Use Angle Correction the mirror screws are adjusted to expand the fringe pattern so that it seems to bubble out from the center to the outer edges of the connector or vice versa during scanning 9 Measure the connector Press or click on F12 Measure to begin measurement process Follow screen commands to completion Results are displayed on a 2D color contour map with surface profiles displayed on the left and bottom of the map A 3D representation can also be displayed Measurements of endface geometry are displayed in the lower left hand window NOTE If it is dif
86. og displays The Installshield Wizard has successfully installed ACCISRC3_Ox Before you can use the program you must restart the computer so select Yes I want to restart my computer now and then click Finish 100 I FAQ s for the NC AC 3005 What is the difference between red light and white light analysis The 3005 has the ability to analyze surfaces using either red light or white light This gives the customer the maximum versatility for the system The Red Light or Monochromatic Light mode uses Phase Shift Interferometry to measure smooth continuous surfaces A single wavelength of light is more coherent and causes interference over a wider range so that fringes will appear over the entire surface being analyzed The interferometric objective is only moved a short distance to determine the direction in which the fringe pattern shifts This is a much faster measurement but is limited to measuring step heights which are 1 4 of the wavelength of the light source being used With red light at a wavelength of 650 nanometers the system is limited to step heights of 162 5 nanometers or less The White Light or Broadband Analysis mode uses Phase Scanning Interferometry to measure rough surfaces with varying step heights White light has a lower coherence and provides an interference pattern with only a few fringes visible on the surface to be measured The White Light mode shifts the interferometric objective to scan the surfac
87. on the security level of the user logged onto the system ACCIS administrators can modify and save the set up parameters according to customer specifications requirements Operator level users can only load set up parameters previously saved by the ACCIS Administrators Refer to CONFIGURING DATA section for more detailed information 3 Modify Connector Parameters Configuration Connector to control the data during the measurement process by indicating certain regions fibers for removal from the data analysis Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking for more detailed information 4 Modify Option parameters Configuration Options gt General System to control how the data is organized after the measurement process is completed The data can be controlled to automatically save data to a specific group name and data path and or automatically print the data upon completion of the scan Note Auto printing only prints the display screens and results it does not auto print reports Auto incrementing the Connector ID numbers can also be selected Both ACCIS Administrators and Operator level users can modify the Option Parameters Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Option parameters 5 Clean connector properly to assure accurate measurements during the scanning process It 1s important to clean any residue from polishing that may have collected on the shoulder guide pins or guide holes or endface surface Residue w
88. onnector endface This can be viewed at different angles by manipulating the horizontal and vertical slide bars Close this window by double clicking anywhere in the window or by using the File Close menu function 3D Mesh Display 5 ENDFACE ANGLE Displays the X and Y End face Angle of the end face of the connector in degrees compared to the ideal end face the plane perpendicular to the center lines of the guide holes pins NOTE If performing a one pass with an Edge Alignment mount the results indicate an angle with respect to the microscope objective reference mirror Horizontal Angle Perpendicular to centerline of guide holes 50 5 ENDFACE ANGLE cont SIGN CONVENTION of ENDFACE ANGLE MEASUREMENTS A positive X End face A positive Y End Angle indicates a trend lt aen O 7 face Angle indicates of increasing end face a trend of decreasing height as one moves end face height as one from the Left side of moves from the itive X the Contour Map to the site Anse _ _ _ _rewene bottom of the Contour Right Side of the ange n Map to the top of the Contour Map J Contour Map 6 RADIUS of CURVATURE mm Displays the X and Y radius of curvatures determined by fitting an ideal bi parabolic plane to the actual surface of the connector over the Region of Interest 7 FLATNESS DEVIATION um Indicates how flat the surface is over the Region of Interest It is the difference in the h
89. or the NC AC 3005 33 MT REFERENCE CALIBRATION for Edge Alignment mounts Optional A stainless steel MT reference is used to calibrate the Edge Alignment mount to the interferometer Mirror adjustments are made during this procedure in order for the optical path to be perpendicular to the flat reference surface MT reference calibrations should be done whenever any adjustments have been made to the Edge Alignment mount tilt stage micrometer or mirror 34 CHAPTER 6 MEASURING a CONNECTOR The Norland NC AC 3005 is a fully automated non contact interferometric microscope designed specifically for measuring the end face geometry of angled and flat array type structures such as multiple fiber connectors and ferrules Utilizing the new Multiple Image Overlay Software it takes a number of measurements across the surface of the connector and stitches them together in a seamless display to provide 3D topographical information The NC AC 3005 w ACCIS software measures the radius of curvature and the angle of the end face along two axis the planar spherical and differential fiber height and the flatness deviation of the connector simultaneously The user friendly software provides easy to follow instructions that are displayed on the screen This section provides detailed procedures explanations and pictures of the two main measuring processes one pass and two pass to familiarize our customers of what to expect from the NC AC 3005 sys
