MPO Ferrule Package
As networks began to grow and require more bandwidth, the need for high-density fiber optic connections arose.
The MPO connector was introduced, allowing up to 12 fibers in one ferrule.
MPOs allow for well-organized cabling, which is ideal for future-proofing your network. However, ensuring physical contact of the fibers in MPO connections can be challenging.
1. MT Ferrule
The MT ferrule is the key component in multi-fiber connectors like MPO and MTP and helps reduce cabling space requirements. The MT ferrule has a square end-face of 6.4×2.5 mm that holds and aligns multiple fibers in a compact form factor. This allows for higher fiber lane counts and increased data transmission capacity.
The MT-style ferrule can be a bit tricky to work with. For instance, MT-style ferrules have guide pins that help with alignment, but the blunt shape of these pins can cause them to scrape against each other, which leads to friction and connection loss. The solution is to replace these flat-ended guide pins with angled ones, which eliminate this friction and improve durability.
Another challenge that the MT ferrule faces is achieving low-loss connections between mated pairs of connectors. To achieve this goal, the obliquely polished ferrule ends must be pressed against each other with enough force to suppress unwanted light leakage and vibration. The problem is that as the number of connected fibers increases, so does the required ferrule-to-ferrule pressing force.
As a result, assembly companies must carefully follow established polishing procedures for each connector type to avoid quality issues. To alleviate this issue, some manufacturers offer MT-style ferrules that are pre-angled. According to US Conec, a manufacturer of MT-style fiber-optic connections, these pre-angled ferrules reduce polishing time in the production process and ensure more consistent product geometries.
2. MTP Connector
MTP Connectors are key to enabling high-speed data transmission within cable systems. They are used in data centers, telecommunications networks and broadcast industries for reliable and high-quality data transfer. MTP is a brand name of an enhanced connector from US Conec that includes multiple engineered product enhancements to improve mechanical and optical performance compared to generic MPO connectors. These include a floating ferrule that allows two mated connectors to maintain physical contact over the span of an applied load, resulting in lower insertion loss and better alignment.
Additionally, the MTP connector is made from polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which is less susceptible to moisture absorption — mpo-ferrule-package a major cause of poor connector performance. The guide holes in the MTP connector are also elliptical instead of blunt, which reduces wear and helps to ensure a robust physical connection between mated ferrules over time.
The MTP PRO connector is the latest and most advanced version of MTP that offers enhanced field flexibility, convenience and improved performance. It offers a patented design that allows gender and polarity to be changed quickly and easily in the field without requiring specialized skills or tools, while maintaining optimal over-life performance. It also simplifies maintenance and reduces installation time. For example, the MTP PRO connector’s removable housing allows for re-work and polishing of the MT ferrule for extended life.
3. Adapter
Designed to mate with MPO connectors and cable assemblies, the Adapter provides the connection between two components. It includes a key-in-key design, and maintains defined fiber polarity when connected end to end.
The MPO Connector and Adapter have the capability to pack up to 24 optical fibers in a single ferrule making them ideal for high density data center applications. They are also great for future-proofing your network by providing the flexibility to upgrade from 10G to 40G and beyond.
To increase performance, US Conec migrated the original thermo-set compound of MPO to polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) which reduces moisture absorption and associated degradation. Combined with hermaphroditic post and hole alignment features, this increases mechanical performance and reliability, while decreasing the sensitivity of the physical contact to debris build-up and failures.
The molded-in hermaphroditic design eliminates the need for stainless steel elliptical guide pin tips which are known to generate more debris and require more polishing and testing, reducing the overall cost of ownership. In addition, Internet of things the Adapter’s coarse alignment features provide better stability under applied loads.
The Adapter is available in a variety of boot-types, insertion and removal force options, housing colors and configurations. It is also stackable, enabling you to increase the number of connections in your panel. Our Adapters are precision manufactured to ensure mating with industry standard MPO connectors and assemblies.
4. Buckle
While multifiber connectors are a great choice for promoting well-organized cabling and future-proofing your network, they can be tricky to install. It is important to follow industry standards and use the right tools to ensure proper termination. One important consideration is the MPO ferrule size. This determines the number of fibers that can fit into a single connector, which is crucial for ensuring high-density connections.
The MPO ferrule is the component of an MT connection that houses multiple optical fibers. Its unique design allows it to support up to 72 fibers in a single connector, making it the ideal choice for high-density applications such as backbone installations. The MPO ferrule is also characterized by its intuitive push-pull latching mechanism and audible click upon connection. In addition, the MPO ferrule is flat for multimode applications and angled for single-mode.
The MPO ferrule is made from a polymer, which differs from the ceramic materials used for cylindrical ferrules in LC and MU connectors. The differences affect the polishing processes that must be followed to achieve the desired final fiber height. As a result, the quality of an MPO connection depends greatly on the assembly manufacturer’s procedures.