Automation Boosts Low-Cost Fiber Pigtailing

Randy Heyler, Newport Corp.

The explosive increase of fiber optics in communications, materials processing and medicine is driving both performance and manufacturing technology improvements in fiber optic interconnects. However, the task of accurately aligning and affixing fibers or lenses (commonly known as “pigtailing”) to the photonics devices remains one of the most difficult and expensive in manufacturing. Automation is finding acceptance as a solution for lowering cost and improving performance in high-volume packaging applications.