3M 250-900 User Manual

The Network of Networks.

3M™ No Polish ST Connector SM and MM,
Flat Splice, 250/900 µm

Instructions

November 2012
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Safety Precautions

Protective Eyewear

 CAUTION

To reduce the risk associated with eye injury:|

- Safety glasses should be worn when handling chemicals and cleaving the optical fiber.

Chemical Precautions

 WARNING

To reduce the risk associated with fire:

- Storage, use and disposal of isopropyl alcohol should be per your company health, safety and environmental instructions. Refer to
material safety data sheet for health hazards, safe handling, proper use and control measures.

 CAUTION

To reduce the risk associated with eye or skin irritation from fiber gel in connector:

- Product contains phenylmethyl silicone (63148-58-3), hydrophobic silica (68611-44-9) and may cause minimal eye irritation. Avoid
contact with eyes and wash hands before eating or smoking. Upon eye contact, immediately flush eyes with water while holding eyelids
open and continue flushing for ten minutes. Contact a physician. Upon skin contact, wash with soap and water. Product Information:
Material Safety Data Sheet or call 3M at 1-800-364-3577 or 651-737-6501 (24 hours).

Bare Fiber Handling

 CAUTION

To reduce the risk associated with handling sharp glass fibers:

- Cleaved glass fibers are sharp and can pierce the skin. Use tweezers when handling shards and dispose of them properly per your com­pany health and safety instructions.

Fiber/Cable Handling

NOTICE

To reduce the risk associated with fiber damage:

- Optical fiber can be damaged by excessive tensile, compressive and bending forces. Consult the manufactures’ specifications for proper
handling instructions. Laser Safety

Laser Safety

 CAUTION

To reduce the risk associated with eye damage from exposure to laser light:

- Take the proper precautions when working with optical fiber because invisible laser light may be present. The principal laser hazard
when working with fiber optics is injury to the eye. Never look directly into the fiber or connector using the naked eye or a microscope.

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1.0 Connector and Tool Diagram

1.1 The diagrams below show the parts of the 3M™ No
Polish ST Connector (singlemode pictured) and the

™

No Polish ST Connector Assembly Tool 8835-

3M
AT. Please review these drawings to understand the
instructions in the following pages.

the cut segment will be noticeably difficult to remove
without the aid of a tool.

Note: When using loose tube or semi-tight buffered
fiber, and after stripping and cleaving the fiber, it is
important that the 250 µm acrylate coating on the
bare glass not protrude more than 1 mm (.04 inches)
beyond where the 900 µm buffer is stripped away. One
way to help ensure this is to use the clamp on the fiber
holder during the stripping process. Here’s how. Place
the fiber holder on the fiber facing backwards (clamp
closet to cut end) and 20 cm (8 inches) from the end
of the fiber. Secure the fiber into the SEMI-TIGHT
BUFFER groove of the clamp. Proceed to strip the fi­ber as though it were tight buffered. Remove the fiber
holder and proceed with the preparation and termina­tion processes.

Another way to help ensure this is to use the clamp
on a second fiber holder during the entire prepara­tion and termination processes. Place the second fiber
holder on the fiber facing backwards and 20 cm (8
inches) from the end of the fiber. Secure the fiber into
the SEMI-TIGHT BUFFER groove of the clamp.
Proceed to strip, clean, and cleave the fiber as though
it were tight buffered, and terminate the connector
onto the fiber. Remove the second fiber holder from
the fiber after the entire process is complete.

Carefully follow safety, health and environmental
information given on the product label or the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the no polish connec­tor. Emergency phone: [phone] or (651) 737­6501 (24 hours).

