Starting out focused on photoelectric and vacuum tube controls nearly a century ago, Ripley is no stranger to change. As our customers’ challenges and expectations have evolved, so have the product lines from Ripley and our brands: Cablematic®, Miller®, MultiWave Sensors, ODM®, and UtilityTool®. We know that our customers love these brands – a pair of Millers has been a staple in any fiber technicians’ toolkit for decades and even the biggest tool companies can’t compete with UtilityTool’s range of wire stripping bushings. We’ve noticed a trend in recent years though – linemen carrying Miller fiber strippers, fiber technicians carrying 4×4s or coring tools, and tower installers who need to connect the power, terminate fiber with clean connections and align antennas to exacting standards. Everyone needs the job done faster, safer, and preferably with a custom tool kit to take them from start to finish.

Since joining the Hubbell family in 2022 this need for application-based solutions regardless of brand has only grown. That’s why today we are thrilled to share some exciting news for Ripley – a significant evolution of our brand that promises not only a streamlined experience for our valued customers but also a continuation of both our much-loved products and the high-quality service from our teams that you’ve come to expect.

Ripley Tools has decided to bring together its diverse product offerings previously housed under the separate product brand names of Miller, ODM, Cablematic, UtilityTool and MultiWave Sensors. Going forward, these names will become product lines, unified under the Ripley brand.

Miller, Cablematic, and UtilityTool will transition from brand names to product series under Ripley, while MultiWave Sensors, ODM and any legacy Abeco products will now simply be Ripley products.

This move is driven by the desire to simplify and enhance the customer experience. Instead of navigating through various sub-brands, all our products will now proudly bear the unified Ripley name, making it easier than ever for you to find the tools that solve your challenges.

What will the changes mean for the tools I’ve been buying?

Essentially, nothing. While the names may be changing, everything else about your favorite tools remains unchanged. The products you know and trust are still crafted with the same precision, care and expertise. Our manufacturing process, dedicated team and commitment to excellence all remain steadfast. In fact, this unification offers you a greater opportunity to explore our extensive range of tools – potentially discovering hidden gems that you may not have encountered before from previously different product brands.

In tandem with our brand unification, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new website. This redesign is specifically tailored to make it significantly easier for you to find the tools you need, organized by the job to be done rather than our product sub-brands, as well as introducing our latest tools from all our segments. The simplified interface ensures a seamless browsing experience, helping you locate the right tools effortlessly.

The story so far… and an exciting new chapter

Ripley’s long history reveals a company that’s been able to reinvent itself as times changed and opportunities arose to make a difference for customers. From our founding in 1936, through the acquisitions of UtilityTool Corporation in 1972 and K. Miller Tool Co in 1994, Ripley has always put innovation and a unique understanding of the customer first. Ripley added ODM in 2017 and MultiWave Sensors in 2022 to expand our tool expertise beyond cable preparation and into fiber inspection and antenna alignment, and now as part of Hubbell Ripley is able to support an ever-greater range of installations.

Now, in 2024, as we embark on this transformative journey we are filled with anticipation for the future and the exciting new chapter of each of those brands. 

Craig Tooker, Sr. Business Unit Manager, Ripley Tools, said: “We are really excited to bring all of our tools together under the Ripley name to create the right solutions for our customers. This move is a testament to our commitment to evolving with the needs of fiber techs, linemen and all of our customers, providing them with a more tailored product set so they can tackle the entire job. Ripley’s industry-leading quality and performance will remain the same – and in fact customers will have even more opportunities to find tools that will make their work lives easier, safer and more efficient than ever before.”

How can I contact Ripley if I have any questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about the changes, please reach out to our support team through our Contact us page. 

The post Ripley Tools unveils updated branding to reflect Ripley’s solutions leadership first appeared on Ripley Tools.

That’s why it’s paramount to use the best available tools to minimize risk and increase safety in the workplace. This is particularly important for jobs that require the use of blades, such as cable stripping.

Multi-function cable preparation tools are a good step towards enhanced safety. By minimizing the amount of tools – and hence the weight – line workers need to carry, they facilitate and speed up the job, without compromising on precision or efficiency. Crucially, less weight also means increased safety, as a lighter and less cumbersome kit will allow line workers to operate in a more agile way, especially in bad weather or unsteady footing conditions. 

