Fiber Optic L-Bracket Mating Sleeves

• 2.2 mm Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves
• Designed for All FC/PC-Connectorized Fibers
• <0.5 dB Insertion Loss (Measured at 635 nm with FC/PC-Terminated SM600 Fibers)
• Single, Dual, and Quadruple Brackets Available

Thorlabs' L-Bracket, Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves contain one or, in the case of the quadruple version, two 1/4" (M6) through holes for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. All L-brackets feature 4-40 tap(s) to secure a CAPF1 Metal Cap, available for purchase separately. To protect each mating sleeve while it is not in use, the ADAFCB1 includes one CAPF1 Metal Cap and one rubber cap, the ADAFCB2 includes two CAPF1 Metal Caps and two rubber caps, and the ADAFCB5 includes eight rubber caps.

Flat FC/PC connectors are significantly less alignment sensitive than their angled FC/APC counterparts, making these wide-key-slot mating sleeves acceptable for narrow and wide key FC/PC connectors. Although these mating sleeves are mechanically compatible with narrow key FC/APC connectors, the wide key slot makes it difficult to properly align the angled, narrow key FC/APC connector, as shown in the animation to the right. For FC/APC applications, we therefore recommend the narrow-key-slot mating sleeves shown immediately below. All FC/PC and FC/APC patch cables manufactured by Thorlabs use narrow key connectors.

Unmounted FC/PC to FC/PC mating sleeves are also sold separately.

Click to Enlarge
Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Wide Key Connector:
Recommended for All Wide Key Connectors

Click to Enlarge
Wide-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Narrow Key Connector:
Recommended for Narrow Key FC/PC Connectors
Not Recommended for Narrow Key FC/APC Connectors

• 2.0 mm Narrow-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves
• Designed for FC/PC- or FC/APC-Connectorized Fibers with 2.0 mm Narrow Keys
• <0.5 dB Insertion Loss (Measured at 635 nm with FC-Terminated SM600 Fibers)
• Single, Dual, and Quadruple Brackets Available

Thorlabs' L-Bracket, Narrow-Key-Slot Mating Sleeves contain one or, in the case of the quadruple version, two 1/4" (M6) through holes for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. All L-brackets feature 4-40 tap(s) to secure a CAPF1 Metal Cap, available for purchase separately. To protect each mating sleeve while it is not in use, the ADAFCB3 includes one CAPF1 Metal Cap and one plastic cap, the ADAFCB4 includes two CAPF1 Metal Caps and two plastic caps, and the ADAFCB6 includes eight plastic caps.

Click to Enlarge
Narrow-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Narrow Key Connector:
Recommended for All Narrow Key Connectors

• Best Possible Matching of Polarization Axes in PM Fibers
• 2.0 mm Narrow Precision Key or 2.2 mm Wide Precision Key FC Connectors
• <1.0 dB Insertion Loss (Measured at 635 nm with FC/PC- and FC/APC-Terminated PM630-HP Fibers)
• Single, Dual, and Quadruple Brackets Available

Thorlabs' PM Fiber L-Bracket Mating Sleeves have housings made from a single piece of metal, as opposed to the typical two-piece design. This precision construction provides the best possible matching of polarization axes, making them ideal for FC/PC- or FC/APC-connectorized PM fibers. To ensure the best performance, choose the L-bracket mating sleeve that matches your key width. All FC/PC and FC/APC patch cables manufactured by Thorlabs use narrow key connectors; the animation to the right depicts how to align the narrow key with the narrow precision key slot.

Each L-bracket mating sleeve contains one or, in the case of the quadruple version, two 1/4" (M6) through holes for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. All L-brackets feature 4-40 tap(s) to secure a CAPF1 Metal Cap, available for purchase separately. To protect each mating sleeve while it is not in use, single versions include one CAPF1 Metal Cap and one threaded plastic cap, dual versions include two CAPF1 Metal Caps and two threaded plastic caps, and quadruple versions include eight threaded plastic caps.

Unmounted precision mating sleeves are also sold separately.

Click to Enlarge
Narrow-Precision-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve
and Narrow Key Connector:
Recommended for Narrow Key PM Fiber Connectors

Click to Enlarge
Wide-Precision-Key-Slot Mating Sleeve and Wide Key Connector:
Recommended for Wide Key PM Fiber Connectors
Not Recommended for Narrow Key PM Fiber Connectors

• Designed for SMA-Connectorized Fibers
  • Directly Compatible with SMA905-Style Connectors
  • Sleeve(s) Included to Facilitate Connection Between SMA905- and SMA906-Style Connectors
• <1.5 dB Insertion Loss (Typical Loss for a Pair of Ø200 µm Core Multimode Fibers)
• Single, Dual, and Quadruple Brackets Available

Thorlabs' SMA L-Bracket Mating Sleeves are air-spaced sleeves that connect one, two, or four pairs of SMA-connectorized fiber optic cables. They are directly compatible with SMA905-style connectors. Each bracket includes one ceramic sleeve per SMA-SMA connector to mate an SMA905-style connector to an SMA906-style connector. These mating sleeves are not compatible with mating an SMA906-style connector to another SMA906-style connector.

Each contains one or, in the case of the quadruple version, two 1/4" (M6) through holes for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. All L-brackets feature 4-40 tap(s) to secure a CAPN1 Metal Cap, available for purchase separately. To protect each mating sleeve while it is not in use, the ADASMAB1 includes one CAPN1 metal cap and one rubber cap, the ADASMAB2 includes two CAPN1 metal caps and two rubber caps, and the ADASMAB3 includes eight rubber caps.

