Optical fiber polishing machine

What do you mean by "Polishing the fiber?"

Aren't such probes currently available? Is there something unique about your probe that you can't buy one rather than reinvent the wheel?

What kind of fiber?

thanks for your reply

the probe i have already designed is used for invivo .

the probe is used for screening of oral cancer.

the probe configuration is like a centre fiber which is exciting the tissue with laser .

after excitation fluroscence is collected by surrounding 6 fiber around the 1 centre fiber.

the problem i am facing after polishing when i am viewing the fiber through microscope i am seeing the powder stuff on the surface ofthe fiber.this may reduce the transmission of the fiber. i tried to remove with methonol with little effect.so pleae suggest the better way of doing the same

We use optical fibres in astronomical instruments. The basic process is to mount the fibre in a holder, perpendicular to a revolving disk on which an abrasive slurry has been deposited. The fibre is flush with the face of the holder so the 'wearing away' of the fibre can only take place by also wearing away the face of the holder. This is not as bad as it sounds because you don't remove much material in the polishing process.

So that a groove is not worn into the plate the fibre holder may be actively moved across the face of the polishing plate, or the holder may be made in a cylindrical form and allowed to 'float' across the face of the polishing plate by placing it in a loose ring and letting a fairly random motion take place.

As with most lapping and polishing processes of this kind, the polishing process will be carried out in stages with successively finer grades of abrasive slurry.

Talk to your fibre supplier about a supplier of suitable machines. Brands that come to mind are Polymicro fibre, and Kent polishing machines. Ther are other suppliers.

All of the above refers to glass fibres. Some plastic communication fibres are polished by rubbing them by hand across an abrasive 'paper' sheet, with the fibre held perpendicular to the sheet in a small plastic bush.

Greg

It sounds like Rodney has a 'ready to use' probe that needs a final polish. This should be possible using a very fine diamond polishing compound & silk pad. This final polish would be a gentle hand operation.

Gosh, I would draw the fibre throgh Chemica Vapour Deposited Diamond Flakes. De Beers will supply.