• Fiber Connector Cleaning Fluid or Cleaning Sticks
• Ideal Replacements for IPA and/or Acetone

The FCS3 TravelSAFE* Fiber Connector Cleaning Fluid is an optical-grade, fast drying cleaning solution engineered for cleaning connectors within alignment sleeves. It is an ozone-safe can that removes fingerprints, light oils, dust, fibers, water spots, and surface films from fiber components, and it can be used with the MCC25 Connector Cleaning Sticks or LFW90 Wipes (sold below). The FCS3 provides over 400 cleanings.

The MCC25 Connector Cleaning Sticks are molded swabs clean entire end faces. It conforms to the geometry of connector end faces to trap more particulates than fabric-style cleaning sticks. It is made without fabric, foam, glue, or particulates.

For tips on using the FCS3 and MCC25, please see the Fiber Cleaning Techniques tab above.

*TravelSAFE designation indicates that the product is safe for air shipment.

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These fiber cleaners clean both fiber connectors and fiber bulkheads. To clean connectors, simply expose the top of the guide cap and insert the connector tip. To clean bulkheads, remove the guide cap completely and insert the fiber cleaner into the bulkhead.

• FBC125 Cleans 1.25 mm LC or MU Connectors and Bulkheads with PC or APC Polishes
• FBC250 Cleans 2.5 mm SC, ST^®*, FC, and E2000 Connectors and Bulkheads with PC or APC Polishes
• Window to Indicate when to Replace Device or Cartridge
• Small Size Ideal for Constrained Spaces

These fiber connector and bulkhead cleaners eliminate the need to use solvents when removing light dust, particulates, and oil contamination from connectors. They are ideal for fast cleanings and for use in tight spaces, such as panels with several closely-spaced fiber bulkheads. Both the FBC125 and FBC250 cleaners feature a window that indicates when the cartridge needs to be replaced. Replacement cartridges for both cleaners are available for purchase in packs of two.

Each cleaner is 9.25" (235 mm) long and offers over 750 cleanings per cartridge. The FBC125 cleaner is compatible with 1.25 mm LC or MU connectors with PC or APC polishes, while the FBC250 cleaner can be used on 2.5 mm SC, ST, FC, and E2000 and bulkheads with PC or APC polishes.

For examples and more information about how to use these cleaners, see the Fiber Cleaning Techniques tab above.

*ST^® is a registered trademark of Lucent Technologies, Inc.

• Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth
• Resilient Rubber Pad Beneath Cleaning Surface
• Sliding Cover to Prevent Contamination
• Refillable Cleaning Cloth Reel Available (Item # FCC-7021)

The FCC-7020 Universal Fiber Connector Cleaner is a great alternative to alcohol or solvent. It contains a 20'-long, spooled cleaning cloth that effectively removes dirt, dust, oil, grease, and debris from a variety of connector end faces. A resilient rubber pad beneath the cleaning surface prevents scratching, and a plastic sliding cover protects the cleaner from contamination when not in use.

• LFW90 Lint-Free Wipes Clean Fiber and Connector End Faces
• KW32 Kimwipes^®† Clean Connectors between Polishing Steps
• TCW604 TechniCloth^®†† Lint-Free Wipes Reduce Scratching when Cleaning Delicate Fibers and Connectors

LFW90 Lint-Free Wipes
The LFW90 Lint-Free Wipes are ideal for cleaning fiber and connector end faces. Included are ninety 2" x 4" sheets per tub.

KW32 Kimwipes^®
The KW32 Kimwipes Tissues are durable, low-lint sheets and are appropriate for cleaning optical fiber connectors between polishing steps. Please note that Kimwipes are sold in cases, with 12 boxes per case and 280 Kimwipes per box, and partial cases cannot be provided. Kimwipes are not ideal for cleaning optics. Instead, we recommend using the MC-5 lens tissues (sold below) to clean optics.

TCW604 TechniCloth^® Lint-Free Wipes
The TCW604 TechniCloth^® Lint-Free Dry Wipes have a highly absorbent, lint-free design that can be used to clean stripped bare fiber and connectors. Manufactured from a 45% polyester / 55% cellulose nonwoven material, these wipes feature a cut edge and are suitable for use in ISO Class 5 - 8 cleanroom environments. Three hundred 4" x 4" TechniCloth^® wipes are included in each bag. With a design that reduces scratching, these wipes are ideal for cleaning fiber made from softer materials, such as our mid-IR fluoride fiber. Please note that we recommend using either isopropyl alcohol or methanol when cleaning our fluoride fibers.

^†Kimwipes^® is a registered trademark of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

^††TechniCloth^® is a registered trademark of the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Corporation.