An extra benefit is the cost factor of multi-purpose tools: by purchasing less equipment, it’s possible to save on upfront costs while still being able to tackle a wide variety of jobs. 

At Ripley, we understand one of the biggest challenges to all our customers is time management: after all, time is money. When repairs or new installations are urgently needed, it’s important to be able to quickly move from one job to the next – without making mistakes that could force a rework. In this sense, multi-purpose tools can help save valuable time that would otherwise be spent rummaging for the correct tool or part.

A revolution in cable end stripping
It’s no coincidence that multi-purpose tools for cable preparation are on the rise. However, the wide variety of cable materials and diameters means it’s often hard to rely on a multi-purpose tool to get the job done. It can also be difficult to gauge whether the selected tool will be compatible with the rest of a kit.

That’s why at Ripley, we have decided to go the extra mile and provide tools that truly allow our customers to drastically reduce the amount of equipment they need to carry. The latest addition to our versatile product portfolio has been developed by Ripley Labs, our Connecticut-based R&D department, which designs and manufactures the most innovative equipment to meet the growing challenges of the cabling industry.  

To provide cabling professionals with a safe and versatile tool to precisely end strip cables’ insulation, Ripley Labs has launched the VariStrip Series, an all-in-one kit that replaces 20 or more traditional bushings with just five variable bushings. 

Thanks to the patent-pending spring-loaded design, the five bushings in this kit can accommodate various cable diameters – from #1 to 400 MCM, with 500, 600 and 750 MCM variable bushings available individually or as part of a tailored kit. This ensures extremely precise end stripping while providing a kit that is five times lighter – and significantly smaller – than competitors’ counterparts.

Crucially, the VariStrip Series can be used on both aluminum and copper cables, and the tool body can be attached to any standard drill, ensuring full adaptability. With all our tools, safety is paramount which is why we have designed the tool to feature a quick-change collar for an easy and efficient substitution of bushings without having to remove safety gloves. Another great safety feature is the lack of exposed blades, which reduces the risk of cuts and lacerations. To help further, the bushings are color coded for easy size identification, allowing customers to save valuable time. 

The rise of multi-function cable preparation tools testifies to the importance of keeping a worker’s kit as lightweight and flexible as possible. By relying on high-quality, precise and adaptable tools, cable preparation professionals can significantly improve the safety of their teams, while allowing them to work faster and more efficiently. 

You can view all of Ripley Tools multi-purpose tooling portfolio here, or you can get in touch with our expert team for questions, requests and advice.  

Products mentioned in the article

VariStrip Series End Strip Kits

Revolutionary bushings designed to end strip a range of wires with common conductor sizes

The post How multi-function cable preparation tools improve safety for line workers first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Optical power meters, which measure the intensity of light in optic systems, are a case in point. They’re a stalwart technician’s aid but in a market crowded with feature-packed devices, are you in danger of over-specifying – but underusing – an expensive piece of equipment?

Any engineer will think carefully about what they require to get the job done quickly and easily. No bulky user manuals to study, no unnecessary built-in gadgetry – think about what you need, not what manufacturers want to sell you. There are options for every job and budget if you carefully consider the alternatives.

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

In choosing an optical power meter, there are often benefits in keeping it simple:

Quick and easy to use
With busy sites, demanding timescales and multiple users, tech that’s too clever for its own good can be frustrating. Wasted time hitting the reset button, referring to manuals, or asking others for advice can be mitigated by keeping kit firmly fit for purpose.

No unnecessary frills
Similarly, assess what you need in terms of saving, reporting, and pairing ability. If actually you just need a quick indication of optical strength, an audible alert may well be sufficient. Adding memory and software to a meter also adds cost and bulk. It’s not worth the additional outlay if you’re not going to use those features.

Small but mighty
An onsite engineer wants gear that’s compact, easy to carry and slots in their tool bag. Convenience shouldn’t be underestimated when assessing the size and weight of power meters. But sleek doesn’t have to mean flimsy. Meters must also be able to weather the storm of onsite life, and potential drops. Robust and hardwearing are important watchwords.

Budget friendly
Less complex power meters offer excellent value, at a fraction of the cost of more involved varieties or combined OTDRs.

It can be easy to fall for style over substance, but for common troubleshooting issues on optical networks, less can be more!

Miller offers an array of handheld optical power meters – for a simple, and effective entry level option, please take a look at the RP 450.

