Optical Fiber Alignment Block

Name: Optical Fiber Alignment Block | Fiber Cable Positioner Block- Frigate
Price: 249.00 USD
Availability: InStock

The Optical Fiber Alignment Block is engineered to maintain sub-micron positioning accuracy between adjacent fiber cores and interfacing photonic structures. With pitch errors controlled within ±0.5 µm, the block enables minimal lateral and angular misalignment, directly reducing insertion loss and back reflection. This precision is critical for dense WDM systems, high-speed transceivers, and photonic integrated circuits where tight optical budgets dictate performance.

Material Specification

Aluminum 6061-T6 (standard), Stainless Steel 304, or Invar (low CTE); optional nickel plating or gold coating for reflectivity.

Dimensional Tolerances

Overall Block – ±0.02 mm; V-Grooves/Bores – ±0.005 mm.

V-Groove Angle/Bore Diameter

V-Groove Angle – 60° ±0.1° (standard), 72° or custom; Bore Diameter – ±0.002 mm (for ferrule alignment).

V-Groove/Bore Pitch Accuracy

Pitch/Spacing – ±0.005 mm (single-mode fiber), ±0.01 mm (multi-mode).

Surface Finish

Fiber Contact Areas – Ra ≤0.1 µm (superfinish); non-contact surfaces – Ra ≤0.4 µm.

Product Description

Thermal-induced mechanical drift can degrade long-term alignment in fiber-optic assemblies. The Optical Fiber Alignment Block uses low-CTE substrates such as alumina ceramic or thermally stable polymers to resist dimensional change across broad temperature ranges. This material selection ensures the block maintains consistent geometric stability, preventing micro-movement of fiber cores that would otherwise disrupt modal overlap or introduce bending stress.

Flatness/Coplanarity

≤0.01 mm across reference surface (ensures fiber alignment).

Perpendicularity of Faces

90° ±0.05° (critical for multi-axis alignment).

Burr-Free Requirement

Laser-deburred or diamond-cut edges; ISO 13715 compliant (zero detectable burrs).

Cleanliness Requirements

Class 100 cleanroom packaged; non-ionic residue (<1 µg/cm²); ultrasonic cleaning optional.

Certification Standards

ISO 9001:2015; RoHS/REACH compliant; ITAR (optional for defense applications).

Technical Advantages

Repeatable fiber alignment is critical in volume production environments where active alignment is impractical. The Optical Fiber Alignment Block provides pre-defined mechanical reference structures—such as V-grooves or micro-machined trenches—that guide fiber positioning without active feedback. These passive elements are dimensioned based on cladding diameter and mode field geometry, ensuring reproducible alignment across multiple assemblies with no dependency on manual tuning.

Parallel optical systems demand high fiber density and uniform coupling efficiency across multiple channels. The Optical Fiber Alignment Block supports tightly packed multi-fiber arrays with pitch tolerances down to 125 µm, while maintaining trench-to-trench uniformity within ±1 µm. Such channel uniformity is essential in multi-lane transceivers, LiDAR arrays, and optical backplanes where synchronization and loss uniformity are critical.

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Industry Applications

Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Packaging

Ensures low-loss fiber coupling to chip facets with sub-micron precision for high-density optical I/O interfaces.

DWDM Transceiver Module Assembly

Enables accurate core alignment in multi-channel fiber arrays used in dense wavelength division multiplexing for telecom and datacom systems.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Systems

Maintains stable single-mode fiber alignment in interferometric imaging setups to preserve axial resolution and signal integrity.

LiDAR Optical Transmit/Receive Modules

Aligns multiple emitter and detector fibers with fixed beam angles for structured light projection and backscatter capture.

Quantum Communication Systems

Positions polarization-maintaining fibers with angular precision for stable entanglement distribution and low decoherence in quantum networks.

Automated Fiber Optic Splicing Equipment

Provides passive fiber holding structure with defined pitch and alignment for core-matching in fusion splicing platforms.

Ferrule and Waveguide Interface Co-Planarity

Optical coupling efficiency relies heavily on axial alignment and surface co-planarity between mating elements. The Optical Fiber Alignment Block is manufactured with top-surface flatness under 1 µm, allowing precise Z-axis alignment with ferrules, PLC waveguides, or micro-lens arrays. This minimizes axial defocus and angular tilt, which are common sources of mode mismatch and coupling degradation.

Robust alignment during packaging and testing requires consistent mechanical referencing. The Optical Fiber Alignment Block includes precision-machined datum features compatible with industry-standard fixturing systems. These allow for controlled angular orientation, vertical alignment, and positional repeatability in automated assembly, optical probing, or final module integration environments.

Having Doubts? Our FAQ

Check all our Frequently Asked Question

How does Frigate ensure thermal stability in Optical Fiber Alignment Blocks used in outdoor photonic enclosures?

Frigate uses low-CTE materials like alumina and glass-filled polymers that resist expansion during thermal cycling. This prevents core misalignment due to temperature fluctuations in uncontrolled environments. Each block is tested across -40°C to +85°C for dimensional stability. This ensures the alignment remains intact under varying environmental conditions.

What is Frigate’s process for achieving trench-to-trench pitch uniformity in multi-channel Optical Fiber Alignment Blocks?

Frigate uses high-precision dicing and CNC micro-machining with feedback-controlled toolpaths. This achieves pitch uniformity under ±1 µm across all fiber channels. Such accuracy is critical for coherent optical systems and WDM modules. Final inspection uses non-contact metrology to verify trench geometry and spacing.

Can Frigate provide alignment blocks for elliptical or asymmetric-core fibers in interferometric systems?

Yes, Frigate manufactures custom Optical Fiber Alignment Blocks with tailored trench cross-sections. Rotational alignment features are integrated to maintain axis control for elliptical and polarization-maintaining fibers. These are essential in interferometric sensors and coherent transmission modules. Design validation includes rotational eccentricity and axis alignment measurements.

How does Frigate handle surface co-planarity requirements when bonding Optical Fiber Alignment Blocks to waveguides?

Frigate ensures top-surface co-planarity under 1 µm using precision lapping and polishing methods. This guarantees low axial tilt and consistent Z-height during fiber-to-waveguide coupling. The process eliminates defocus and angular misalignment that cause coupling losses. All critical surfaces are verified using surface profilometry.

What fixturing references does Frigate include in Optical Fiber Alignment Blocks for automated assembly lines?

Frigate integrates mechanical datum planes and edge features for accurate XY and θ referencing. These features allow robotic pick-and-place alignment without the need for vision-based corrections. Alignment references are compatible with standard fiber array packaging jigs. This ensures high-speed, repeatable assembly in automated lines.

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LOCATIONS

Global Sales Office

818, Preakness lane, Coppell, Texas, USA – 75019

Registered Office

10-A, First Floor, V.V Complex, Prakash Nagar, Thiruverumbur, Trichy-620013, Tamil Nadu, India.

Operations Office

9/1, Poonthottam Nagar, Ramanandha Nagar, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore-641035, Tamil Nadu, India. ㅤ

Optical Fiber Alignment Block

Material Specification

Dimensional Tolerances

V-Groove Angle/Bore Diameter

V-Groove/Bore Pitch Accuracy

Surface Finish

Product Description

Flatness/Coplanarity

Perpendicularity of Faces

Burr-Free Requirement

Cleanliness Requirements

Certification Standards

Technical Advantages

Let's Get Started

Industry Applications

Ferrule and Waveguide Interface Co-Planarity

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Optical Fiber Alignment Block

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Optical Fiber Alignment Block

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