NYFORS MiniCoater 2 Portable Optical Fiber Recoater

NYFORS MiniCoater 2 Portable Optical Fiber Recoater

The NYFORS MiniCoater 2 Portable Optical Fiber Recoater is a compact system designed to restore protective coatings on stripped or fusion-spliced optical fibers. It uses exchangeable silicone molds and a high-efficiency ultraviolet LED array to form and cure the new coating around the exposed fiber section.

The MiniCoater 2 is suitable for research, process development, small-scale production, fiber laser manufacturing, optical sensing, specialty fiber assembly, and remote field applications. Its compact dimensions, low weight, rechargeable battery, and external power option allow the recoater to move easily between laboratories, production areas, and field locations.

Standard molds are available in several diameters and two lengths. Operators can exchange molds without performing a mechanical realignment, making the system practical for workflows involving frequent changes in fiber dimensions, coating materials, or recoating profiles. Custom molds are also available for applications not covered by the standard configurations.

Flexible Optical Fiber Recoating with Exchangeable Silicone Molds

The NYFORS MiniCoater 2 uses proven silicone mold technology to form the recoating material around the optical fiber. Standard molds produce a round cross-section that uniformly matches the original coating diameter when the correct mold is selected.

• Uniform-diameter recoating: Restores the coated section to a diameter matching the original fiber coating.
• Overcoating capability: Supports a recoated section larger than the original coating when required by the application.
• Undersize recoating: Produces a smaller recoated diameter for specialized fiber-processing requirements.
• Exchangeable silicone molds: Allows mold sizes and lengths to be changed without mechanical realignment.
• Standard and custom molds: Supports common fiber dimensions with custom options available for specialized applications.
• Manual compound injection: Allows immediate switching between different recoating compounds without flushing a reservoir or pumping system.
• UV LED curing: Provides short and programmable curing cycles with a typical curing time of approximately three seconds.
• Portable operation: Runs from an internal rechargeable battery or an external 12 V DC power supply.
• Compact bench-top format: Integrates easily into laboratories and production workstations where space is limited.

Uniform, Oversized, and Undersized Recoating

The MiniCoater 2 supports three principal recoating profiles. Uniform-diameter recoating restores the exposed fiber section to approximately the same outside diameter as the original coating. This provides a continuous round profile across the recoated area when the correct mold and compound are used.

Overcoating creates a recoated section with a larger outside diameter. This may be useful when additional coating thickness or mechanical reinforcement is required by a particular fiber component or assembly process.

Undersize recoating creates a new coating with a smaller outside diameter than the original fiber coating. This capability supports specialized assemblies where the recoated section must fit inside a component, package, capillary, or other restricted space.

The appropriate mold diameter, mold length, recoating material, and curing cycle must be selected according to the fiber dimensions and required finished profile.

High-Index, Low-Index, and High-Temperature Recoating

Manual injection gives the operator flexibility to use different compatible recoating compounds. The user can switch from one material to another without flushing an internal recoating reservoir or automated injection system.

The MiniCoater 2 can be used with compatible high-index and low-index recoating compounds. Low-index materials are particularly relevant to selected fiber laser manufacturing processes and specialty optical fiber assemblies.

The system is also compatible with suitable recoating compounds designed to withstand temperatures up to 200°C. These materials may be required for high-temperature sensing, downhole oil and gas applications, industrial fiber assemblies, and other demanding environments.

Material compatibility, curing wavelength, exposure time, viscosity, storage requirements, and finished coating performance should be confirmed with the compound supplier before use.

Fast UV LED Curing

The MiniCoater 2 uses a UV LED source operating from 380 to 385 nm. The curing time is programmable, with a typical cycle of approximately three seconds under supported conditions.

Actual curing time depends on the recoating material, coating diameter, mold geometry, fiber construction, compound temperature, and required finished properties. A validated curing process should be established before the system is used for production or critical assemblies.

The efficient UV LED array supports short processing cycles while avoiding the size and operating requirements associated with larger curing systems. It also provides the curing capability required by compatible low-index recoating materials.