Products mentioned in the article

RP 450

Handheld Optical Power Meter

The post What do you really need in an optical power meter? first appeared on Ripley Tools.

As any installer will testify, time is money when it comes to deploying personnel, kits, and materials in the field. It’s a temptation then perhaps to not test fiber cables – especially when installing from new, or if thought to be already ‘clean’…

Yet it’s a false economy according to technical fiber expert Stephan Searles, Business Manager at Miller (formerly ODM), part of the Hubbell Family:

 “With more than 80% of all optic fiber network failures caused by dirty or damaged connectors, you cannot overestimate the importance of testing,” he says. “Dirt can so easily and inadvertently be transferred into systems, from people and the exterior environment. A quick, efficient test every time a connector is installed or moved pays dividends. Downtime costs money, risks relationships with providers, and ultimately causes angry end users.”

A QUICK FIX

Inspection scopes, as the name implies, are highly sensitive, portable testers that inspect the connector on a fiber optic cable. Debris, defects, scratches, chips, or fractures on the end face can cause failures and many larger communications providers therefore specify test inspections and reports as part of their closeout package.

So with time pressing, client payments pending, and such intricate connections at play, here’s Stephan’s five quick (literally!) features to look out for from an inspection scope:

TRAVEL LIGHT

Choosing an inspection scope that’s wi-fi enabled and can interface with a phone means less equipment to carry – no separate screens or devices to plug into. It also reduces the unit cost – always an important consideration – and means inspection reports can be quickly created and easily transmitted from your phone.

It also means that whether you’re left-handed, right-handed, or simply short-handed, you can use it… yep, one-handed! Look for scopes that offer connection flexibility to Windows, Android and iOS devices.

BE ADAPTABLE

There’s a lot of fiber cables out there, and new tech arriving daily. Inspection scopes come with many adaptor tips (manufacturers typically offer 20+) for different connector styles. Ensure that you do your research in advance before purchasing a scope to make certain it will have the adaptability for any connectors you run into in the field. Don’t waste time by having insufficient options or carrying extra equipment unnecessarily.

GET NOSEY

Dense patch panels incorporating heavily populated cables can be tricky to explore. A long narrow-nozzle scope will give extra reach and allow better access. The need to disassemble and repackage multiple cables for testing should be avoided at all costs – and time.

ONE CLICK SIMPLICITY

The ceramic ferrule encasing fiber optic cables can be quite small, making manual focussing a frustrating and, once again, time-consuming task. Look for auto-focus simplicity to save time, with a wide field of view to see those 1.25mm connections in full glory. While you’re at it, throw in auto-centering and auto-analysis – that one click functionality can deliver a pass/fail light indication (hopefully green) in a matter of seconds for the fastest possible inspection process.

WALK THE TALK

Trusting in a manufacturer that understands life at the sharp end of a scope is important. Understanding the onsite, and offsite, issues you face will drive often simple, but oh-so-valuable functionality into a product. Who’s moving with the times? Listening to feedback? Making your working life easier? Look for a manufacturer that puts solutions in the palm of your hand!

Products mentioned in the article

VIS 500

Wireless Inspection Scope

The post Testing times – Ensuring speed doesn’t compromise performance first appeared on Ripley Tools.

To accommodate the need for more electricity, more power lines will need to be installed and connected to transmit and distribute electricity. Ensuring a stable and uninterrupted power flow is also particularly important in safety-critical environments such as hospitals and public security buildings, where electricity is needed to perform life-saving tasks. 

However, there are significant challenges to meeting this demand. One of these is the necessity to prep cables correctly, using the right tools and implementing best practices to ensure that work is carried on safely and accurately, and that the result is long-lasting. 

Precise cable prepping

When building new power lines, one of the most fundamental parts of the job is the necessity to join cables together and to terminate them to equipment, or to overhead or underground lines. For power networks to operate reliably in the long run, it is critical that this work is carried on with the utmost accuracy, by experienced personnel using the right tools. 

When prepping single-core medium voltage (MV) cables, contractors and linemen need to be able to handle a wide variety of components and materials, from removing the outer jacket, to carefully scoring the semiconductor layer to expose the insulation material. 

This type of work should never be done with unguarded knives, and it is essential that linemen and contractors use dedicated tools where the blade depth can be precisely regulated. This will ensure that jackets are cleanly removed and that the innermost layers of the cable will not be damaged in the process. 

