An optical fiber cutter includes: a fiber holder that holds optical fibers disposed in a row in a first perpendicular direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers, wherein each of the optical fibers includes a glass portion and a coated portion that covers the glass portion; an alignment member having an insertion hole through which the glass portions extending from the fiber holder are inserted; a base including; a first placement portion on which the fiber holder is disposed; and a second placement portion positioned at a distance from the first placement portion, and on which the alignment member is disposed; and a blade member that scratches surfaces of the glass portions by moving in the first perpendicular direction between the first placement portion and the second placement portion with respect to the base.

A partially separated fiber bundle includes a separated fiber section and an unseparated fiber section, being configured to give a ratio A.sub.max/A.sub.min of 1.1 or larger and 3 or smaller, when the number of fiber bundles contained in the width direction of the partially separated fiber bundle (fiber separating number: N.sub.n) measured at a freely selected point P.sub.n (where, n represents an integer of 1 to 100, and freely selected points P.sub.n and P.sub.n+1, excluding n=100, being 50 cm or more away from each other), is divided by a full width of W.sub.n of the partially separated fiber bundle, to calculate the fiber separating number per unit width A.sub.n, and assuming its maximum value as A.sub.max and its minimum value as A.sub.min.

A chopper assembly for cutting filaments in a strand into short lengths, comprising two rolls (1,4) being rotatable in opposite directions and having a pinch where the rolls (1,4) contact each other. At least one of the rolls (1,4) is provided with cutting blades (2,5) at its cylindrical outer surface. Means (15) are present for guiding said strand to said pinch where the filaments of the strand are cut. Both axes of rotation (16,17) of the rolls (1,4) are parallel to the tangential plane through said pinch and make an angle (α) with each other, so that the cutting blades (2,5) move in axial direction with respect to each other in the pinch.

A chopper assembly for cutting filaments in a strand into short lengths, comprising two rolls (1,4) being rotatable in opposite directions and having a pinch where the rolls (1,4) contact each other. At least one of the rolls (1,4) is provided with cutting blades (2,5) at its cylindrical outer surface. Means (15) are present for guiding said strand to said pinch where the filaments of the strand are cut. Both axes of rotation (16,17) of the rolls (1,4) are parallel to the tangential plane through said pinch and make an angle (α) with each other, so that the cutting blades (2,5) move in axial direction with respect to each other in the pinch.

A preform for making a vortex optical fiber comprises a glass cylinder formed substantially of silicone dioxide that defines a core portion along a longitudinal axis of the glass cylinder and a cladding portion surrounding the core portion. The glass cylinder further defines a plurality of holes running parallel to the longitudinal axis from a first end of the glass cylinder to a second end of the glass cylinder.

Example systems described herein are configured to manage a continuous scrim-glass web slit from a side of a continuous glass web. For instance, a system may include a first roller, a nipping roller, and a breaker. The first roller is configured to support the continuous scrim-glass web. The nipping roller is configured to isolate vibration originating from the continuous scrim-glass web by applying pressure onto the continuous scrim-glass web that is threaded between the nipping roller and the first roller. The breaker is configured to intermittently break portions of the continuous scrim-glass web from the continuous scrim-glass web while the continuous scrim-glass web traverses between the nipping roller and the first roller by applying a force to the continuous scrim-glass web.

Example systems described herein are configured to manage a continuous scrim-glass web slit from a side of a continuous glass web. For instance, a system may include a first roller, a nipping roller, and a breaker. The first roller is configured to support the continuous scrim-glass web. The nipping roller is configured to isolate vibration originating from the continuous scrim-glass web by applying pressure onto the continuous scrim-glass web that is threaded between the nipping roller and the first roller. The breaker is configured to intermittently break portions of the continuous scrim-glass web from the continuous scrim-glass web while the continuous scrim-glass web traverses between the nipping roller and the first roller by applying a force to the continuous scrim-glass web.

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite material. The method may involve initially forming a plurality of tubes and then performing a coating operation to coat the plurality of tubes with materials containing metal or metalloid elements, including inorganic compounds, organometallic compounds, or coordination complexes to form coated tubes. The method may further include performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated tubes to form a solid glass, ceramic, or composite structure with dimensions representing at least one of a rod or fiber.

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite material. The method may involve initially forming a plurality of tubes and then performing a coating operation to coat the plurality of tubes with materials containing metal or metalloid elements, including inorganic compounds, organometallic compounds, or coordination complexes to form coated tubes. The method may further include performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated tubes to form a solid glass, ceramic, or composite structure with dimensions representing at least one of a rod or fiber.

A cleaving assembly and a method for cleaving a glass rod and end cap having diameters of at least 125 μm and a face at a desired angle greater than 0 degrees are disclosed. The assembly comprises a laser device for emitting a laser beam, a rotating device, and a positioning fixture. The rotating device has a head that rotates about a central axis that is orthogonal to the laser beam. The positioning fixture is operatively mounted to the head and centered axially along the central axis and is also rotatably driven by the rotating device. The positioning fixture has a tapered surface that is transverse to the central axis and that supports the glass rod at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis. Rotation of the positioning fixture about the central axis when the glass rod and end cap is exposed to the laser beam, cleaves the face at the desired angle.