90. owing NC AC 3005 Multi fiber system NC AC 3000 Single fiber system Listed but cannot be selected w this software Advantage Combination system for single and multi fiber measurements REGION OF INTEREST ROD The area on the surface of the ferrule in which data is collected Enter the correct length and width dimensions to assure accurate measurements Length Dimension of area along X axis on the surface of the ferrule to be used for measurements Width Dimension of area along Y axis on the surface of the ferrule to be used for measurements 2 SCAN TYPE Determines the type of scan that will be used to measure the connector Choose from the following options Normal Standard measurement mode Refer to MEASURING A CONNECTOR for more detailed explanation and procedures Magnification Calibration Sets the required magnification calibration Refer to CALIBRATION TOOLS for more detailed explanation and procedures End face Angle Calibration Determines the X and Y Angle Correction Factors for the Pin Alignment mount being used Refer to CALIBRATION TOOLS for more detailed explanation and procedures FERRULE TYPE Choose one of the following depending on the connector ferrule being measured Ceramic Connector with a ceramic end face Metal Connector with a metal or high reflectivity end face FIBER HEIGHT TYPE Specifies which type of fiber height measurements will be displayed and printed Choose one of the fo
91. p approximately the entire screen Step 12 eTurn the connector to the orientation that has the smaller fringe pattern In this case the epoxy well to the front e Adjust the mirror to expand the fringe pattern to take up an average of the areas from steps 10 and 11 eNOTE The mirror is VERY sensitive to even the slightest movement of the mirror screws so be very gentle when turning them e Rotate the connector 180 to check the fringe Epoxy well to the front pattern in the other direction The fringe pattern can be in any direction orientation on the screen Rotating the connector and adjusting the mirror may have to be done a few times until the fringe pattern is equal in both the front and back orientations DO NOT TOUCH THE MIRROR KNOBS AFTER ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE Epoxy well to the back Step 13 e Rotate the connector so that the epoxy well is facing the front of the interferometer Step 14 ePress F12 Measure on the Toolbar or F12 on the keyboard eFollow the command prompt e Adjust the focus knob to move the fringe pattern out of the view eAdjust the X amp Y knobs to place the fibers in the center of the templates eMake sure the leftmost fiber is located in the leftmost template eNOTE fit is difficult to center the fibers into the templates the live image can be enlarged by double clicking on the live image Scans can be taken with the live image enlarged eAdjust the foc
92. puter is very user friendly The Norland NC AC 3005 w ACCIS software is designed to automatically measure all the key parameters of your PC and APC polished connectors Fiber and guide hole templates have also been integrated into the software to Te assure correct placement and positioning of fibers guide holes The resulting measurements can be printed out or exported to statistical programs for full FIGURE 1 quality control and quality conformance requirements In addition cross sectional profiles of the end face can be viewed and then stored or printed with the measurements All this can be done with just a few keystrokes in the easy to follow Windows program Please refer to the Novel Features section and the FAQ s section of this manual to familiarize yourself with all the features that separates the Norland Interferometer from its competitors 1 2 Novel Features Because of the complexity of multifiber connectors Norland Products has spent years developing a novel system for measuring the end face parameters of these difficult surfaces You the customer benefit from this because no other system offers so much versatility and yet is so easy to use One example of our versatility is that Norland Products offers a wide variety of mounts to meet the varying needs of customers These are available for MT and MiniMT ferrules or for the complete connector The mounts can be separated into two types 1 Pin Alignment The late
93. r connector with guide holes is shown NOTE Lines and arrows have been added to the live image pictures to better illustrate the movement of the fringe pattern bubbling out from the center Guide Holes Step 10 e Press F12 Measure on the Tool Bar AES DACHI Follow the command prompt e Adjust the focus knob to move the fringe pattern out of view e Adjust the X and Y knobs to place the fibers in the center of the templates NOTE If it is difficult to center the fibers into the templates the live image can be enlarged by double clicking on the live image Scans can be taken E i Adatna Y et Tonite ova he Foes with the live image enlarged S foriun nerbi el e Adjust the focus knob as indicated e Press OK e If desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed e Make sure not to cause any vibrations Step 11 e The interferometer may go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connector e If Auto Focus is selected in Set Up parameters e The program will determine the range to scan and automatically go through the scanning a ee d f b d Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to proce tur e Irom beginning to end i perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Occasionally the auto focus may fail I
94. r when the program is activated Ni Arrie E Menu Bar Eile Acton Configuration View Window Repot Help Flz Measure F2 Setup White SAUBRE P l c H Tool Bar Live Image Information Method White Connector Type FE Microscope Type NC AC3005 Scan Type Normal ConfigFile Sta tu S B ar For Help press F1 1 5 3 2 Menu Bar Functions FILE NOTE The File pull down menu provides more choices after measurements have been taken OPEN Opens saved files of the following file types e xls Microsoft Excel Files which contain quantitative data in spreadsheet form Opens in Microsoft Excel Program e nld Norland Files which contain scan results graphic images and set up parameters Opens in ACCIS program CLOSE Closes the current connector measurements Surface Contour Files If selected a prompt will ask the operator whether or not to save scans Choose Yes to save Choose No no to save Choose Cancel to return to the program SAVE SAVE AS SAVE ALL Saves the information data of the connector measurement under the following file types e xls Microsoft Excel Files which contain quantitative data in spreadsheet form e nld Norland Files which contain data graphic images and set up parameters e csv Comma Separated Values which contains the quantitative data scan results contour data and set up parameters csv files can be exported to an external graphical ana
