SCS-4000-T Single-Conical Tapering System
| Brand | Oelabs |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shanghai, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | SCS-4000-T |
| Price | USD 4.82M (FOB Shanghai) |
| Single-Mode Fiber Taper Range | 9 µm → 1 µm (or finer) |
| Multimode Fiber Taper Range | 400–62.5 µm & 600–200 µm (or finer) |
Overview
The SCS-4000-T Single-Conical Tapering System is a precision-engineered platform designed for the controlled thermal drawing and tapering of optical fibers under inert or vacuum environments. It employs a localized high-temperature heat source—typically a hydrogen/oxygen microtorch or CO₂ laser—to induce viscous flow in silica or specialty glass fibers while applying precisely regulated axial tension and translational motion. This enables deterministic fabrication of single-conical tapers with sub-micron diameter control, high surface quality, and reproducible transition profiles. The system is optimized for research and development of photonic devices requiring evanescent field enhancement, mode coupling, or adiabatic transition behavior—including fiber-based sensors, interferometers, nonlinear frequency converters, and quantum optics interfaces.
Key Features
- Programmable dual-axis motion control (axial draw speed: 0.1–500 µm/s; translation stage resolution: ≤50 nm)
- Real-time diameter monitoring via calibrated CCD-based shadow imaging with sub-100 nm spatial resolution
- Integrated thermal management with closed-loop temperature stabilization (±0.5 °C) across the heating zone
- Modular furnace/torch interface supporting interchangeable heat sources: micro-H₂/O₂ flame, CO₂ laser, or resistive micro-heater
- Vacuum-compatible chamber (base pressure <1×10⁻³ mbar) with optional inert gas purging (N₂, Ar)
- Motorized fiber clamping with programmable grip force (0.1–5 N) to prevent slippage during high-tension tapering
- Onboard data logging at ≥1 kHz sampling rate for diameter, tension, temperature, and position synchronization
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The SCS-4000-T accommodates standard telecom-grade SMF-28 (125 µm cladding, 8.2 µm mode field), HI1060, and specialty fibers including fluoride, chalcogenide, and suspended-core microstructured fibers. Tapering ranges span single-mode core diameters from 9 µm down to ≤1 µm and multimode cores from 62.5 µm to 200 µm (with extended configurations supporting 400 µm and 600 µm preforms). All mechanical and thermal subsystems conform to IEC 61000-6-2 (EMC immunity) and IEC 61000-6-4 (EMC emission) standards. The control software architecture supports audit trails and electronic signatures compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when deployed in GLP/GMP-regulated R&D environments.
Software & Data Management
The system operates under Oelabs TaperControl v3.2—a deterministic real-time OS-based application developed in LabVIEW Real-Time and C++. It provides synchronized acquisition of diameter evolution, axial strain, heater power, and environmental parameters with timestamped HDF5 output. Users define taper profiles via analytical functions (e.g., exponential, Gaussian, linear) or import custom coordinate tables. Built-in calibration routines support NIST-traceable diameter verification using certified reference fibers. Export formats include CSV, MATLAB .mat, and industry-standard SDF (Standard Data Format for Photonics). Remote operation and script-driven batch processing are supported via TCP/IP API and Python SDK.
Applications
- Fabrication of adiabatic single-mode tapers for low-loss fusion splicing and mode-field adapters
- Production of sub-wavelength-diameter nanofibers for atom trapping, cavity QED, and near-field optical sensing
- Development of tapered fiber Mach–Zehnder and Michelson interferometers for refractive index, temperature, and strain sensing
- Integration into nonlinear photonics platforms for supercontinuum generation and four-wave mixing in tapered HNLF
- Research on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and whispering-gallery-mode coupling in metal-coated tapers
- Prototyping of fiber-integrated quantum light sources (e.g., SPDC in periodically poled tapers)
FAQ
What fiber types can be tapered on the SCS-4000-T?
Standard silica single-mode (SMF-28, HI1060), multimode (OM1–OM5), polarization-maintaining (PANDA, Bowtie), and specialty glasses (fluoride, tellurite, chalcogenide) — provided thermal expansion and softening behavior are compatible with the selected heat source.
Is vacuum operation mandatory?
No — vacuum or inert gas environment is optional but recommended for minimizing surface oxidation and contamination during ultrafine tapering (<2 µm diameter) or with reactive glasses.
Can the system produce double-taper or waist-only structures?
The SCS-4000-T is configured for single-conical geometry. Double-taper or uniform-waist fabrication requires additional motion sequencing and is achievable via custom firmware extension (Oelabs Engineering Services).
What is the typical taper reproducibility?
Under stabilized lab conditions and with calibrated input fibers, diameter variation at the taper waist is ≤±1.2% (1σ) across five consecutive runs using identical process parameters.
Does the system support automated post-taper characterization?
Not natively — however, the system includes optical alignment ports and standardized mounting interfaces compatible with third-party optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, and interferometric profilers for inline verification.
