Optic Fiber Manufacturing – The Stanelco Draw Furnace System

Stanelco Optic Fiber Furnace Systems are proven in production to give precise preform processing.

The trend in the optic fiber industry is to larger optic fiber preform size. Our furnace system supports this trend. We provide - at no extra cost – a furnace body bigger than currently required to support easy upgrade in the future to manage larger preforms. The power unit can also be upgraded to give more power when required. The water-cooled upper and lower plates and furnace consumables are designed to match the design of the current specification and can be easily changed for larger specification later.

The Stanelco ‘Designed for Production’ approach reduces the cost of future expansion of capacity when larger preforms are available. We look forward to meeting your manufacturing requirements!

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FURNACE BODY

Three standardised sizes of optic fiber furnace body are combined with plates and consumables to match the preform in use:

Small up to 80 mm preform
Standard 80 - 150 mm preform
Large 150 - 200 mm preform

The furnace, the capacitor box and the tower mounting platform

POWER SYSTEM

The latest design of induction generator has improved efficiency, higher reliability and ease of maintenance. This ensures a cost effective performance for continuous high quality fiber production. The power output can be matched to the furnace size up to an output of 200kW. The flexible design enables the same unit to power a draw system or a preform stretching / sleeving system.

All supplies and interconnections are terminated to the top of the units – this can be tailored to suit customer requirements.

For future developments and expansion, the unit is easily upgradeable to handle larger preforms.

PYROMETER

An optic fiber connected infrared pyrometer with a very fast response time provides accurate, repeatable temperature readout of the furnace heating element:

Built-in, laser-sighting for ease of operation
Response time <1 ms, adjustable
Interface: RS232/RS485

As standard, the measured temperature signal is used by the control software to maintain the temperature of the furnace within +/- 1 °C of any set point value within the range of 800 – 2350 °C. Alternatively, the Stanelco draw furnace system can be controlled via a fiber tension feedback signal.

CONTROL SOFTWARE

The PLC control system is programmed to deliver the optimum performance from the draw furnace system. Any optic fiber manufacturing PLC software can be incorporated and enables power control via the pyrometer signal to control the temperature of the furnace or via a remote control input linked to the tower control of tension and speed of draw. The furnace protective gas supply is also programmable and controlled with in-built mass flow controllers. Induction heating enables fast response rates for the temperature, from ambient to 2350 °C in <2 minutes.

Control Interface

FURNACE PROTECTIVE GAS SUPPLY

The furnace inert gas atmosphere can be Nitrogen, or Argon.

CONSUMABLES

The only routine replacement parts are the graphite susceptor, muffle tube and insulation. These can be supplied by Stanelco.

INTEGRATING TO YOUR PRODUCTION

The following features assure full and ready integration with existing equipment:

The mounting bracket and attachments to suit any tower or lathe installation
A choice of PLC types
System software can be integrated into the production control system via a communications link
On-site commissioning and participation of Stanelco engineers in the initial trials
Specific production protocol adoption possible

The furnace seen from below with its annealing tube

TECHNICAL SHEET

Preform diameter:	10 – 200mm
Temperature control range	800 – 2350°C
Temperature display resolution	1°C
Minimum ramp time	< 2 minutes to 2300°C
System electrical supply range	380 – 480V AC, 3-phase, 50/60Hz
Induction generator electrical output	200kW maximum
Induction generator frequency	Nominally 10kHz
Typical dimensions, mm	Furnace H850, Diameter 550 mm
Capacitor Box	H520, W360, D620 mm
Induction Generator	H2200, W1800, D600 mm
Control Unit	H2000, W600, D380 mm
Water Cooler	H1000, W800, D1200 mm
Furnace fitting bracket type	X, Y and Z and angular fully adjustable
Tower type	Any tower.
Control Communications	Any communication system.
Compliance	Quality system ISO9001, ISO14001
CE marking	all relevant standards