Spotlight on safety

Another reason to invest in high-quality tools and avoid the use of generic unguarded knives is the safety of operators. According to Lineman Central, power line workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the US, after loggers and manual laborers in agriculture.

The combination of high voltage power and working at height makes this profession  especially risky, leading to a high number of accidents. Storm recovery, in particular, can be one of the most dangerous aspects of the job, as the weather conditions make for an unpredictable working environment and unsteady footing.

Having the right tools and training to work with power cables is of the utmost importance to ensure safety and reach a zero fatalities working environment. 

Removing outer sheathing

Prepping cable ends correctly is a prerequisite for a long-lived and well performing power network. Using dedicated tools will make this job easier, faster and safer, and will prevent errors that would compromise the efficiency of the overall power system. 

For this kind of work, it is often necessary to remove the outer PVC or polyethylene jacket of a cable to expose the neutrals underneath. In this case, one of the most versatile tools to use is an adjustable cable stripper, such as Ripley’s Infinity US01  or WS64 Series. These strippers can remove jackets and various types of insulation materials on primary and secondary utility cables, eliminating the need for a traditional – and dangerous – stripping knife.

Another handy tool is our US16 Utility Tool, which can remove outer jackets on MV cables with the assistance of a powered speed drill. Thanks to its ergonomic, self-feeding design and micro-indexing blade control, the US16 provides safe, clean jacket removal while protecting the underlying layer.

To assist in the removal of outer sheathing from larger cables, you can also use a slitting tool such as our US15 Large Format Cable Slitter, which has been especially designed to perform slit, ring and spiral cuts on cables with a diameter between 10 and 60 mm. 

Removing the semi-conductive screen

To remove the semiconductor layer, or semicon, it is crucial to use a tool that will not cut into the insulation layer, an error that would almost certainly lead to failure due to damage to the underlying insulation. The technique is to make spiral or longitudinal cuts that are (slightly) less deep than the semicon’s thickness, which allows for it to be removed in one or more strips. Once peelable semicon has been scored, our RFNP pliers are perfect for lifting the end to then peel the semicon from the insulation. 

An essential step before starting this process is to set the cutting depth of the blade to the appropriate length, which is why it’s important to use precision scoring tools. Scorers from our SCS Series are perfect for the job, as they can precisely score the semicon layer without damaging the insulation. These scorers can accommodate cables with a diameter between 8 and 51 mm, while larger cables, between 45 and 75 mm, can be handled with our SCS MAX Series. For cables that require shaving for bonded semicon, US02 is the perfect solution.

Insulation can be cut back to expose the conductor using a tool such as the WS5 Series WS6 Series or the versatile US01. Finally, most applications  require the cable edge to be chamfered, or tapered, to remove sharp edges and avoid the risk of air pockets. In this case, our US10 Cable Insulation Chamfering Tool is perfect for the job, thanks to its sharp blade, delivering a smooth chamfer. Its adjustable clamping system can be quickly and easily locked onto the insulation, providing a stable and precise clamping platform in any space. 

By using the right tools, lineman can prep cables safely and accurately, while playing a central role in helping our society move towards electrification and away from fossil fuels.

¹ https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/

² https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/electric-power-and-natural-gas/our-insights/facing-the-future-net-zero-and-the-uk-electricity-sector

³ https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/electric-power-and-natural-gas/our-insights/five-trends-reshaping-european-power-markets

⁴ https://www.linemancentral.com/lineman-positions/how-dangerous-are-power-lineman-jobs

The post Powering on – with the right tools first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Yet with so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to try and find the right tool for your requirements, and how it compares with its competition. With so many tools on offer, what are the key considerations you need to bear in mind when trying to select the best tool to meet your needs?

Let’s start with the fundamental factors that need to be taken into account when choosing your next purchase

1) Ergonomic design

The importance of ergonomic design in a tool cannot be overstated. For workers using these tools again and again, day-in and day-out, the design and comfort of a product can make a noticeable difference to how quickly you’re able to undertake a task, how straightforward this process is, and how comfortable the action itself is. This final point is particularly crucial, as using tools that are not designed to be light and balanced to use can, over time, potentially cause harm in the long run.

