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1.0 Product Description & Requirements

The 3M™ ST* MM Crimplok™ Connector is designed to provide the customer with an easily installed, low-

cost, high performance, epoxy-free, multimode connector for use in indoor applications, such as local area

networks. The main advantage of this connector is a lower installed cost, due to time saved at installation and a

minimal initial investment in tooling.

Some mechanical connectors grip the fiber buffer coating which results in poor performance characteristics in

initial insertion loss measurements, as well as during temperature cycling. Reliability of this method is also

questionable due to differences in buffer coating materials (and Tolerances) encountered with different

manufacturers. Other mechanical connectors grip the glass portion of the fiber with soft compliant materials,

such as plastics, which have demonstrated poor performance characteristics at initial insertion loss and during

temperature cycle testing. Reliability is again questionable due to the materials/properties involved, which

provide inadequate grip onto the glass fiber.

The 3M ST* MM Crimplok Connector grips the glass fiber with a small Fiberlok™-style element that is

integrated inside the backbone of the ST* connector version. Activation of the element is achieved by depressing

an element cap located in the ST* backbone. The 6955-T Crimplok Activation Tool, which is part of the new

6955 kit, activates the element cap and secures the fiber. The Activation tool also sets the amount of fiber

protrusion within strict tolerance limits for faster polishing times. The connector is removed, and a simple one

step polish is performed on a fine grit lapping film that requires less than 30 seconds to complete. The connector

is then ready for use.

Sample Preparation:

The ST* Crimplok Connectors were cleaved using the Model 6955-T Crimplok Activation Tool, and were

processed according to the Crimplok Instruction Manual P/N 78-8073-7660-9, Issue 2, July 1997. The fiber

protrusion specification after cleaving is 105

± 25 µm (using the 6955-T Activation Tool), and the final fiber

protrusion specification after polishing is 10-50

µm (typical values range from 15-40 µm).

The ST* Crimplok Connectors tested in this report had a fiber protrusion range of 98-119

µm after cleaving, and

the final fiber protrusions after polishing were:

Mean .................................. 25.7

(µm)

Sigma ................................ 4.5

Minimum .......................... 15.2

Maximum .......................... 31.2

2.0 Test Program

The purpose of the test program is to assess the long-term performance of the 3M ST* Crimplok fiber optic

connector product. A series of optical, environmental and mechanical tests were conducted, which expose them

to conditions more severe than those anticipated in actual use. All tests are performed in accordance with TIA-

568A. Field mount Crimplok connectors in the evaluation were obtained directly from 3M factory stock,

assembled on cable, and spliced into the test system. A list of tests performed is presented below.

New Product

Environmental Group 0

Mechanical Group 1

Mechanical Group 2

New Product

Cold

Impact

Vibration

Temperature Life

Flex

Connector Durability

Humidity

Twist

Connector Intermatability

Cable Retention