95. rast settings are manually adjusted causing an immediate change to the Live Image These changes could be saved by pressing Save and used later as default values Default At any time before exiting changes could be canceled by pressing Cancel Pressing Test will display the intensity profile Before activating the AutoAdjust function in this dialog a connector needs to be installed in the interferometer fixture and its ferrule type correctly indicated in the Setup menu s Ferrule Type field CONFIGURATION SET UP Controls the parameters for the measuring process and data handling NOTE There are different set up screens for Red Light and White Light e Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Set Up Parameters for more detailed information and procedures MODE Switches between Red Light and White Light Modes for measurement e Red light is used for fast analysis of smooth surfaces e White light is used for rough surfaces or surfaces containing step heights CONNECTOR Configures the data to exclude certain user defined regions from the final data analysis e Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking for more detailed information and procedures OPTION Configures the output settings I e auto save auto increment data configuration paths etc e Refer to CONFIGURATING DATA Option Parameters for more detailed information and procedures VIEW VIEW Controls the visibility of the Toolbar Sta
96. resently displayed record B Enter Company Information in the Company Information section Entries into this section work in a similar way to the Client Information section In addition the Insert Logo button can be used to select a disk file of either JPEG or BMP format to include as graphics on the printed report C Select which data to present from the selection fields in the section titled Select Test Results and Select Test Parameters D Select which Insertion Return Loss information should go into the report If none desired do not select this option in the Select Layout Section E A particular report configuration can be saved to a Configuration Name by clicking the lt SAVE gt button in the Select Layout Section and entering a name the report will contain the information showing on the screen at time of saving e Before saving the user has the option to click the lt VIEW gt button to see how a printout of the currently selected configuration would look as a Portrait oriented printout 3 When finished creating and saving all report configurations click the lt EXIT gt button 89 How to generate a report 1 Verify that Auto Save in Database is selected in Option dialog Configuration Option General When selected the additional option of saving graphics into the database used as Report data source is presented If graphics in the Reports are desired select Include Images Perform a connector sc
97. ringe pattern that should be obtained using the Stainless Steel Reference with one fringe over the entire area of the live image Figure 4 is an example of the fringe pattern that should be obtained using a flat connector with the fringes over the entire area of the live image The One Pass method using a Pin Alignment mount should only be used after completing a End face Angle Calibration as explained in detail in Chapter 5 of the manual to obtain the angle correction factors After completing the End face Angle Calibration the mirror screws should not be adjusted The Two Pass method is very similar to the End face Angle Calibration and should only be used with a Pin Alignment mount The mirror screws are adjusted only on the first connector being measured so that the fringe pattern is the same in both the front and back orientations of the epoxy well on the connector With the fringe pattern the same in both the front and back orientations the mirror is adjusted to the ideal connector end face The mirror screws should not be adjusted after this Figure 5 1s an example of the fringe patterns that should be obtained in both the front and back orientations of the connector Epoxy well to the front Epoxy well to the back FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 Can a Bar Code Scanner be used with the ACCIS software Yes the software can be used with bar code scanners that are compatible with a Keyboard Wedge device The bar code scanner and t
98. rm Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Retry Cancel 1 Actos Coniqueston View Window Help Fizie Freen ato Mmaa FERT Surface Centour Display eight 4 Hit a Legii fum NOTE MT 12 fiber connector with guide holes is shown CHAPTER 7 DATA INTERPRETATION At the completion of a successful scan a Surface Contour Display appears on the screen giving the following information 1 Contour map Group Name Connector ID 3D Display End face Angle along the X amp Y axis Radius of Curvature mm along the X amp Y axis Flatness Deviation um Maximum Adjacent Differential Ht um Planar Differential Ht um 10 Planar or Spherical Protrusion um 11 Core Dip Gf Multimode fiber is selected in the Set Up menu O ENDAN NOTE If Fiber Masking was conducted the Surface Contour Displays will show the Region of Interest and any Masked Fiber regions Please refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking M Accis current1 Eile Action Configuration View Window Repot Help _ F x ee F2 Setup vite S P c g Helght 14818 nm lengh Oum Live mage Group 2 Demo Connect ca Endtace Angle deg 0 008 3 I Cur Radiue mm 103166 20 Flatness Deviationfum Max Adj Diff Fib Htium Planar Ditt Ht Total urn Information Method white Connector Type Pc 8080 Microscope T
99. ror message would be displayed make sure the path is correct NOTE A spreadsheet is only created once a measurement has been taken 19 6 OPEN can also be accessed by CTRL 0 e Opens saved files of the following file types e xls Microsoft Excel Files which contain quantitative data in spreadsheet form Opens in Microsoft Excel Program e nld Norland Files which contain scan results graphic images and set up parameters Opens in ACCIS program 7 SAVE can also be accessed by CTRL S e Saves the information data of the connector measurement under the following file types under the CONNECTOR ID entered in the measurement process xls Microsoft Excel Files which contain quantitative data in spreadsheet form nld Norland Files which contain data graphic images and set up parameters csv Comma Separated Values which contains the quantitative data scan results contour data and set up parameters csv files can be exported to an external graphical analysis utility 8 PRINT can also be accessed by CTRL P e PRINT will print Surface Contour Files 9 HELP TOPICS can also be accessed by F1 e An index of all the topics related to the ACCIS program and microscope unit 10 ANGLE CALIBRATION e NOTE This feature should ONLY be used with the NORLAND ADVANTAGE SYSTEM or an NC AC 3005 system w Fixed Mirrors For systems with adjustable mirrprs conduct an End face Angle Calibration as explained in t
