A new Fiber to Fiber Coupler (FFC) from Coherent enables the use of replaceable, process fibre optic cables so that integral components of the fibre laser – most notably the feeding fibre – are not exposed to opto-mechanical damage, even in harsh industrial processes. Damage to the feeding fibre means long and often costly down time. But the new FFC enables the use of a separate fibre interface, and this separate delivery fibre can be exchanged in minutes in the case of damage.
The FFC is an eye-safe, stand-alone, water-cooled photonic component that handles laser power levels of 12 kW. A range of options enables coupling between fibres of different core diameters, as well as commonly used connector interfaces (QB, QD and Q5).
The FFC incorporates DGUV-certified safety electronics, and is an extension of the feeding fibre interlock circuit. It also includes integrated sensors, monitored and controlled by CANopen communication, whose threshold values can be set to enable or disable the interlock circuitry.
The FFC is ideal for high power industrial applications of fibre lasers, including Coherent HighLight FL series products.