Features such as angled handles, padded hand grips and non-slip coatings can all play a part in making sure a tool is easy and safe to use. With hands and fingers typically the most frequently injured at work, it’s critical to make sure tools involving repetitive motion actions have been designed by a trusted manufacturer, who has the design credentials to prove its products are simple, intuitive and practical to use.

2) Assured safety

Following on from ergonomic design is safety. These two are fairly interlinked, as most solutions that have paid attention to factoring in ergonomic design will have typically also considered how safety elements and features can be incorporated into their products.

From cuts and abrasions, to repetitive motion injuries, eye injuries and even broken bones and bruises, any hand tool worth your time should take every possible step to reduce the possibility of hand tool injury to an absolute minimum. For cable engineers, common safety features might include shielded blades, and automating tasks wherever possible.

Employers also have a responsibility to regularly inspect hand tools to ensure they are still in good working condition, and replace them if this is not the case.

It should also go without saying that engineers should always use the right tool for the right job.

3) Precise performance

A product’s quality and the reliability is an absolutely key component of any solution – without it, even the greatest cable technician would not be able to perform their job properly.

For the fiber industry, precision is only set to become more important in years to come, as cables are more densely packed and the air gap between cables and other components gets smaller and smaller. Quality of performance should never be compromised on, and the best solutions on the market will deliver consistent performance over extended periods of time, with a strong reputation within the industry for having done so.

Testing provides essential evidence of a product’s claims. Keep a lookout for the number of testing cycles a hand tool has undergone, illustrating its performance over time, as well as any standards or regulations a solution has been accredited to.

4) Speedy efficiency

Nowadays, fiber technicians are under more pressure than ever before to complete jobs in a quick and timely manner. With ambitious targets to extend cabling networks, and serious repercussions if a network was to go down or a job not completed according to timescales, the need for fast and efficient tooling solutions has never been more prominent.

The latest innovations will consider how a job can be completed more efficiently. New products will come with automated functions that previous iterations did not have, in a bid to make the engineer’s life easier, or they may come with a range of predefined options for different cabling measurements, improving accuracy and enabling the technician to quickly select the one they need.

5) Built to last

There’s no getting away from the fact that cost will always be a factor when choosing a product. As a result, decision-makers want products that are as cost-effective as possible, without compromising on quality. It’s understandable that when investing in a tool, you want a product that’s built to last, delivering value for money throughout its service life.

You want a long-lasting solution, which has been designed to stand the test of time. Factors such as materials used and testing will provide evidence of how much effort has gone into creating a product that’s designed to be durable and robust, so you can have every confidence that you won’t be replacing your new tool anytime soon.

The in-house knowledge, experience and expertise of a tool’s manufacturer will influence this, too. A brand will no doubt have needed to evolve and enhance their hand tool products over time, to continue impressing the cabling market with the latest innovations, designed to operate as expected again and again and again.

The post The best tool for… first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Today’s world is a digital one. Whether it’s talking to friends on social media, watching a  favorite show on a streaming platform, paying bills, ordering goods, or making video calls as part of a job, we all depend on reliable and fast internet connections.

As such, the demand for broadband – enabling greater connection speeds, performance and consistency – continues to grow, with broadband helping deliver economic growth, stimulating innovation, and creating new jobs.

In the US, the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative will invest $45 billion to provide affordable, reliable, high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade¹. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Government’s Levelling Up white paper has set an ambitious target for gigabit-broadband, with an aim of nationwide coverage for at least 99% of premises by 2030². In Western Europe, broadband penetration has steadily increased during the last decade, and is expected to reach almost 90% by 2030³.

Fiber optic cabling has a key role to play in delivering on these ambitions. The advantages of fiber optic cable are numerous. When compared with traditional broadband, optical fiber cables enjoy less interference and maintain stronger signal strength over greater distances, while operating at a higher frequency, achieving greater bandwidth and faster connection speeds as a result.

But there are significant challenges to meeting this demand. From the scale involved – many rural or urban areas in the US have limited or no access to broadband, with 12% of Americans currently without a home broadband connection⁴ – to the fact that modern cables can now contain thousands of fiber strands, delivering on these goals is a balancing act between speed and precision.

In order to meet this requirement, a fiber optic engineer needs to be equipped with the right tools and training to undertake this critical task. Cable preparation work needs to be completed at pace, while ensuring accuracy, cleanliness and testing is never compromised.

