Where copper fails in industrial and medical systems
- Electrical noise. Variable-speed drives, welders and induction heaters swamp copper signalling on the factory floor.
- Motion and vibration. Robots, CNC machines and digital printers flex and shake cable across a full shift.
- Rooms copper cannot enter. Some imaging environments do not tolerate metallic or electrically conductive cable.
- Laser delivery. In laser and sensing systems the fibre itself is part of the instrument, and the coupling face decides performance.
What Radix supplies
- POF HFBR connectors and POF TOCP 200 connectors for plastic optical fibre links in machine and drive control.
- PCF 200/230 micron HFBR connectors where a control link needs more reach than plastic fibre.
- Fibre optic connectors for medical systems, built for imaging equipment.
- SMA connectors for laser delivery and sensor heads, where the coupling face is the product.
Cabling for robotic, CNC and digital printing machines is built to the machine maker's drawing.
Choosing the fibre
| Fibre | Core | Typical use | Why it is chosen |
|---|---|---|---|
| POF (plastic optical fibre) | About 1 mm | Short machine and drive control links, visible red light | Very easy to terminate and tolerant of handling |
| PCF (plastic-clad silica) | 200 micron, 230 micron cladding | Industrial control links longer than POF can reach | Large core with glass transmission |
| Glass multimode | 50 or 62.5 micron | Networked machines, sensing, imaging data | Bandwidth and reach |
| Glass large-core or specialty | Per application | Laser delivery and spectroscopy | Core size and numerical aperture matched to the source |
The equipment port usually decides. HFBR and TOCP-style ports are designed for POF or PCF; SMA ports appear on lasers, sensors and spectrometers.
What to specify
For machine control links: port type at each end, fibre type, length, jacket material for oil, coolant and abrasion, and the flex requirement. A cable that moves with a robot axis needs a construction rated for continuous flexing, and the bend radius in the cable chain must be stated.
For medical systems: connector interface, fibre type, length, and the cleaning or disinfection regime the device will apply to the assembly. Any regulatory requirement for materials or documentation belongs on the drawing so it is confirmed in the quote.
For laser delivery and sensing: wavelength, power level, core diameter, numerical aperture, end-face finish and the SMA variant. Coupling efficiency depends on the end face, so state the inspection standard you want applied.
Flex life and cable chains
Cable that moves with a machine axis wears differently from cable that is installed once. In a cable chain, the cable bends over the same radius thousands of times a day, and the jacket rubs against its neighbours. Give the bend radius of the chain, the travel length, the speed and the expected number of cycles, and keep fibre cables separate from heavy power cables in the chain. Fit strain relief at both fixed points so the moving section carries no tension at the connector.
Testing and acceptance
POF and PCF links are usually tested with a visible red source matched to the equipment wavelength, and glass links at the wavelength of the system. Radix measures each channel at manufacture and supplies the report. For laser delivery assemblies, add the end-face inspection standard and any power transmission test the instrument needs to the drawing, so acceptance is agreed before the first batch is built.
Working with equipment makers
Most assemblies in this group are built for OEMs, to a drawing that sits inside the OEM's own product documentation. Radix confirms the design against the drawing in writing before manufacture, measures each optical channel, and records lot and batch identification against the order so a field issue can be traced. Send the drawing and annual quantities through the request a quote page.
Questions buyers ask
What is POF used for in industrial automation?
Plastic optical fibre carries short control signals between drives, controllers and machines where electrical noise would disrupt copper. Its 1 mm core is easy to terminate and tolerates handling on the factory floor.
What is the difference between POF and PCF?
POF has a plastic core of about 1 mm. PCF has a 200 micron silica core with a plastic cladding, giving lower loss and longer reach while staying easy to terminate. Both commonly use HFBR or SMA connectors.
What connector is used for laser fibre delivery?
SMA connectors are widely used on lasers, sensors and spectrometers. Specify the wavelength, power, core size and end-face finish so the assembly suits the source.
Can you build assemblies for a medical device maker?
Yes, to the device maker's drawing. Put material, cleaning and documentation requirements on the drawing so they are confirmed in the quote before manufacture.