Solihull, United Kingdom – Arden Photonics today announces the launch of the FGC-GH Fiber Geometry Measurement System, which is specifically designed to measure the fiber geometric parameters of Hollow Core Fiber (HCF), Multi-Core Fiber (MCF), Polarising-Maintaining Fiber (PMF) and other specialty fiber designs with fiber cladding diameters from 80 µm* to 250 µm.  Its software plug-in architecture enables dedicated measurement capabilities for specific fiber types, ensuring automatic, user-independent results for next-generation specialty fibers.

Driven by a proprietary software algorithm and high-magnification imaging optics, the FGC-GH delivers exceptional measurement repeatability**:

• Core Diameter: 40 nm
• Core-to-Cladding Concentricity: 30 nm
• Capillary Diameter: 20 nm

Key technical features include:

• Optimised for the Latest Optical Fibers: Precision geometric measurement and characterisation of the latest generation of HCF and DNANF is now possible with the FGC-GH’s built-in, ultra-high numerical aperture optical system. Other specialty fibers, such as Multi-Core Fiber (MCF), are equally well addressed, ensuring the instrument remains the definitive solution for the most demanding fiber geometry characterisation.
• Fast Validation of Manufactured Fibers: Manufacturers can validate HCF with high-precision measurements of each double-nested set of tubes within the DNANF structure, obtaining critical data that relates directly to the loss per km of the manufactured fiber. The FGC-GH is equally adept at providing critical measuring data to verify the location of cores, cladding, and core-to-cladding concentricity of each signal path in MCF.
• R&D and Production Compatibility: Specialty fiber geometry characterisation in a production environment is deskilled and streamlined, and made highly repeatable and user-independent through the use of software plugins tailored to each specific fiber type. In an R&D environment, an extensive set of manual tools allows engineers to measure novel or unique features of any innovative or proprietary specialty fiber design.
• Traceable In-Field Calibration: To maintain confidence and eliminate production downtime, there is no need to return the FGC-GH to Arden Photonics for recalibration. Users can simply utilise our traceable calibration artifact alongside built-in software algorithms for effortless and fast re-calibration in the field.
• Software Plug-in Architecture: The FGC’s plug-in architecture enables dedicated automatic measurement for specific fiber types, optimising quality control and production routine.  Currently, available plug-ins include: PM fibers, Single mode / Multi mode fibers, Active fibers, Multi-core fibers, and Hollow-core (NANF & DNANF) fibers. We can customise plug-ins to rapidly standardise testing of tomorrow’s fibers.

“With the increasing demand for Hollow Core and other intricate fiber designs, our customers are looking for a reliable solution that could resolve features previously hidden to standard geometry systems,” said David Robinson, Founder and CEO of Arden Photonics. “The FGC-GH is a significant leap forward, helping specialty fiber makers develop and validate next-generation innovations with total peace of mind.”

For more information, visit our product page or email us at sales@ardenphotonics.com.

* Capability to operate with smaller cladding diameter available on request.

** Repeatability is measured on the FGC-GH using a single 240 µm fiber without removing it from the unit. Measuring performance of other fibers is not guaranteed.