100. rors e NOTE NC 3000 objective shown Step 6 e Place the interferometer into the plastic bag Step 7 e Prepare the shipping box and place the microscope insert into the box Microscope Insert Step 8 e Place the interferometer into the shipping box Step 9 e Place the right and left inserts into the shipping box Left Side Insert Right Side Insert Step 10 e Make sure that the tilt stage micrometer and other accessories are placed securely into the accessory box Inside of Accessory box e Place the accessory box into the shipping box e Place all microscope cables into cable box and insert it into the side of the box as shown in the picture Cable box Step 11 e Place the microscope spacer over the lens Microscope spacer Step 12 e Close the box and seal it with strong shipping tape If the system arrived double boxed please send back double boxed e Send back to Norland Products Inc 2540 Rt 130 Suite 100 Cranbury NJ 08512 e Returns without a RMA number on the outside of the box will be refused Please contact Norland Products fora RMA number APPENDIX A Magnification Calibration Procedures Step 1 e Obtain the following e Magnification Calibration Standard OR NIST Traceable Magnification Calibration Reticle Optional e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running The operator must be logged on as an ACCIS Administrator OR have the a
101. s as needed and click OK when ready for scan 1 Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Step 19 e When the scans are completed note the readings obtained for the End face Angle in the X and Y direction shown by arrow A The goal is to have measurement readings of 0 0 02 for both the X and Y e If they are then the flat surface of the 8 standard is perpendicular to the optical path Move on to step 21 e If they are not and the angle is more than 0 0 02 proceed to Step 20 Step 20 e If there is an x or y error larger than O 0 02 for both the X and Y then check the following e The micrometer may be incorrectly installed and must be removed and re installed and re leveled And the entire 8 standard procedure must be repeated e If the above does not work please contact Norland Products Inc Step 21 e Turn the y axis knob clockwise to bring the intersection of the two surfaces back to the middle of the screen Group Name 8 Cal Connector ID sac2 A Prsutecs Angie ceo 0 mm 7 20 54277 68 Flatness Deviation um i Comments Planar Diff Ht Totalfum Y X PF Fiber No 1 2 Please refer to the Tilt Stage amp Micrometer Installation Procedures Step 22 e Unlock the lock collar by turning it ina counterclockwise direction e Turn
102. spects of the ACCIS program Only ACCIS Administrators are allowed to make changes to the Settings and ACCIS Administrators list NOTE New users must be entered into the Windows NT User Manager Configuring ACCIS Security See Windows NT Manual for instructions The first time the program is run the only person logged on as a Network Administrator is the ACCIS Administrator To add remove or change ACCIS Administrators click the corresponding Add Delete or Update buttons When adding an ACCIS administrator remember that his ACCIS username should be the same as his Network login name To quickly add ACCIS Administrator from users who previously logged on the machine select a user you want to add in the left list box and click on the right arrow button Changes would be in effect the next time ACCIS is executed 32 CHAPTER 5 CALIBRATION TOOLS Norland Products has included calibration tools with the system for periodically verifying its performance The following are short explanations of the calibration tools Detailed explanations and procedures are located in the appendix MAGNIFICATION CALIBRATION Magnification Calibration assures that the correct magnification values are being used during measurement scans A magnification calibration standard is supplied with the interferometer for this purpose and must be used with an Edge Alignment mount The distance between the guides holes in the connector is measured and us
103. ssary to verify modify a variety of parameters that control the way the system acquires and uses data during and after the measuring process In order to control the data during measurement scans it is important to modify the Set Up parameters according to the connector being measured as well as ACCIS Administrator preferences In order to control the data after measurements have been taken it is important to modify the Option Parameters according to how the ACCIS Administrator wants to store and handle the data 4 1 Set up Parameters Independent SETUP screens exist for the Red Light and White Light modes Parameters in the Set Up screen are similar for both modes The parameters can be modified changed by using the mouse to highlight the desired field then clicking the mouse on the appropriate choice in the field Measure Setup Microscope Type MIMm aa Lengthiurmn 2900 Width um 675 Ribbon Style Scan Type Normal Ferule Type Ceramic Fiber Height Type Planar Filter Setti Style Mame MT ag etal Minimum 72 5 Center Locator Templates Modulation i 3 20 Fiber Count 12 Bese ole Connector Type PC x Top Hts 7 7 Fiber Type Single Mode Excluded Fiber Dia urn f 26 Auto Focus M Two Pass 7 IEC Fit Iw e Pass Fail _ Save As Load Default OK MICROSCOPE TYPE Specifies the choice of the interferometric system being used with the ACCIS software Choose one of the foll
104. st It calculates the best fit plane for the defined Region of Interest using 20 of the highest points across the surface The fiber protrusion is the perpendicular distance from this plane to the center of the individual fibers See the appendix for more details on the IEC TIA test procedure If IEC FIT is not selected in Set Up then the best fit plane is calculated from all the points across the surface How does the system measure the angle of polish The IEC TIA procedure requires that the angle of polish for the connector be measured in reference to the plane perpendicular to the average of the two guide hole axis The 3005 uses our patented True Angle Connector Mounts which use integral guide pins for holding the connectors in alignment The pins are held on a precision aperture plate at the bottom of the mount which allows for viewing of the connector in the region of interest Inserting the connector simply requires sliding it into the mount and onto the guide pins No other system on the market today is as simple or easy to use This is similar to the alignment of two connectors that are being mated on a bulkhead or in a termination Aperture plates are also available with holes for connectors with pins so all ferrules and connectors both male and female flat or angled can be measured 102 What needs to be calibrated in the system to assure accurate measurements To calibrate the machine to accurately locate the center of the conn