Unmounted mating sleeves are also sold separately.

• Designed for ST-Connectorized Fibers
• Single or Dual Bracket

Thorlabs' ADASTB1 and ADASTB2 L-Bracket Mating Sleeves connect one or two pairs of ST-connectorized fiber optic cables. Each contains a 1/4" (M6) through hole for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. The single version comes with a CAPT1 Metal Cap and a rubber cap to protect the mating sleeve while it is not in use; the dual version comes with two of each.

An unmounted mating sleeve and additional CAPT1 Metal Caps are also sold separately.

• Mate an FC/PC-Terminated Fiber to an SMA-Terminated Fiber
  • 2.2 mm Wide Key FC/PC Connector
  • SMA905-Style SMA Connector

Thorlabs' ADAFCSMAB1 L-Bracket Mating Sleeve mates an FC/PC-terminated single mode (SM) or multimode (MM) fiber to an SMA-terminated MM fiber by bringing the tips into physical contact. It contains a 1/4" (M6) through hole for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. A CAPF1 Metal Cap for the FC end and a rubber cap for the SMA end are included to protect the mating sleeve while it is not in use. Please note that this mating sleeve is only compatible with SMA905-style connectors.

The typical insertion loss for mating an FC/PC-terminated SM fiber to an SMA-terminated MM fiber is less than 0.2 dB^a, while the typical insertion loss for mating an FC/PC-terminated MM fiber to an SMA-terminated MM fiber is less than 1.4 dB^b.

An unmounted mating sleeve, as well as additional CAPF1 and CAPN1 Metal Caps, which are designed to protect the FC and SMA ends of the mating sleeve, respectively, are also available separately.

• Measured at 633 nm by mating an FC-terminated SM fiber with a 0.12 NA to an SMA-terminated MM fiber with a Ø50 µm core.
• Measured at 633 nm by mating an FC-terminated MM fiber to an SMA-terminated MM fiber; both fibers had Ø50 µm cores.

• Compatible with Either Square Flange or D-Hole FC Mating Sleeves
  (See Table to the Right)
• Single, Dual, and Quadruple Brackets Available
• Single and Dual Brackets Include One or Two CAPF1 Metal Caps

Thorlabs' Empty L-Brackets are provided for customers who purchase our unmounted FC mating sleeves separately. They allow the construction of L-bracket mating sleeves not offered from stock; for example, a narrow key connector and a wide key connector can be placed into one L-bracket.

These L-brackets contain one or two 1/4" (M6) through holes for easy mounting to a post, optical table, or breadboard. All L-brackets feature 4-40 tap(s) to secure a CAPF1 Metal Cap, available for purchase separately. Single versions include one CAPF1 Metal Cap, while dual versions include two.

The ADABS1, ADABS2, and ADABS3 include screws with 2-56 threading for attaching the square flange mating sleeves. Replacement screws (Item # SH2S019) are available in packs of 50.

Specifications
Refractive Index	402 nm	1.4995
	589.3 nm	1.4646
	980 nm	1.4462
	1550 nm	1.4378
Refractive Index Temperature Coefficient (25 °C to 60 °C)		-3.5 x 10-4 per °C
Refractive Index vs. Wavelength (Cauchy Fit)a		1.4338 + 10520 λ-2
Optical Absorption (450 - 750 nm)		<0.003% per µm
Apparent Viscosity (25 °C)		10,600 poises
Oil Separation (24 hrs at 100 °C)		0.2%
Evaporation (24 hrs at 100 °C)		1.0%
Specific Gravity (25 °C)		1.06
Thermal Coefficient of Expansion		0.0006 cc/cc/°C
Microscopic Particulate Contamination	10 - 34 µm	<300 Particles/cc
	≥35 µm	0 Particles/cc
Absorption Spectrum

• Wavelength λ in nm

Thorlabs' G608N3 Index Matching Gel is a crystal-clear optical coupling compound intended to reduce signal attenuation in wave guide assemblies at connections. The presence of air at the junction of two optical fibers causes significant signal refraction due to the large differential optical impedance that exists between air and the signal-carrying wave guides.

The optical coupling compound G608N3 has been formulated with the requisite optical properties of clarity, purity, and refractive index to minimize signal losses while allowing pliable mechanical connections between rigid parts. Unlike a rigid optical epoxy, this pliable gel is viscoelastic and can take up the differential thermal expansion of precision optical parts without inducing excessive stresses or delamination. Residue may be cleaned from fiber tips using methanol or isopropyl alcohol.

In many devices, these materials serve an additional function: they help seal out ambient dust or fluids from sensitive optical components. This gel is formulated to be ultraclean, non-yellowing, and unaffected by x-ray, ultraviolet or sunlight exposure. It has extremely low outgassing and volatility characteristics and is free from light-absorbing microscopic particulates. This optical product is a chemically stable, non-toxic, synthetic material with wide temperature serviceability and is suitable for designs with high reliability and long service life.

The table below gives data on the decrease in signal loss when using the gel. Each syringe comes with 3 cc of index matching gel. This index matching gel can also be used to refill our fiber-to-fiber splice kits.

• A 617 nm LED source was used to mate two multimode 0.22 NA, Ø50 µm core, Ø125 µm clad patch cords with and without index matching gel.
• A 780 nm fiber coupled laser source was used to mate two FC/PC-terminated 780HP fibers with and without index matching gel.