QUEBEC CITY, CANADA -- EXFO (NASDAQ: EXFO) recently launched its ConnectorMax software, designed for pass/fail assessment of connector endfaces. The platform-based, automated connector inspection application is designed to eliminate guesswork, providing clear-cut connector endface analysis.
Available on the company's FTB-1, FTB-200 v2 and FTB-500 portable platforms, ConnectorMax delivers results in four seconds through simple one-touch operation, automatically generating full reports in various formats for future referencing. In addition, ConnectorMax is compatible with any FIP-400 series fiber inspection probe.
RELATED ARTICLE: At the core: how scratches, dust, and fingerprints affect optical connector performance
The company notes that as defects, scratches or dirt particles are not always detectable with the naked eye (dirt particles as small as 1 micrometer can significantly affect connector performance) connector endfaces must be examined with a proper inspection tool. To determine the impact of the defect on the connector’s performance, ConnectorMax then compares the captured images against pre-programmed IEC/IPC standards or user-defined criteria, leading to accurate pass/fail verdicts.
According to EXFO, this approach helps avoid two time- and money-consuming situations: undetected connector defects that force technicians to later return to the site, and unnecessary replacement of connectors whose slight defects are not enough to affect performance.
“Faulty connectors are the number one cause of link-deployment problems, and relying on guesswork can definitely lead to easily avoidable OPEX and CAPEX,” said Étienne Gagnon, EXFO’s Vice-President, Wireline Division and Corporate Marketing. “We are proud to introduce the industry’s first field-based solution to directly address this issue. Installed on all FTB portable platforms and compatible with any FIP-400 series fiber inspection probe, ConnectorMax enables technicians to get clear-cut pass/fail verdicts right on-site, preventing additional truck rolls to re-inspect and re-assess the same connector.”
For more information, visit www.EXFO.com.