105. st IEC and TIA test procedures recommend measuring the angle of the multifiber connector using the guide holes of the connector as the reference with the ideal end face perpendicular to the axis of the guide holes This is accomplished with the patented True Angle Connector Mounts from Norland Products which use integral guide pins for holding the connectors in alignment The pins are held on a precision aperture plate at the bottom of the mount and allows viewing of connector in the region of interest Inserting the connector simply requires sliding it into the mount onto the guide pins This is very similar to the alignment of two connectors that are being mated in a bulkhead or in a termination Aperture plates are also available with holes for mounting connectors with pins 2 Edge Alignment These mounts align the ferrule by using the outside edges of the ferrule similar to the way that they are held in the polishing process The entire ferrule end face is in view and the surface can be mapped from guide hole to guide hole Since the ideal end face should be perpendicular to the guide hole axis this method assumes that the outside edges are parallel to the guide holes Edge alignment mounts provide greater stability for ferrules which have stiff cables attached to them The ACCIS software allows for setup using the different mounts If the entire end face is desired to be mapped then use the Edge Alignment mount and select Guide Holes as
106. tandard on top of rough surfaces and always place the standard back into its original packaging wrapped carefully in the lens cleaning tissue Do not drop the standard on the floor or on the table e If there is any oils dirt dust on the surface of the 8 standard wipe it off with alcohol and lens cleaning tissue e Do not use rough material to clean the standard Step 4 e Place the 8 standard on the tilt stage as shown and attach to the tilt stage using the mount screws Screw on finger tight Step 5 e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Set the micrometer to 0 0 e Note For the greatest accuracy and repeatability final adjustments should always be done by turning the Lock Collar micrometer in a clockwise direction e Turn the lock collar clockwise to lock into position Step 6 e Change to Red Mode Step 7 e Click F2 Set Up on the Tool Bar to modify the set up parameters e Click Default at the bottom of the dialog box e Select Microscope Type NC AC 3005 e Change Style Name to MiniMT e Deselect IEC fit e Click OK to save and exit the set up screen Step 8 e Turn the y axis until the intersection of the flat surface and the angled surface can be seen clearly on the screen approximately in the middle Picture A e Turn the focus knob until a fringe pattern can be seen on the flat surface the bottom
107. tem If using a Pin Alignment mount Two Pass measurement method can be used to give the most accurate results if time and throughput is not an issue If time and throughput are very important conduct an End Face Angle Calibration to determine and store the Angle correction factors and then choose One Pass w Use Angle Correction If using an Edge Alignment mount use the One Pass W OUT Use Angle Correction selected in the Set Up screen An End Face Angle Calibration cannot be done with an Edge Alignment mount The two measuring methods follow the same outline 1 Select the Interferometric Mode Red or White The interferometric mode is dependent on the condition of the surface of the connector NOTE Most array type connectors require white mode e Red light is used for quick analysis of smooth surfaces e White light is used for detailed analysis of rough surfaces or surfaces with step heights i e fiber protrusion 2 Modify load Set Up parameters F2 Set Up on tool bar or Config File on the Info Bar to control the data during the measurement process according to the connector being tested as well as the mount being used Controlling the Set up parameters is dependent on the security level of the user logged onto the system ACCIS administrators can modify and save the set up parameters according to customer specifications requirements Operator level users can only load set up parameters previously saved by the ACCIS Administra
108. the Center Locator in the Setup Menu The computer will automatically find the guide holes and center the connector between them With the True Angle Pin Alignment mounts select Template as the Center Locator in the Setup Menu This provides a template at the beginning of the measurement process with which to align the fibers The computer will use this information to determine the center of the connector and the location of all the fibers Another example of our versatility is our ACCIS software and calibration tools The ACCIS software allows for easy and accurate measurements with either of our True Angle or Edge Alignment mounts To accurately measure the angle of the connector each mount must be calibrated or leveled in reference to the mirror in the interferometric microscope For the MT Edge Alignment Mount we provide a 0 metal reference standard that is polished to an accuracy of 0 01 or better Inserting this in the mount and adjusting the interferometric mirror until it shows only one fringe provides a quick and easy calibration Leveling of our True Angle Pin Alignment Mounts is done almost exclusively with our custom software The easiest and most accurate method of measuring the angle is with our Two Pass Scan With this procedure the connector is measured once and then rotated 180 and measured a second time Ideally if the mount is holding the connector perpendicular to the reference mirror the angular measurements wo
109. the center of the templates e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen e Press OK Step 17 e The interferometer will go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connector e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Step 18 e When the second scan is completed the X and Y Angle Correction Factors will be displayed e Click OR File Acton Donigusion View Wirde Hep FIZ Measure FZ Saup tate Emal oF ie 100 PTT L R Pipe Ing second pass minny cirri iae d 1B round watea a0 ardenis it Them Macus hinget Auh in end Y as needed and cick OK whan macy bo bagn second prt wath can E 1 ScanTyoe Gurlace Ange Cal Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Retry Cancel amp Angle Corecton Factor 0 104 Y Angle Comection Factor 0 036 Step 19 e Click on F2 Set Up e Click on Default e Change Style Name to the connector being measured ie MiniMT or MT e Click OK e Perform One Pass w Use Angle Correction selected to measure connectors if faster measurement time and h