• Extremely Soft, Premium Grade Sheets
• Single Sheet Dimension: 4.9" x 2.9" (124 x 73 mm)
• Meets U.S. Government Lens Tissue Specification A-A-50177B

These 4.9" x 2.9" (124 x 73 mm) organic fiber sheet lens tissues are free from contaminants and adhesives, making them ideal for cleaning high-grade optics with or without the use of optic-cleaning solvents. Lens tissue will not leave lint or fibers on the optic and can be used to wrap an optic before placing it in a storage container. The MC-5 includes 5 booklets, with 25 sheets per booklet. The MC-50E is a bulk version of the MC-5 and includes 50 booklets with 25 sheets per booklet in a closeable box.

• One-Handed Operation
• Holds Up to 8 oz (236.59 mL) of Solvent

This one-touch pump dispenser bottle is great for minimizing evaporation of solvents when cleaning optics with a swab or brush. Simply flip up the cap and press down on the spring-loaded top to fill the shallow reservoir with solvent. The bottle has a capacity of 8 oz and is suitable for most solvents, including acetone, gasoline, propanol, MEK, toluene, turpentine, and water. Eighteen pre-labeled and two blank self-adhesive labels are included.

• Remove Broken Fiber from Connectors with Bore Diameters >110 µm
• Eight Pieces of 3" Long Wire Included
• Colored Tabs Included to Assist with Holding Wires While Cleaning

These fiber clean-out wires allow the user to push broken fiber out from connectors with bore diameters larger than 110 µm. Each vial includes eight pieces of 3" long wire along with colored sticker tabs that can be folded over the wire to improve grip. 

• Non-Flammable HFO-1234ze Propellant
• Integrated Plastic Nozzle
• Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 6
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential

Thorlabs offers the CA4-US and CA6-EU Eco-Friendly Air Dusters. These dusters evaporate HFO-1234ze to create high pressure gusts. These general use dusting cans are ideal for cleaning and maintaining optical and electrical equipment while leaving no residue. Due to different nations' regulations, we offer two versions of this product: the CA4-US is compliant in the United States and Canada, while the CA6-EU is compliant in the European Union. These dusters are chemically identical, but have different packaging and volumes; the -US version contains 10 ounces, while the -EU version contains 400 mL. Be sure to check with your government's regulations before ordering either product. The labels for the CA4-US can be downloaded by clicking here and the CA6-EU by clicking here.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Global Warming Potential according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂). CO₂ is defined as having a GWP of 1. GWP is usually estimated for a 100-year time horizon, but other methods may be used. The higher the GWP of a gas, the more energy it can trap in Earth's atmosphere, correlating to a higher average global temperature. For a point of comparison, methane (CH₄) is listed as having a GWP of between 21 and 25. This duster's propellant, HFO-1234ze (1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene), is phototransformed in the air with ~100% degradation observed by 14 days, and has a GWP of 6. 

The attached MSDS, found by clicking the () icon, is given in over twenty languages. 

• 3 oz Can of Fiber Connector Cleaner (Item # FCS3)
• Connector Cleaning Sticks (Item # MCC25)
• Tub of Lint-Free Wipes (Item # LFW90)
• Handheld Connector Cleaner (Item # FCC-7020)
• Replacement Reel for Handheld Connector Cleaner (Item # FCC-7021)

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View of PANDA-Style PM Fiber with the FS201 Inspection Scope and FS201-PM Adapter

• Critically Examine Fiber Polish Quality
• Scope Includes Two Fiber Adapters:
  • FS201-FC: FC/PC, FC/APC, ST^®*/PC, and SC/PC Connectors
  • FS201-SMA: SMA905 and SMA906 Connectors
• Additional Connector Adapters Sold Separately Below
• Batteries are Included

The FS201 Fiber Inspection Scope produces a high-quality, low-distortion image of both the fiber end and surrounding ferrule. With a high-intensity illumination system and 200X magnification, this microscope is powerful enough to offer a clear image of the fiber core as well as the surrounding cladding. The FS201 offers both coaxial and oblique illumination settings. The coaxial setting provides symmetric lighting for high-detail inspection, and the oblique setting provides light at an off-center angle to the fiber end face for higher contrast. The FS201 should not be used to inspect a fiber connected to an active light source; light sources must be disconnected or turned off prior to inspection.

The FS201 includes the FS201-FC adapter for FC-/ST-/SC-terminated fibers (Ø2.5 mm ferrules) and the FS201-SMA adapter for SMA905- and SMA906-terminated fibers (Ø3 mm ferrules). The FS200-LC adapter for LC-terminated fibers (Ø1.25 mm ferrules) and the FS201-PM for polarization-maintaining fibers are available separately below.