2.0 3M™ No Polish ST Connector SM
and MM 250/900 µm, Termination
Instructions

Note: To determine if a fiber is tight buffer or not,
perform this test. Using a sample of the fiber and the
fiber stripper, cut the buffer between 5 and 50 mm (.2
to 2 inches) from the end. Withdraw the stripper from
the fiber. (Do not remove the cut buffer segment using
the stripper.) Attempt to remove the cut segment of
buffer from the fiber using only finger pressure. If the
fiber is loose tube or semi-tight buffered, the cut seg­ment will come off very easily. If it is tight buffered,

2.1 Prior to each termination, clean all tools, including
the fiber holder, with a lint-free cloth and reagent
grade isopropyl alcohol.

2.2 Remove the dust cap from the front of the
connector. Raise the actuator button on the
assembly tool. Pivot the receptacle upward. Then
insert the connector into the receptacle by aligning
the key on the connector with the keyway in the
receptacle and pushing it in until it stops. Move the
pivot receptacle back to the horizontal position.

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2.3 Move the guide funnel forward on the fiber holder
until it stops; open doors and fiber clamp.

Funnel Door Bow Start Door Clamp

Move forward

Guide funnel

2.4 Strip, clean and cleave the fiber to 8 +/- 0.5 mm
(.32 ± .02 inches) measured from the end of the
900 µm buffer. Use the cleave length marker on
the assembly base to verify the length. Refer to the
notes at the beginning of this section when using

loose tube or semi-tight buffered fiber.

2.5 With the guide funnel fully forward, lay the fiber
in the central groove along the length of the fiber
holder as shown. Position it such that the stripped
and cleaved portion extends slightly beyond the tip
of the guide funnel.

If the fiber has a noticeable amount of curvature,
orient it so the curvature is directed downward
toward the fiber holder. In the clamp area of the
fiber holder, place the fiber in the appropriate
groove depending on whether it is TIGHT
BUFFER, or SEMI-TIGHT BUFFER (loose tube).

900 µm semi-tight buffer fi ber

900 µm tight buffer fi ber

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250 µm fi ber

2.6 Close the funnel door and bow start door on the fiber
holder. Again ensure that the guide funnel is pushed
completely forward to the end of the fiber holder.
Pull the fiber back until the fiber tip is flush with
the end of the funnel. To verify the cleave length is
still correct, all coatings should align with the hole
located in the funnel. Close the back clamp.

Note: for semi-tight buffer fi ber, the 250 µm coating
may protrude up to 1 mm past the 900 µm buffer. If
necessary, re-strip, clean and cleave the fi ber to meet
length requirements.

Hole

Place fiber tip here

Guide funnel door opened by
cam on the assembly base

Fiber bow should start when the white line on
fiber holder aligns with the “BOW START”
mark on the assembly base

2.8 While slowly sliding the fiber holder toward the
connector, a bow should start to form in the fiber
when the white line on the fiber holder aligns with
the white BOW START line on the assembly base.
If a bow is not seen, slide the fiber holder back. If
a bow is not seen, or if a bow is seen before the
two white lines meet, slide the fiber holder back.
Re-strip, clean and cleave the fiber, and begin the
termination process again.

Fiber coatings

Guide funnel

2.7 Place fiber holder in assembly base and slowly slide
fiber holder forward, toward the connector.

Note: Allow 10 seconds for this movement from the
time the fi ber begins to enter the boot on the connec­tor until the fi ber holder bottoms out in the assembly
base.

Fiber bow

No gap between fiber
holder and actuation
when fully inserted

Release lever

Guide funnel stops when
ear contacts release lever

2.9 Continue to slowly slide fiber holder towards
connector until it stops. Verify fiber bow again.

Note: The fi ber will bow and lift the middle cover
for rigid fi bers and remain closed for 250 µm and
especially fl exible 900 µm fi bers. This ensures proper
fi ber insertion force.

10 seconds or a rate of 3 mm/sec

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2.10 While maintaining the fiber bow, firmly press the
element actuator button to actuate the splice element
within the connector.

Note: Never activate a connector without a fi ber in
it or with a fi ber only partially inserted. Doing so will
ruin the connector by blocking fi ber from being fully
inserted.