110. the micrometer counterclockwise back to 0 0 e Note For the greatest accuracy and repeatability final adjustments should always be done by turning the micrometer in a clockwise direction e Turn the lock collar clockwise to lock into position e Adjust focus to obtain the maximum fringe pattern e Turn y knob clockwise to bring the fringe pattern on the flat surface into full view in the image screen Step 23 e Press F2 Measure on the Tool Bar to take a measurement e If End face Angle measurements are similar to the beginning the 8 tilt using the micrometer is accurate e If the End face Angle measurements are off only slightly dust may have collected underneath the lever arm that the micrometer 1s 1n e Lift the lever arm slightly and blow any dust away with compressed air and take another measurement If End face Angle measurements are not even similar to the measurement readings from the beginning and attempts to clean underneath the lever arm are unsuccessful please contact Norland Products Group Mema Faca Connain ID esc a ki AF TPF SurecoAnchedos MENE 1 005 Corn Pardie Hehe te hh 4 Flats amp Deana umn Hoe Pinner DAH Totau Upon completion of the 0 8 Calibration procedures proceed to any of the following End face Angle Calibration procedures to determine the Angle Correction factors to calibrate the mount being used during analysis 1f using a Pin Alignment mo
111. tion allows the customer to configure the data as desired and only print what is needed The reports contain user preferred test results company information client information Insertion and Return Loss information 3D image and live image of the connector as well as a Barcode representing the Connector ID for that particular scan This barcode is in a section of the report which on specially made printout forms can be peeled off of the report for labeling a bag used for the tested connector The forms are supplied by Norland Products Refer to Appendix Report Generation for more detailed information l How do I know if the reference mirror is adjusted correctly The positioning of the reference mirror in the interferometer is integral in order to obtain accurate angular measurements of the end face of a connector To obtain accurate angular measurements the mirror must be adjusted so that it is parallel to the ideal end face of a connector This ideal end face is the plane perpendicular to guide holes pins located on the connector as illustrated in figure 1 Note Figure 1 is a side view representation of a connector Adjustments of the mirror can be done on the NC AC 3005 with the two mirror screws indicated in figure 2 The mirror pivots at three points one stationary pivot at the top of the mirror and two pivots towards the bottom which are controlled by the two mirror screws therefore both the X and Y positioning wil
112. tor e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Step 15 e When the scan is completed follow the command prompt that appears e Rotate the connector 180 so the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern out of view e Adjust the X amp Y knobs to put the fibers into the center of the templates e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen e Press OK 2Mersuee F2Setp p IN ce bed Piecessing Conwwsra IE oo a ts Cay OTASI MODE Incest connector oriented with epay well lowards front ol mececscupe Aue mY and Y undi Tempdates oveday lhe Files on Lie Vimu Focus fiinges E needed anal cirk Oh ready for aean H 1 LOR cal Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning i Cancel Scary Step 16 e The interferometer may go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connector e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow th
113. tors Refer to CONFIGURING DATA section for more detailed information 3 Modify Connector Parameters Configuration Connector to control the data during the measurement process by indicating certain regions fibers for removal from the data analysis Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking for more detailed information 4 Modify Option parameters Configuration Options gt General System to control how the data is organized after the measurement process is completed The data can be controlled to automatically save data to a specific group name and data path and or automatically print the data upon completion of the scan Note Auto printing only prints the display screens and results it does not auto print reports Auto incrementing the Connector ID numbers can also be selected Both ACCIS Administrators and Operator level users can modify the Option Parameters Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Option parameters 5 Clean connector properly to assure accurate measurements during the scanning process It is important to clean any residue from polishing that may have collected on the shoulder guide pins or guide holes Residue will give misleading and inaccurate measurements 35 6 Insert the connector properly into the mount Edge or Pin Alignment to assure accurate measurements during the scanning process e For Edge Alignment mounts insert the connector into the mount so that the epoxy well
114. tus Bar and Info Bar A check next to the choices makes it visible on the screen Selecting FULL SCREEN F10 will hide the Menu Bar and Status bar The Toolbar buttons are moved into the Info Bar e This feature should be used in Production situations were the menu bar needs to be hidden from the Operator so that certain parameters in the program cannot be change 1 e AutoCal and Option Parameters WINDOW LIVE IMAGE Controls the Live Image size Toggles between small screen and full screen SURFACE CONTOUR Controls the Surface Contour Display Size Toggles between small screen and full screen e Refer to UNDERSTANDING And INTERPRETING DATA for more detailed information and procedures CASCADE Shows multiple scans and data files on the screen CLOSE ALL Closes all measurement results windows without saving data Selecting a connector ID will activate the Measurement Results Windows as the current display to be viewed REPORT GENERATE Prints the report containing the data saved into the Microsoft Access database when Auto Save to Database selected in Option dialog A form will be displayed allowing the selection of a previously created configuration layout to use in the PRINT REPORT field The user can also select the printer CONFIGURE Configures reports for different clients the user should select this option Users can change the company information as well as insert the logo of company Select the type and or