Fiber Scope Operation
Insert the fiber connector into the adapter until it stops and then firmly hold in place during inspection. To activate illumination, flip the switch on the bottom of the scope; "|" activates coaxial illumination, while "||" activates oblique illumination. Once finished, flip the switch back to "O" to turn the scope off.

To inspect the full surface area of fibers with larger cores or fibers with angled faces, it may be necessary to rotate the fiber connector. This is also useful for differentiating between contaminants on the face of the fiber connector and those on the scope optic itself. In order to see the entire field of view, the rubber eyepiece should be as close as possible to the operator's eye. Operators who normally wear eyeglasses should remove them to fully inspect the fiber. Please note that under normal operation, the focus adjustment knob should not be rotated to its limits. Doing so repeatedly may cause the unit to fail over time.

The FS201 should not be used to view an active emitting fiber. An attenuating laser safety filter in the FS201 reduces the risk of accidental viewing of active fiber emissions. However, due to the IR wavelengths commonly used in fiber optics, the natural aversion reflex to viewing bright light is suppressed and can result in a longer accidental exposure time. Therefore, Thorlabs recommends that light sources must be disconnected from the patch cable or turned off prior to inspection.

Adapter Alignment
Although each adapter comes pre-aligned for use with the FS201, it may be necessary to align the adapter to center the fiber in the field of view for fibers with poor centration. First, follow the basic steps above to inspect a test fiber. Using a 1.5 mm hex key or balldriver, loosen the three setscrews around the edge of the connector adapter at the end of the scope. Look through the illuminated scope, focus on the fiber ferrule, and align the connector until the ferrule face is centered within the field of view. Progressively adjust the three setscrews until the end face is in the center of the scope view.

*ST^® is a registered trademark of Lucent Technologies, Inc.

Connector Adapters for the FS201 Fiber Inspection Scope
Photos (Click to Enlarge)
Item #	FS201-FCa	FS201-PMb	FS201-SMAb	FS200-LCb
Compatible Connectors	FC/ST/SC	PM FCc	SMA905 SMA906	LC
Included with FS201	Yes	No	Yes	No

• The FS201-FC is not backwards compatible with the previous generation FS200 Fiber Inspection Scope.
• FS201-PM, FS201-SMA, and FS-200LC are compatible with both the FS200 and FS201 Fiber Inspection Scopes.
• This adapter features a v-groove aligned with the FC connector key on polarization-maintaining patch cables. However, It is also compatible with standard FC, ST, and SC connectors.

• Connector Adapters Compatible with the FS201 Fiber Inspection Scope
• Options Available for FC, ST^®*, SC, SMA905, SMA906, or LC Connector Types
• FS201-PM Adapter Features V-Groove Aligned to Wide Key Slot (2.2 mm) of the FC/PC Bulkhead

These connector adapters are used with the FS201 Fiber Inspection Scope sold above to enable compatibility with different ferrule and connector types (see table to the right for options). The FS201-PM adapter is like the FS201-FC adapter, except it features a V-groove that is aligned with the wide key slot on the FC/PC bulkhead. This provides a rough guide for determining the relative alignment of the connector key to the fiber stress members when used with polarization-maintaining patch cables.

Although each adapter comes pre-aligned for use with the FS201, it may be necessary to align the adapter to center the fiber in the field of view for fibers with poor centration. First, follow the basic steps above to inspect a test fiber. Using a 1.5 mm hex key or balldriver, loosen the three setscrews around the edge of the connector adapter at the end of the scope. Look through the illuminated scope, focus on the fiber ferrule, and align the connector until the ferrule face is centered within the field of view. Progressively adjust the three setscrews until the end face is in the center of the scope view.

*ST^® is a registered trademark of Lucent Technologies, Inc.

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• Safe Solution for Disposing of Cleaved Fiber Ends
• One Circular and One Rectangular Covered Hole in Lid
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 2.75" x 2.75" x 6" (6.99 cm x 6.99 cm x 15.24 cm)
• Disposable: Do Not Reuse

The FTDU offers a safe solution for disposal of cleaved fiber ends, epoxy and syringes, and other sharp objects. This high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle features a translucent lid with one circular and one rectangular hole in it (see the photo to the right). Both of these holes have individual covers that snap closed to keep the contents inside the unit. Tabs on the side of the lid hold the covers open for hands-free use. The two hole covers are connected by a plastic tab. Cut, or pull, the covers apart to use the holes separately.

To use, insert sharps into one of the holes in the lid. Do not remove the lid itself from the unit. Use the "Contents" space on the label to clearly indicate what is inside. To protect against spills, keep the holes covered when not inserting sharps. When it is full, securely cover both holes in the lid by inserting the tab on the cover into the slot in the lid and dispose of the canister according to the contents. Do not fill the sharps container past the indicated "Full" line on the label. Do not reuse this unit; it is a one-time-use container only.