ZX-1 Array Plus Zoom Interferometer Key Benefits: Single unit can measure multi-fibre MT, Mini-MT, MT-RJ, MPO, MPX and MTP array connectors AND single-fibre PC, APC connectors, ferrules and ferrule blanks Automated measurements for radius, apex offset, fibre height(s), angle, key error and fibre/ferrule surface roughness using intuitive
key error and fibre/ferrule surface roughness using DORC's intuitive Windows 2000 based PMS software Patented calibration technique for absolute, rather than relative angle measurement, of both nominally straight or angled array multi-fibre connectors Automated "nulling" of the connector endface Optimise speed or resolution by measuring at any magnification Extremely accurate and repeatable non-contact measurements in approximately 16 seconds per section for multi-fiber connectors, and less than 1 second for single-fibre connectors Extensive reporting, archiving and statistical analysis capabilities Includes dual-source extended range, for measuring fibre heights up to + 6mm Compliance with all "Standards Organizations" measurement methods worldwide Electronically controlled zoom objective, inspection and interferometric modes Fully enclosed contamination insensitive design Low maintenance and automatic calibration - no mechanical adjustments required Product Information Direct Optical Research Company specializes in the design and manufacturing of non-contact interferometers for the optical fibre and connector industry. DORC's range of ZX-1 Zoom Interferometers and Phase Measuring System (PMS) software has been specifically designed to meet the ever-increasing need for accurate, automated, high volume testing of ferrules, ferrule blanks, connector assemblies, pigtails, patchcords and array connectors. DORC s latest addition to it s fibre optic test equipment line is the ZX-1 Array Plus Zoom Interferometer. This unit has been specifically designed to measure the endface geometry of single ferrule, multi-fibre connectors, including but not limited to the MT, Mini-MT, MT-RJ, MPO, MPX and MTP. Array connectors may be measured with or without their housings installed. By using a Patented calibration technique, the ZX-1 Array Plus can acquire and calculate the endface surface topography of any standard array connector, relative to the axis of it s guide pin holes. The ability to measure the endface in this absolute, rather than relative mode offers significant advantages over any other measurement technique. It is the only system available that can provide an absolute value for the polish angle of both nominally straight or angled array connectors. The ZX-1 Array Plus is a Zoom Interferometer based on our Patented variation of the Michelson design, and incorporates both broad and narrow band solid-
state sources. This configuration coupled with a zoom lens and fully automated XYZ motion allows the operator to look at any portion of the connector s endface, over a wide range of magnifications in either inspection or interferometric modes. Fringes created by introducing an internal reference path can be analysed to measure the surface topography of a connector or fibre endface. The fully enclosed vibration and contamination resistant Michelson configuration eliminates the requirement for the delicate surface of the sample under test to be in physical contact with the measuring equipment. Being non-contact not only avoids contamination of both the sample and interferometer, but also removes the possibility of contamination induced measurement errors. Another advantage of the Michelson configuration is the ability to isolate the reference mirror, adjustment of which is used to calibrate the apex offset on single-fibre connectors, to a location inside the systems housing. In the ZX-1 Array Plus, adjustment of the reference mirror is controlled by the PC, permitting total automation of the calibration routine. There are no mechanical adjustments required to be made by the operator. Systems using interferometric objectives are placed at a distinct disadvantage by not having this capability. Firstly, they cannot "block" the reference mirror to produce an inspection only image, and secondly, since the reference mirror in interferometric objectives cannot usually be adjusted, apex offset calibration is performed by making very small "pitch and yaw" adjustments to the connector fixturing. Adding these two additional axis of freedom to a stage already containing XYZ and tilt adjustments, can lead to significantly poorer apex offset and angle measurement repeatability. Additionally, DORC's innovative ZX-1 Array Plus design overcomes several inherent design flaws, of competitive systems that use fixturing with protruding pins to hold (and calibrate) the sample under test. Firstly, because of the difference in guide pin hole spacings, such systems require that the fixture be replaced (and the system re-calibrated), whenever the operator wants to switch between MT and MT-RJ connectors. Secondly, the braces used to support the guide pins themselves, inherently block part of the connector endface, thereby preventing inspection of a significant portion of the surface you are trying to measure. Thirdly, mounting the entire mass of the connector on 2 fixed pins does not result in a very ridged, and therefore repeatable mount. In fact, you will often find that such systems require the operator to perform 2 averaged measurements, requiring the connector be rotated 180 degrees between scans, in order to obtain a single set of results! The parfocal/parcentral zoom objective ensures that the image and reference paths remain in focus and centered throughout its entire magnification range. The operator can instantly switch between inspection and interferometric modes at any magnification without refocusing, thereby displaying the optimum number of fringes - regardless of the samples unique surface topography. Precision XYZ and tilt adjustment of the sample, combined with the inherent advantages of using a zoom lens, allows this system to measure a
much larger range of sample types, and capture details that would be missed by conventional systems using fixed magnification objectives. The ZX-1 Array Plus is compatible with a wide range of both multi-fibre and single-fibre connector sleds, chucks and adapter plates, allowing this system to measure almost any commercially available straight or angled fibre optic connector. Other systems claim to measure both multi-fibre and single-fibre connectors, when in reality the operator is forced to physically substitute interferometric lenses and recalibrate the system in order to do so. No other instrument can offer this much flexibility. Now Measurements Are Even Easier Using DORC's Windows 2000 based Phase Measuring System (PMS) software, it is possible to automatically acquire and calculate all of the important surface topography parameters with extreme accuracy and repeatability. Available parameters include radius, apex offset, fibre height(s), angle, key error and fibre/ferrule surface roughness. To perform a measurement, the operator simply inserts the connector under test into the chuck, optimises the focus/alignment and initiates the measurement. The ZX-1 Array Plus will then automatically acquire interferometric data and calculate all of the important parameters of the sample, printing and/or storing all of the results as predetermined by the system setup menu. Being completely automated makes the system operator independent, eliminating any subjectivity as to whether the connector has passed or failed the quality control testing. Using the password protected setup menu s, the quality control manager can adjust all pass/fail criteria of each parameter relating to a particular type of connector. Other variable parameters available within the setup menus permit compliance with all "Standards Organizations" measurement methods worldwide. Once a measurement has been completed, the operator can choose from a diverse range of graphical presentation formats. The PMS software also offers an extensive range of reporting, archiving and statistical analysis capabilities by porting measurement data and images directly to Excel 2000. Naturally, this familiar format offers significant advantages for additional post processing and distribution of measurement data.