2.11 OPTIONAL TESTING STEP: If the connector is
to be tested and potentially reused, this needs to be
done at this point in the termination process. To do so,
carefully remove the fiber holder and connector from
the assembly base by following steps 2.13 through 2.16.
Use extra care when handling the connector and fiber
as the 900 µm buffer has not yet been secured. The
connector may now be tested. If the connector passes
the test, reinstall it into the receptacle (2.2), reinsert
the fiber holder into the assembly base being careful to
avoid damaging the fiber, and proceed with step 2.12.

To remove the connector from the fiber, place it into
the cap popper cavity on the assembly base oriented as
shown. Then press down firmly using equal pressure
at each end of the connector. This action will pop the
element activation cap upward thereby opening the
splice element. Separate the fiber and connector, and
restart the termination process from the beginning.

Apply equal
downward pressure

2.12 To activate the 900 µm buffer crimp at the rear of the
connector, press and hold inward on the release lever
located on the side of the assembly base, and push the
guide funnel by the ears toward the connector until it
stops.

Ear

Release Lever

Ear

2.13 Release and lift the fiber clamp and raise the doors to
release fiber.

Cap popper
cavity

2.14 Slide fiber holder from actuation tool.

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2.15 Raise the element actuation button. 2.16 Pull connector from the receptacle.

3M™ No Polish ST Connectors, Kit and Tool Descriptions Packaging

8840 No Polish Connector ST SM Plug 250/900 µm with tool (blue housing) 12 or 60/package*

6840-50 No Polish Connector ST MM 50 µm 250/900 µm with tool (black housing) 12 or 60/package*

6840-50/LOMMF No Polish Connector ST MM 50 µm 250/900 µm LOMMF with tool (aqua housing) 12 or 60/package*

6840-62.5 No Polish Connector ST MM 62.5 µm 250/900 µm with tool (beige housing) 12 or 60/package*

8865 No Polish Connector Kit 1/package

8865-C No Polish Connector Kit with Cleaver 1/package

8845-AT No Polish Connector ST Assembly Tool 1/package

*“RoHS Compliant 2002/95/EC” means that the product or part (“Product”) does not contain any of the substances in excess of the maximum concentration values in EU
Directive 2002/95/EC, as amended by Commission Decision 2005/618/EC, unless the substance is in an application that is exempt under EU RoHS. This information represents
3M’s knowledge and belief, which may be based in whole or in part on information provided by third party suppliers to 3M.

3M™ No Polish Connector Kit 8865-C with Cleaver

Kit Contents:

8865-AT No Polish SC Connector Assembly Tool 250/900 µm

8835-AT No Polish LC Connector Assembly Tool 250/900 µm

8845-AT No Polish ST Connector Assembly Tool 250/900 µm

2534 Fiber Cleaver (not included in 8865 kit)

6365-ST Stripping Tool

6365-KS Aramid Yarn Snips

Lint-Free Cloths (100/pkg)

Cleaning Alcohol Bottle

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3M is a trademark of 3M Company.

Important Notice

All statements, technical information, and recommendations related to 3M’s products are based on information believed to be reliable,
but the accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed. Before using this product, you must evaluate it and determine if it is suitable for
your intended application. You assume all risks and liability associated with such use. Any statements related to the product which are
not contained in 3M’s current publications, or any contrary statements contained on your purchase order shall have no force or effect
unless expressly agreed upon, in writing, by an authorized officer of 3M.

Warranty; Limited Remedy; Limited Liability.

This product will be free from defects in material and manufacture for a period of one (1) year from the time of purchase. 3M MAKES

NO OTHER WARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. If this product is defective within the warranty period stated above, your exclusive remedy shall be, at 3M’s

option, to replace or repair the 3M product or refund the purchase price of the 3M product. Except where prohibited by law, 3M will

not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential loss or damage arising from this 3M product, regardless of
the legal theory asserted.

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© 3M 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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