LDC400 In Stock

The Thorlabs LDC400 is an advanced fiber cleaver that is designed to deliver precise and reliable results when cleaving optical fibers. With its large diameter Vytran™ fiber cleaver, it can efficiently cleave fibers ranging from Ø80 µm up to Ø1.25 mm. The standard operating procedure for cleaving involves using a tension-and-scribe method. This process includes axially applying tension to the fiber before an automated scribe process, which is done with a diamond cleave blade. This innovative cleave process is specifically designed to produce flat cleaves that are perpendicular to the length of the fiber.

The LDC400 is equipped with a flat-tipped micrometer backstop, which is a useful feature that can improve end-face quality when performing low-tension cleaves. The fiber cleaver also features an automated "subcritical" scribe process that is ideal for cleaving specialty fibers such as photonic crystal fiber (PFC), microstructured fibers, capillary tubes, and highly stressed fibers (multimode or polarization maintaining).

In addition to its impressive features, the LDC400 is also designed to be compatible with a wide range of accessories. Fiber Holder Inserts that can clamp a variety of outer diameters are available for the LDC400, and two top and two bottom inserts are required to operate the fiber cleaver. Many of the fiber holder inserts used with other products such as the FPS300 Stripping and Cleaning Station, LFS4100 Fiber Splicer, and GPX3400 and GPX3600 Glass Fiber Processing Stations are also compatible with the LDC400.

When used with proper cleave parameters, a single location on the blade can provide up to 5,000 cleaves (dependent on the cladding properties of the fiber being cleaved). The cleaver blade is designed to be repositioned up to nine times before needing a replacement, assuming that the cleavage parameters and usage are done correctly so as not to cause any damage to the blade. It is worth noting that using the LDC400 cleaver with fibers that have a glass cladding is highly recommended. Other materials such as plastic can rapidly degrade or damage the blade.

In summary, the Thorlabs LDC400 offers a range of impressive features. It is designed to deliver precise and reliable results when cleaving a wide range of optical fibers. With its innovative tension-and-scribe cleave method, flat-tipped micrometer backstop, and automated "subcritical" scribe process, the LDC400 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a high-quality fiber cleaver.