Optical terminations target military commercial use

The rugged products can be placed into any size 16 cavity in any selected Mil-DTL-38999 connector.

The Mil-T-29504 /6 and /7 termini are optical interconnect versions for those wishing to use optical pathways within the same ARINC 600/404 gang as electrical or RF contacts. These can be placed into any size 16 cavity in any ARINC gang insert.

All products are fully compliant and qualified to Mil-PRF-29504 specifications and XiOptics is the only manufacturer of M29504 termini to have successfully qualified products for use in single-mode optical fibre applications.

XiOptics only uses precision machined and passivated stainless steel in all metallic components. This ensures compatibility with all connector platforms as well as providing users absolute surety of non-corrosive products.

The finest pre-set stainless steel pressure springs are used to ensure that the product performs after hundreds of mating cycles exactly as it performed on its first cycle.

XiOptics has also partnered with the world’s leading supplier of precision ceramic ferrules. These ferrules have concentricity and diametric tolerances controlled within 0.5µm and incorporate manufacturing technologies developed for the high-volume ceramics used in the telecoms industry.

They align fibres within the ferrule structure approximately four times more accurately than competing designs. This results in insertion loss values that are not only typically lower but also more stable during product lifetimes.

They use the latest Mil-T-29504 style-two fibre jacket material termination method. This removes the need for messy external adhesive application or the use of heat shrink tubing as found in style-one designs.

Style-two products mirror modern termination methods used for most modern telecoms connectors, such as LC, SC and ST. Hence, cable harness manufacturers are more familiar and confortable with terminating these configurations than with other older designs.

Termination and finishing are performed using the latest fibre termination methods including fast-and-easy thermal cure epoxy systems. Once terminated, the terminals do not require cumbersome heat shrink sleeving or other auxiliary guide features to capture strength member aramid yarns.

This results in a better performing, more cost efficient and reliable fibre termination method. For those involved in legacy programmes, style-one products are also available.