HAUPPAUGE, NY - Sagitta, a provider of automated processing solutions for the fiberoptics industry, introduced the COMET, the world’s first non-contact, laser-based cleaver dedicated to automated cleaving of fiberoptic connectors, at OFC in Anaheim, CA, March 8-10, 2005.
The COMET cleaver is the first commercially available product born from the agreement between Sagitta and Corning Cable Systems (Hickory, NC) announced last year. This novel technology, developed by Corning Cable Systems and exclusively licensed by Sagitta, encompasses the most advanced and time-proven connector processing used in the industry today.
A key embodiment within the COMET is Sagitta’s core expertise in machine vision, optical and laser processing, and adaptive process control. The COMET will augment Sagitta’s existing Gemini-Cx processing cell, which integrates polishing, cleaning, and inspection in a single manufacturing platform for the low-cost production of simplex and multifiber optical connectors.
“During the termination process, connectors must be cleaved before they can be polished. We are confident that laser cleaving will increase production yield and connector performance,” said Duane Dinkel, president of Sagitta. He added, “Sagitta has successfully packaged Corning Cable Systems’ innovative technology into a processing tool that will revolutionize every connector cell around the world, enabling cost-effective manufacturing. This technology will be particularly enabling for emerging mass-market applications such as the FTTP [Fiber-to-the-Premise] initiative.”
Otto Szentesi, senior vice president of hardware and equipment at Corning Cable Systems, commented, “Laser cleaving has been effectively proven and qualified as more reliable than mechanical connector cleaving. We have been using our patented laser cleaving process for many years and have shipped millions of connectors worldwide. We believe Sagitta’s latest product offering utilizing this technology will be well received in today’s market.”