115. ty registration card This allows us to keep you informed about updates to the system as well as what is new for the Fiber Optic Industry from Norland Products Inc 1 1 How It Works The NC AC 3005 uses a custom designed inverted microscope with a piezo controlled Michelson s interferometric objective lens and a white light source with wavelength selective filters as shown in figure 1 An interferometric image with constructive and destructive interference patterns light and dark fringes respectively is generated by combining the light reflected off the connector end face with the light reflected off the reference mirror These interference patterns fringes form a contour map on the surface with the dark fringes showing steps of 2 of a wavelength down the surface The piezo is used to move the objective lens causing the fringes to move across the surface By following the changes as the fringes shift across the surface the ACCIS software is able to assign a height to every single point of the surface which gives it a complete 3D map This interference pattern is imaged on the CCD camera in the microscope and captured by the frame grabber in the computer For wide area connectors the stage automatically moves to the next scan according to the information entered into the set up menu The Multiple Image Overlay Software pieces together multiple scans to chart the complete geometry of the entire surface The ACCIS software included with the com
116. uld be equal but opposite signs If the measurements are different the program automatically calculates the range between the two measurements and divides by 2 to give the True Angle Single Pass Scans are also possible for faster results or for angled connectors The angle correction factor can be calculated from a two pass scan similar to auto leveling in the NC AC 3000 and automatically correct for the difference in the level when Single Pass is used and Use Angle Correction is selected The ACCIS software also offers a new Fiber Masking feature to be able to measure connectors and arrays that do not have a completely filled fiber configuration Please refer to the Configuring Data Chapter of this manual for more information regarding this feature Norland Products offers a wide variety of tools to provide the customer with the assurance that the NC AC 3005 is performing to the extremely high accuracy which is expected of it Here are a number of the tools which are available Magnification Calibration Standard The magnification of the system should not change since the optics are fixed It is still necessary to have a standard to confirm the correct performance of the system The magnification calibration standard which is supplied with every system is an MT ferrule polished flat and to a mirror like surface Using the magnification calibration scan mode in the setup the NC3005 system maps the ferrule and locates the edges of the guide ho
117. unt and performing One Pass w Use Angle Correction selected OR eMEASURING a CONNECTOR section of this manual if using an EDGE Alignment mount and performing One Pass measurements C End face Angle Calibration Procedures Step 1 e Obtain the following e Relatively flat connector that the Pin Alignment mount is designed for e Computer and Monitor powered up with ACCIS software running The operator must be logged on as an ACCIS Administrator e NC AC 3005 microscope unit e Pin Alignment Mount e Alcohol amp Lint free wipes or the supplied connector cleaner NOTE The pictures in this procedure show a 12 fiber MT connector Step 2 e Wipe all oils dirt dust off the surface of the tilt stage with alcohol e Clean the bottom of the mount with alcohol e Using compressed air blow off any dust particles that may be inside the mount e Place the mount onto the stage and lock into place with the mount screws Step 3 e Verify that the lock collar is in the unlocked position by turning the lock collar counterclockwise e Set the micrometer to 0 0 Lock Collar Step 4 e Clean the connector with the connector cleaner supplied e Alcohol and a lint free wipe can be used instead of the connector cleaner if desired Make sure any alcohol on the connector is wiped off before inserting the connector in the mount e Make sure the guide holes are clean Step 5 e Insert the connector into the mount with
118. us knob to bring the fringe pattern into the center of the live image screen Press OK elf desired the Connector ID can be changed while the scan is in progress Click on OK after the Connector ID has been changed eMake sure not to cause any vibrations Step 15 e The interferometer will go through a few scans to measure and map the surface of the connector e Occasionally the Auto Focus may fail If it does adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern into view and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Fie Actinn Configuration Wiw window Heip F Menmsn F2 Setup write 4 Bisel Tu mm 13 Mesure Processing i Tw PASS MODE Inpe connector onented with a apo well lowands Iron of meascecope Aui nY and Y unii Tempdates oreday Iha Fibers Liae Vim on Ficus it os reeled oral chek Oh neay Ror aenn H 1 E cees Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning Retry Cancel Step 16 e When the scan is completed follow the command prompt that appears e Rotate the connector 180 so the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer e Adjust the focus knob to bring the fringe pattern out of view e Adjust the X amp Y knobs to put the fibers into
119. uto Focus option has been selected in the SETUP menu Do not touch the connector before all have been measured and the stage has returned to the starting position e Refer to MEASURING a CONNECTOR for more detailed information and procedures 2 SET UP can also be accessed by F2 Function Key e Controls the parameters for the measuring process and data handling e Different for Red Light and White Light Refer to CONFIGURING DATA Set Up Parameters for more detailed information and procedures 3 MODE can also be accessed rw when active e Switches between Red Light and White Light Modes e Red light is used for fast analysis of smooth surfaces e White light is used for rough surfaces or surfaces containing step heights 4 GROUP NAME e Names the Excel Spreadsheet where connector measurement data will be saved Group names can be changed to any 50 character alphanumeric name desired by the user Use Default as the default setting NOTE A scan must be taken before a spreadsheet is created e lLocates an existing spreadsheet in the Data Path Configuration Option System Data Path Once located click the XL button on the toolbar to open desired spreadsheet named in the Group name Dialog Box 5 CURRENT SPREADSHEET e Clicking on XL button will open an existing spreadsheet with a name corresponding to the name entered in Group Name If a spreadsheet with a name specified in the Group Name box does not exist in the Data Path an er