The anatomy of a fiber optic cable

When prepping fiber optic cabling, a fiber optic engineer needs to feel confident and assured they have the right tools to hand, every time. With customer expectations and demands to meet, installers require tried and trusted equipment that enables them to perform their jobs safely and to the highest possible standards. Whether it’s cutting, stripping, scoring, splicing or connecting, technicians want the peace of mind of tools that will allow them to complete a job in a simple and fast manner.

Engineers have to handle a range of components when prepping optical fiber cables. From carefully removing the polyethylene outer jacket and inner sheath and PSP armor, protecting against moisture and abrasion, to ensuring a fiber strand is clean in preparation for splicing, you can see all the components contained within a cable in the illustration below.

Pushing broadband boundaries

There are a range of easy-to-use, efficient and safe tools that are recommended for cable preparation projects. Our Miller® FTS buffer tube scorers are designed to be incredibly easy to use, allowing quick access to loose buffer tubes up to 6mm in diameter. Simply press the tool’s halves together to open it, and then place it at the desired strip point. Then, rotate the tool a couple of times to create a score. If done correctly, this will provide clean access to the fibers below with no damage.

Meanwhile, the market-leading MB02 series makes cable access faster, easier and safer for engineers. The multi-purpose precision slitter features a modular tray design for work on various dielectric cables. With a range of inserts available, trays are color coded and magnetic, making them easily swapped out to accommodate accurate blade depths and cable diameters, providing unrivaled flexibility. Performing accurate ring and longitudinal cuts on dielectric cables of up to 0.79” (20mm) in diameter, the MB02 series should be a mainstay in any engineer’s toolbox when working on optical fiber cables.

Another recommendation is the MSAT-X from Miller®, a versatile shaving tool for gaining mid-span access to bare or buffered fiber cables. Equipped with a unique spring-loaded plate and dual stripping channels, the solution lets a fiber optic engineer load 1.9 to 5mm diameter cables into the same cutting blade, without a sizing gauge.

There’s also the CFS-3 series fiber optic stripper. Featuring a three-hole design, this efficiently removes fiber jackets and buffers, sized between 1.6mm and 3mm, down to the 125 micron bare fiber in one compact tool.

It’s also critical to ensure fiber strands are clean, as oil, dust and dirt particles can result in attenuation. Fiber inspection microscopes from Miller® are recommended, so an engineer can check an endface for faults. And with fiber optic networks reliant on the correct light connections in order to function correctly, a visual fault locator like the FO-VFL series can help a fiber optic engineer quickly find fiber breaks, leaks, stress points and faulty connections. With so many fiber strands contained within a cable, identifying faults fast is absolutely essential.

By following these steps, fiber optic cable engineers can perform their jobs to the highest quality and safety standards, while playing a critical role in helping the world move towards its ambitions for faster, stronger broadband.

¹ National Telecommunications and Information Administration, ‘Biden-Harris Administration launches $45 billion “Internet for All” initiative to bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to everyone in America’, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2022/biden-harris-administration-launches-45-billion-internet-all-initiative-bring

² UK Parliament, House of Commons Library, ‘Gigabit-broadband in the UK: Government targets and policy’, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8392/#:~:text=The%20Levelling%20Up%20White%20Paper,85%25%20of%20premises%20by%202025. 

³ S&P Global Market Intelligence, ‘Breaking into Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Markets: Drivers and Trends’, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/blog/breaking-into-europes-digital-infrastructure-markets-drivers-trends-3

⁴ Broadcom, ‘Connecting America: Broadband as critical infrastructure’, https://www.broadcom.com/blog/connecting-america-broadband-as-critical-infrastructure 

The post Taking a closer look at the anatomy of a fiber optic cable first appeared on Ripley Tools.

The market-leading MB02 has been designed to speed up full-fiber broadband rollout by making cable access faster, easier and safer for engineers. The multi-purpose precision slitter features a modular tray design for work on various dielectric cables. Trays are color coded and magnetic, making them easily swapped out to accommodate accurate blade depths and cable diameters. 

A range of 19 new tray inserts are now available, providing unrivalled flexibility and compatibility with a wide variety of cable sizes. 

