Pits typically appear as irregular shaped areas where glass has been removed due to either improper handling, poor manufacturing processes or hard debris on the fiber end-face present during mating. Cracks appear as jagged lines on the fiber end-face, and while they may resemble a scratch, they are. Surface defects refer to various processing defects such as pitting, scratches, open air bubbles, broken edges, and broken points that still exist on the surface of optical components after polishing. The main reasons are processing or subsequent improper operations. Scratches refer to strip-shaped. Every cable assembly manufacturer strives to produce pristine ferrule end faces with zero defects. In the real world, this lofty goal is impossible to achieve. Understanding their formation, impact, and mitigation strategies is crucial for quality control.
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