Polishing PMMA Fiber optic cable

So, I have 3mm PMMA fiber optic cable. I think it will work just fine, but I'm not sure how to best polish it at home. At my work they have a polishing station that costs a lot of money and it very cool! I just used it and it is amazing the surface shine that the ends will get when properly polished.

This is all wet sanded. I started with 400 grit, then 800, 1200, 2000, and then something like a buffing rag and used a 1 mircon diamond mixed with water to finish it off. The surfaces are just glassy. Under a high powered microscope, it is pretty smooth.

Now that being said, how do we polish these cables at home, or for the average user?

I also would like to know..

I will try to order some 3mm fibers when I find out how to do it
And when I have money!

But is 3mm the best, I have in my mind that 7mm maybe is bigger and give more light ?

Anyway, about polishing it, maybe just use water and 2000 paper ?

Yes definitely the larger the diameter the more light output you should have. I couldn't find a good price for the larger stuff. I was also thinking that the fibers would be traveling some distance, but I have changed the design.

HOME VERSION

I do a similar Process, fine Sandpaper, to 1200 and then i polish the rest with a dremmel and a felt with a Acryl or Plexi or lexan polishing paste. pilish till it look like clear glass. I buy mine one from a Plexi / lexan worker. The Profeessional polish is with a diamond wheel and sure better, but my version works great as you can see in the videos.



About the Fiber size, 3mm works perfect for me, because i use 3 different LED colors - RED GREEN BLUE, the 3 fibers should not be bigger than your outlet! if you are plan to use only 1, no multicolor, or use a less strong LED with a multi color chip on it, then i would use a 7mm Fiber.

While we are on this topic, should one be using jacketed or unjacketed fiber?

Thanks Ken

I'm using unjacketed fiber. It's just simple 3mm PMMA fiber optic cable. I bought it from China so I don't have a spec on it. I'm not sure what the best option is, but I believe the only difference between mine and Magic's is the jacket which just add protection. I don't think it actually help the light loss. Correct me if I am wrong.

juggle5 wrote:While we are on this topic, should one be using jacketed or unjacketed fiber?
Thanks Ken

I use jacked fibers, i mean when you install it, you have to be extremely careful with the others, because one scratch in the outer side stops the light traveling. The unjacked will work fine too, its cheaper but you have to be more carefully. But what John says is right, its a scratchprotection. But when i look at my fiber jackets .. ohh man, they look really bad.

Magic has got a point! Every scratch reduces the amount of light that is going to be transmitted into your stream. If you are planning on doing a long run, you probably should use some jacketed fibers.

I'm going to try something a bit different, that I hope I can show you guys in a couple of weeks.

I did see a video of some "pro" that did cut a fiber cable..
He did use a razor sharp blade mounted on some heat element..

So I did a test myself, I heated up a razor blade and cut my strand fiber cable.
After that I did polish it with sandpaper and water..

here is 2 test, with RED Luxeon LED 3W.
And one green 70mW green laser.

WOW, looks good, Really! this will work. But we have to wait till November, YES?

Magic-nozzle wrote:WOW, looks good, Really! this will work. But we have to wait till November, YES?

August

Use toothpaste on a block of soft wood (pine)

I used this cable for something else a while ago and toothpaste polishes it up really well