120. vature flatness deviation endface angle and fiber heights for the existing fibers are all affected sometimes resulting in failing production limits due to the previously mentioned additional ferrule erosion where fibers are missing Since this connector design is meant to be used differently than the standard MT these reports of failure are misleading and inappropriate The Connector Configuration dialog is dependent on the Set Up Parameters selected For example if 8 fibers is selected in Fiber Count in the set up menu only 8 fiber positions will appear in the Connector Configuration dialog therefore it is very important to always check the connector configuration dialog after any changes have been made to the mode or set up menu NOTE Norland Products believes that Fiber Masking is an excellent method for testing certain custom mulitifber connectors Fiber Masking is not included in the present TIA IEC fiber optic test procedure Connector Configuration Select Fiber filled Positions Ba Ff 8 49 10 CO 8 oo Individual Fiber Mask Report width Length M Missing Undetected E75 250 Biba Default Cancel SELECT FIBER FILLED POSITIONS Defines the desired exclusion sections of the connector Select All button can be pressed if all fiber positions are filled INDIVIDUAL FIBER MASK Defines the region size of surrounding ferrule that can be selected for exclusion 28 REPORT MISSING UNDETECTED FIBERS CHECKBOX
121. w and click RETRY If it fails again click on CANCEL to allow the interferometer to scan the entire region Step 12 e Upon completion of the scan verify that the End face Angle measurement in the X and Y direction is at least 0 01 If the measurements are not within the above spec repeat steps 9 11 Pa Acci Bie demon Configuration Vere Weke Het i Addu ane antl Teeplated iraibi the Pii i on Live Wisa Faai iri nected ira eek OK bead ba ota 2 1 E cee Problem applying Autofocus Please adjust focus to bring fringes back into view Then click RETRY to perform Autofocus again or click CANCEL to skip Autofocus and proceed to scanning i Cancel DA Ele dnin Dohpen vires Ea Hols Matese Fisio P Ma Surface Conteur Display E Report Generation NOTE Reports are generated from the data contained in a Microsoft Access database To save data into the Microsoft Access database Auto Save in Database must be selected in the option dialog Configuration Option General before scanning To generate a report a layout must first be configured How to configure and save a layout I The user needs to create at least one report configuration in order to have a report layout to select at report printing time 1 From the main ACCIS window pull down menu select Report Configure 2 A form will appear as shown into which the user can enter the name of a particular Client for whom this report format
122. way quicker than the cladding material Since multifber connectors have a larger core diameter than single fiber connectors it 1s important that there is not a significantly large height difference between the core region and clad region which may affect the amount of light transmission between two connectors There are industry standards for the regions indicated The illustration follows industry standards CHAPTER 8 INTERFEROMETRY BASICS Light wave interference occurs when two or more waves of the same frequency or wavelength combine to form a single wave whose amplitude is the sum of the amplitudes of the combined waves Constructive and Destructive interference is the most striking examples of light wave interference Constructive interference occurs when the light waves are completely in phase with each other the peak of one wave coincides with the peak of the other wave Destructive interference occurs when the light waves are completely out of phase with each other the peak of one wave coincides with the trough of the other wave Refer to figure below for an illustration of Constructive and Destructive interference Destructive Interference Destructive Interference w different amplitudes w same amplitudes oe se A vw f f f fo FoF oi Vy VJJ I Constructive Interference Light Wove 1 2 Interferometers can produce images and data to sub micron accuracy using the principle of wave interference Int
123. xtremely rough surfaces the Minimum Modulation can be increased to 9 in order to achieve greater repeatability eFnter the Mount Angle for APC Connectors eFor connectors that have unfilled fiber positions please review Configuring Data Connector Configurations for Fiber Masking 27 4 3 Connector Configuration for Fiber Masking Connector Configuration is a feature of the ACCIS software that allows the user to choose individual fiber locations and some surrounding ferrule to be excluded from all surface analysis after the connector surface has been entirely mapped This versatile feature is helpful when measuring connectors that have different fiber configurations than the standard connectors in the industry The software assumes that the shape size and fiber orientation 1 e fiber to fiber distance follows industry standards An example of this would be a 12 fiber MT design with only fibers 1 through 4 and 9 through 12 present With present polishing techniques the ferrule becomes eroded more where fibers are missing from the array than when fibers are present If this connector is measured as if it were a standard MT it usually is reported as a production failure for two reasons First the fiber height measurements fail at the locations where there are uninstalled fibers which can be completely empty holes holes filled with epoxy or in some versions no holes at all just ferrule material Secondly measurements such as ferrule cur
124. ype NC AC3005 Scan Type Normal Comments ContigFile Fiber Mo Z E 4 G z J 10 1 12 Pla Frotiurn a a a raea WO a T a a a a 48 1 CONTOUR MAP The contour map is displayed in the upper left of the screen showing the surface of the end face of the connector Assuming that the connector is positioned in the mount so that the epoxy well is facing the back of the interferometer the front right corner of the connector marked with the star in FIGURE 1 corresponds to the upper left corner of the contour map marked by the star in FIGURE 2 The fibers numbers are labeled 1 to n where n the total number of fibers being measured from left to right on the contour map as shown in FIGURE 2 which corresponds to the connector as shown in FIGURE 1 Different colors signify different heights of the points analyzed during the measurement process Along the bottom and to the left of the contour map are the X and Y axis respectively The axis show the heights of the points analyzed during the measurement process The data shown on the X and Y axis correspond to the location of the crosshairs on the contour map The height of the intersection of the crosshairs is shown at the top of the surface contour map in the Height field In order to move the location of the crosshairs use the arrows on the keyboard or the right mouse button The arrow buttons will move the crosshairs in small increments in the dire

NC/AC 3005 - Norland Products, Inc.

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