Reading Your Splices
Your splicer's camera image and estimated loss tell you almost everything you need to know about each splice. Train your eye to spot problems before they go in the tray.
✓ Good · Clean fusion
Cores aligned, no visible bubbles, smooth join, low estimated loss. Heat shrink, log, move on.
⚠ Issue · Bubble in joint
A round void in the splice indicates contamination or moisture. Redo the splice with a fresh clean and cleave.
⚠ Issue · Core offset
Visible misalignment between the two cores. Check V-grooves and fiber holders for debris, then re-cleave and try again.
⚠ Issue · Cracked / chipped end
Jagged or angled glass before fusion almost always means a worn cleaver blade or a poor strip. Rotate the blade and re-prep.
⚠ Issue · Fat / thin splice
A bulge or pinch in the joint usually means arc power is off or fiber types don't match. Check splicer settings before retrying.
⚠ Issue · High estimated loss
Image looks fine but the number is high. Distrust the visual and redo it — the splicer is telling you something the camera missed.
The splice image looks fine but the estimated loss is 0.35 dB. What should you do?