Purchased in sets, the tray inserts cover the following dimensions:

• Blue series: 5–12mm; 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7mm blade depth
• Green series: 8–11mm; 1.0mm through 3.0mm blade depth, 0.25mm increment
• Red series: 11–14mm; 1.0mm through 3.0mm blade depth, 0.25mm increment

Our extended range offers full flexibility, with the chassis and trays available to purchase as a set or individually. This unique approach means cable engineers only need to purchase and carry with them the insert trays they need for the depth of cable they’re working on. Doing this will not only make their work more efficient and precise but, by eliminating the need to keep buying more tools, also help keep costs down.

The market-leading MB02’s unique ability to make precise incisions on two sides of a cable without touching the encased fibers speeds up the cable stripping process and improves quality levels. 

The tool is spring loaded and has steel-armored blades capable of cutting cable jackets up to 20mm in diameter. It is approved for use with two major cable types – AFL Fujikura and Corning MiniXtend fiber cables.

With the Miller® MB02 now even more convenient, quick and precise thanks to the new extended range of trays, it’s easy to see why every fiber optic cable engineer would benefit from having it in their kit. 

The post Ripley extends MB02 cable slitter range with flexible tray options first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Without the right tools, it’s usually impossible to get the job done – let alone get it done right.

Nowhere is this more obvious than when testing fiber networks. This complex and delicate technology means installers not only need to possess an incredible amount of practical and theoretical knowledge, but also have the right tools to put that knowledge into action.

Whether it’s power meters or identifying optical light sources, if you haven’t got the right toolkit, you can’t do the job.

Why Do Fiber Cables Need to be Tested?

Fiber cables must be tested when they are first deployed, and require regular maintenance due to industry standards and warranty requirements – but there’s more to it than that.

With an ever-increasing demand for bandwidth, and with speeds reaching record levels, fiber networks have increased in size and complexity. New technologies such as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing have created faster connections but led to more cable segments and loss locations, meaning there are more areas than ever where failure may occur.

Despite advances in technology and contamination protocols, fiber optic cables remain highly sensitive to contamination from dirt and dust, bending, and light damage. Regular testing allows issues to be identified before they can cause trouble.

Finally, in an always-online world, crucial functions such as banking, health, and finance rely on an effective network to function. Millions of citizens around the world utilize fiber optic networks every day to speak to loved ones, do their jobs, and socialize. It’s vital that these networks can continue to handle the load.

Tools for Fiber Optic Testing

To ensure you can carry out the right tests without damaging the sensitive fiber cables themselves, you need the right tools.

If you’re beginning a new fiber project, or are looking to move into the industry, there are a few basic tools you should invest in to ensure you can do the job right.

Inspection Microscope

Dirty fiber optic endfaces is the biggest cause of issues in singlemode and multimode fiber optic systems. Inspection microscopes are a simple, effective way to identify faults and overcome this.

As the name implies, inspection microscopes magnify the image of the optical fiber connector, usually around 100x, 200x, or 400x, allowing the technician to inspect the endface for faults. These are often used in conjunction with display screens for easier examination. Some models, like our VIS 300C system, include a screen as standard.

Optical Power Meter

Optical Power Meters, or OPMs, can be used to measure the power of an optical signal. You might also hear them called radiometers, photometers, laser power meters, light meters or lux meters.

Optical power meters usually consist of a calibrated sensor, measuring amplifier, and connected display. The sensor, usually a photodiode, detects light at the required wavelength and power level and displays it, allowing the engineer to identify power faults.

At Ripley, we offer a range of handheld optical power meters to suit every job and budget.

Visual Fault Locator

Fiber optic networks rely on the right light connections being made to function properly. As they utilize infrared (IR) light, which is beyond the range of the human eye, you can’t see when connections aren’t being made.

Visual Fault Identifiers/Locators (VFI/VFL) overcome this by using a visible light source – either an LED or laser diode – to shoot light on the visible spectrum into the fiber, highlighting any potential problems and allowing the engineer to fix the fault.

VFLs are crucial for identifying bends, breaks, and fault connectors. They often look like flashlights or pens with a small LED or laser light at one end, just like our FO-VFL series model.

The Basics

The tools listed above are the very basic tools you’ll need to carry out fiber optic testing.

There’s a range of tools available to make testing fiber optic cables easier and more efficient. Depending on your budget, investing in additional tools can simplify your job, increase your working speed, and allow you to get more done with less effort.

To learn more about fiber optic testing, click here, or visit our shop page to view the full range of fiber tools available from Ripley Tools.

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