The winners in today’s communication networks will be the ones who can deploy networks more quickly and economically, without sacrificing performance. That’s why, for more and more companies worldwide, field-mounted, mechanical connectivity is viewed as the smart choice. And, why 3M is their supplier of choice.
A more complete solution.
The 3M solution is a wide range of mechanical connectors from no polish to no gel. The no polish connectors are available in ST, SC and LC. Ideal for multi-form-factor enterprise applications. The gel-free connectors come in SC/UPC and SC/APC versions. The result is more than 20 configurations of mechanical connectors, offering more choices than ever before for access and enterprise networks.
That's how the Network of Networks works.
No gel or no polish. You decide.
Find the one that's right for you.
The 3M Mechanical Connectivity portfolio consists of connectors in two basic families. Those based on the acclaimed 3M™ No Polish Connector and those based on the new 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector.
The 3M™ No Polish Connector is the fast, easy way to deploy field-mounted connections, with performance proven in more than 10 million installations. It comes with a built-in factory-polished ferrule, mechanical splice and index-matching gel. The 3M™ No Polish Connector family, with its complete range of form factors (ST, SC, LC), is a smart solution for fast enterprise network deployment.
The 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector is the first-known commercially available, field-mounted connector for FTTx indoor and outdoor use with no splice, gel or adhesives.
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The 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector is the first-known, commercially available, field-mounted connector for FTTx indoor and outdoor use with no splice, gel or adhesives. Not only can FTTH drop connections be made much faster than fusion splicing, equipment savings can be 75% or more, and providers can realize considerable savings on training.
The SC/UPC and SC/APC 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connectors utilize a metallic element to mechanically lock the fiber and a simple field tool to polish it with a single turn of the handle. Since the fiber goes all the way through the connector, there is no splice or gel required.
The connector enables fast, on-site installation of 250 µm and 900 µm singlemode and multimode connections. The SC/APC connectors are also compatible with the 3M™ One Pass Fiber Pathway solution.
Give it up for Crimplok+.
No splices
No gels
No expensive fusion splicers
The convenience of 3M mechanical connectors, without the gel.
Like the 3M™ No Polish Connector, the 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector is thermally balanced for both indoor and outdoor applications. Like the No Polish Connector, installation time for home drop and enterprise application is much faster than fusion splicing (usually around 5 minutes), with labor savings of up to 50% and tool cost savings of up to 75%. And with a simple view-scope, you can be sure you have a successful termination right in the field.
The popular and proven no polish mechanical connector from 3M
No polish, no loose parts, no need for power.
The 3M™ No Polish Connector enables fast, onsite installation of 250 µm and
900 µm singlemode and multimode connections with its one-piece, pre-assembled design. This high-performance connector is ST, SC and LC-compatible and features a built-in,
factory-polished ferrule assembly and a mechanical splice with index-matching
gel. It can be quickly and easily installed with a simple field tool.
The connector is available as singlemode and multimode ST, SC/UPC, LC/UPC, SC/APC and LC/APC. The SC/APC connectors are also compatible with the 3M™ One Pass Fiber Pathway solution.
For jacketed bend insensitive fiber cable, the SC and LC No Polish Connectors can be installed without an assembly tool. A twist-on boot clamps onto the cable jacket and aramid fiber to provide excellent strain relief.
The 3M™ No Polish Connector advantages.
Complete line—ST, SC and LC style connectors
More than 20 configurations to fit your needs
Assembly tool included in every box of 60 connectors so no need for additional tools
Excellent end-face geometry due to factory polishing
More than 10 million served.
The 3M™ No Polish Connector has been tested and proven for both indoor and outdoor applications to Telcordia GR-1081-CORE requirements. And with more than 10 million connectors installed, reliable performance is a given.
Fusion was fine for the 90s. But we’ve moved on.
While historically, fusion splicing was the preferred method for field connectivity, service providers are realizing its limitations in FTTH can have severe economic consequences. Especially for home drops and enterprise applications.
The confusion about fusion.
Fusion splicing “fuses” or welds fiber together. The performance of the connection is good. But the costs associated with this process can be excessive.
First, the machinery required costs thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. And because it’s an electrical machine, there is the issue of batteries, and the cost of downtime, if they are not charged. Technicians require more training, which adds to labor costs. And the actual preparation time can be lengthy and often uncertain in dusty or high humidity situations.
Compared to connecting with 3M mechanical connectors, fusion splices can take up to twice as long to install due to set up time, cost twice as much in labor and up to 75% more in tool costs. And fiber connection performance with 3M mechanical connectors is comparable to that of fusion splicing; a median insertion loss of less than 0.3 dB.
Factory terminations just don’t measure up.
While the performance of factory-terminated products is very good and they are fast and easy to connect, there is one big drawback. Inventory. Out in the field, it is virtually impossible to have the right length of patch cord every time. So, service providers must carry inventories of product to every worksite. And when they don’t, they face delays and that means increased labor costs.
Replace a connector or replace the whole cable.Your choice.
What’s worse, if a connection goes bad, the service provider must replace the whole factory-terminated cable. This can be a costly proposition.
3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector and 3M™ No Polish Connector. The right fit. Product guaranteed.
Mechanical connectors from 3M are designed to fit right every time. Each connection can be customized by the technician. There’s no need to carry extra inventory or to worry about cables being too long or too short. And installation time is quick, just 2-5 minutes. And, you have the reliability assurance of 3M's product warranty.
More connector styles, same 3M quality.
Using 3M mechanical connectors to deploy fiber optic networks has proven to be a cost-effective advantage for service providers. The savings in time, labor, tools and training can be considerable. The performance, compared to fusion splicing and factory terminations, is comparable. And with more than 10 million installed, quality and durability are undeniable.
So now, it’s no longer a question of whether to use a 3M mechanical connector. But rather, which one.
Because 3M mechanical connectors are designed to be simple and easy to connect, installation time is fast. Usually from 2-3 minutes for the 3M™ No Polish Connector and under 5 minutes for the 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connector.
No time required to find electrical power, replace batteries or warm up equipment (such as that used for fusion splicing).
Optical Loss
Insertion loss
So what about performance? The average insertion loss for 3M™ Crimplok™+ Connectors is 0.2 dB. Comparable to factory terminations. Average insertion loss for 3M™ No Polish Connectors is 0.3 dB or less. Comparable to fusion splice on connectors.
Return loss
Maximum return loss for both 3M™ Crimplok™+ SC/APC Connectors and 3M™ No Polish Connectors with APC finish and angle splice is >60 dB. Return loss for fusion and factory terminations is >65 dB. Most stringent application—analog video transmission—requires >60 dB.
Economic Consequences
Because mechanical connectors from 3M are so simple and easy to use, there is no need for costly, high-skilled technicians. Because installation time is fast, workers can be more productive.
Because they are field-mounted, large inventories are unnecessary. And because they require no expensive equipment or electrical power, tool costs can be dramatically reduced.
In other words, you can save on CAPEX and OPEX for a lower TCO.
The 3M Network of Network is a world leader in communications technology, connecting products, people and companies by harnessing the power of 45 technologies to create customer-centric innovations. From FTTX to xDSL to Wireless. The Network of Networks connects smart grids to smart phones, data centers to desktops, greenfield to brownfield, wireline to wireless and customers to their goals. To get the Network of Networks working for you, visit 3M.com/Telecom.