Manual Injection for Rapid Material Changes

Recoating compound is injected manually into the silicone mold. Although this requires an operator action, it provides valuable flexibility for laboratories and small-scale production environments that frequently change fiber types or coating materials.

Because the MiniCoater 2 does not rely on a fixed compound reservoir and automated injection pump, users can switch between compatible high-index, low-index, standard, or high-temperature materials without completing a lengthy flushing procedure.

Manual injection also gives operators direct control over compound placement. Appropriate training and documented procedures are recommended to achieve consistent filling, minimize trapped air, and prevent contamination of the fiber or mold.

Portable Battery and AC Operation

The MiniCoater 2 can operate from its built-in rechargeable battery or an external 12 V DC, 40 W power supply. Battery operation supports hours of use in remote locations where AC power may be unavailable.

The system measures approximately 150 x 77 x 60 mm and weighs approximately 0.7 kg. Its compact and lightweight construction makes it easy to move between laboratories, production workstations, field service locations, and remote industrial sites.

The small footprint also simplifies integration into production benches where equipment space is limited. The two-button control interface and three-digit display provide straightforward access to the recoating and curing functions.

Standard Mold Diameters and Lengths

Standard silicone molds are available in 34 and 55 mm lengths. Supported nominal recoating diameters listed for the system include 165, 250, 300, 400, 550, 730, and 900 µm, depending on the selected mold.

Molds are supplied in packages of ten. The standard MiniCoater 2 package includes a packet of 250 µm molds with a 34 mm length. Additional mold sizes and lengths are ordered separately.

Custom molds can be requested for non-standard diameters, profiles, or fiber constructions. The required fiber dimensions and desired finished coating geometry should be supplied when requesting a custom mold.

Applications for the NYFORS MiniCoater 2

• Restoring protective coatings after optical fiber fusion splicing
• Specialty fiber component manufacturing
• Fiber laser production using compatible low-index compounds
• High-temperature fiber assembly and sensing applications
• Downhole oil and gas fiber processing
• Photonics research and process development
• Small-scale optical fiber production
• Uniform-diameter fiber recoating
• Fiber overcoating and undersize recoating
• Remote-site optical fiber repair and assembly
• Laboratory evaluation of different recoating compounds

Why Buy the NYFORS MiniCoater 2 from Simbol Test Systems?

Simbol Test Systems supplies professional fiber recoaters, specialty fusion splicers, proof testers, precision cleavers, fiber holders, coating materials, molds, and related optical fiber processing equipment. We support customers with product selection, configuration assistance, maintenance, repair, and technical service.

Configuring the MiniCoater 2 requires careful selection of the mold diameter, mold length, fiber clamps, recoating material, curing parameters, and finished coating profile. Simbol Test Systems can help review the fiber dimensions and application requirements before the recoater and accessories are selected.

NYFORS MiniCoater 2 Specifications

NYFORS MiniCoater 2 Ordering Information

MiniCoater 2 Standard 34 mm Molds

MiniCoater 2 Standard 55 mm Molds

MiniCoater 2 Accessories

Mold and Clamp Selection Guide

Select the mold according to the required finished recoating diameter and recoated length. The mold does not need to match the original coating diameter when overcoating or undersize recoating is intentionally required.

Select the fiber clamps according to the original fiber coating diameter surrounding the stripped section. Use the 165 to 330 µm clamp set for smaller coated fibers and the 330 to 900 µm set for larger coated fibers.

For non-standard diameters, coating profiles, or fiber geometries, provide the complete fiber dimensions and desired finished coating profile when requesting a custom silicone mold.

Professional Support and Availability

Contact Simbol Test Systems with the original fiber coating diameter, bare-fiber diameter, required recoating diameter, recoated length, compound type, curing requirements, and intended operating environment to request NYFORS MiniCoater 2 availability, mold selection, custom mold assistance, replacement accessories, maintenance, repair, or technical support.