ZX-1 Array Plus System Configuration ZX-1 Array Plus Zoom Interferometer One ZX-1 Array Plus connector sled (Specify type) Two reference guide pins Electronic anti-vibration table System controller - Pentium 4, 1.5GHz 40.0Gb hard drive 1.44Mb 3.5" floppy drive CD-RW drive 256Mb memory Ethernet adapter Enhanced keyboard and mouse 15" XGA multi-sync colour LCD monitor Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system Microsoft Office Small Business XP Frame capture board Interface and control board Phase shifting hardware - internal to ZX-1 Array Plus PMS software (single user license) with the ability to automatically measure radius, apex offset, fibre height(s), angle, key error and fibre/ferrule surface roughness All necessary video and power cables Calibration and chuck changing tools User manual 1 year warranty Note: Please order optional sleds and chuck(s) to suit your specific measurement requirements.
Reproducibility and Repeatability Measured Parameter Single ferrule multi-fibre connectors Reproducibility - One Sigma Repeatability - O Sigma Angle (X and Y) 0.015 degrees 0.005 degrees Fibre Height 30nm 20nm Reproducibility based on 50 measurements re-inserting connector between measurements Repeatability based on 100 measurements without disturbing the connector between measure Reproducibility and repeatability results were calculated on an MT-RJ connector with L = 900µ 675µm, F = 100µm, Cumulative area = 20% and Top ignore = 3%. Data fill was 78% and unlike s fibre connectors, R&R is somewhat dependant on the connectors unique endface quality and f composition Single-fibre connectors Measured Parameter Reproducibility - One Sigma Repeatability - One Si Radius of Curvature 0.50% 0.20% Apex Offset 2.0µm 0.5µm Fibre Height 1.5nm 1.5nm Reproducibility based on 50 measurements re-inserting connector between measurements Repeatability based on 100 measurements without disturbing the connector between measure
Measurement Range Radius Of Curvature Apex Offset 3mm-Flat 0-500µm (value calculated if outside of captured frame) Fibre Height ± 6µm Measurement Speed Approximately 16 seconds per scan (multi-fiber) Less than 1 second per scan (single-fibre) Other Specifications Principle of Operation Magnification Range (Electronically varied under software control on ZX-1 Array Plus systems) Operating Wavelengths Power Requirements for ZX-1 Array Michelson Interferometer (non-contact system) X40 - X250 for a ZX-1 Array Plus using a 15" XGA monitor and digital zoom turned off 665nm and 545nm 100-120V AC 50/60Hz (USA version) 100-120V and 210-250V AC 50/60Hz auto sensing (Internatio version) Due to continued product improvement, specifications are subject to change without notice. ZX-1 Array Plus Options
Part Description Number A1 MT-RJ "with housing" Sled A2 MT-RJ "without housing" Sled A3 MT/MPO "with housing" Sled
A4 A5 PIN ZXCUP 1E 1F 1G 1H 1I 1J 1K 1L 1M 1O 1Q 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 2G MT/MPO "without housing" Sled MPX "with housing" Sled Spare reference guide pin for array connector measurements Upgrade any ZX-1 Array Plus CPU to the latest Windows 2000 configuration (Softwar and CPU exchange) Universal 2.50mm connector chuck Universal 2.50mm connector chuck with tilt Universal 2.50mm V-groove connector chuck Universal 2.50mm V-groove connector chuck with tilt Universal 2.00mm V-groove connector chuck Universal 2.00mm V-groove connector chuck with tilt Universal 1.25mm V-groove connector chuck Universal 1.25mm V-groove connector chuck with tilt Universal 3.00mm V-groove connector chuck with tilt 2.50mm "Mapped" reference connector for PMS configurations 1.25mm "Mapped" reference connector for PMS configurations FC/APC connector adapter plate ST/APC connector adapter plate SC/APC connector adapter plate DIN/APC connector adapter plate E2000/APC connector adapter plate LC/APC connector adapter plate MU/APC connector adapter plate
2H 4A 4B BSC/APC connector adapter plate Bar code wand for PMS configurations Bar code CCD reader for PMS configurations ZX-1 Array Plus Sample Images The following images show the wide variety of graphical presentations available with the PMS software: MT-RJ Inspection Image
MT-RJ Two Dimensional Image MT-RJ Three Dimensional Image MT-8 Inspection Image (Zoomed In)
MT-8 Two Dimensional Image MT-8 Three Dimensional Image
Quality Control & History Reports Two types of quality control reports are available with the PMS software. The first is a single page single connector "QC report". The second is a spreadsheet style "History report" containing the results from a complete batch of connectors on a single page, coupled with a statistical analysis of all measured parameters for the entire batch. ZX-1 Array Plus Quality Control Report