The first step in the selection process is to determine whether
a field installable connector or a mechanical splice will best
meet your needs.
Pros
Mechanical
Fast installation
Low tooling cost
Easy to use
Cons
Higher part cost
Slightly higher loss
No field testing
Splice
Fusion
Low insertion loss
and reflection
Low material cost
High equipment cost
Requires power
Higher skill level required
Factory-terminated
No tooling required
Very easy to install
Plug-n-play
Higher cost
Cable management issue
Replacement of damaged
connectors
Connector
Field-terminated
Custom cable installation
Low inventory costs
Easy to install
Lower material costs
Slightly higher loss
Tooling required
Some skill required
3M
™
Field Installable Connectors
3M offers a complete line of fiber connectors
with ceramic ferrules. Our 3M
™
Hot Melt
Connectors, 3M
™
Crimplok
™
Connectors,
3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connectors and 3M
™
No
Polish Connectors (NPCs) are popular among
contractors because of their reliability and ease
of use. 3M field installable connectors maximize
termination yield through ease of mounting and
high performance installation tools. 3M field
installable connectors are available in SC, LC,
ST and FC product families. 3M also provides
field installable FC/APC, SC/APC and LC/APC
angle polish connectors.
3M
™
Fiber Connector Family
Fiber Connector Selection Charts
3M Connector
250/900 µm
Crimplok+
No Polish
Hot Melt
Crimplok
Epoxy
ü
ü
ü
ü
LC
Jacketed
250/900 µm
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
Installation
Method
Performance*
Application
SC
Jacketed
ü
ü
ü
ü
250/900 µm
ü
ü
ü
ü
Recommended
connectors installed
per location
†
ST
Jacketed
250/900 µm
FC
Jacketed
ü
ü
ü
Tools
Required
ü
ü
Tool
Price
ü
ü
Connector
Price
Training
Required
3M
Connector
Crimplok+
No Polish
Hot Melt
Crimplok
Epoxy
(2-part)
Crimp and field
polish
Mechanical
splice with gel/
no field polish
Pre-loaded
adhesive/
field polish
Crimp and field
polish
Field inject
adhesive/
field polish
Outdoor wide
temperature range
Outdoor wide
temperature range
Controlled
environment
Controlled
environment
Outdoor wide
temperature range
Controlled
environment
Service provider/
enterprise cabling
Service provider/
enterprise cabling
Enterprise cabling
Enterprise cabling
Cable assembly
house
Enterprise cabling
Less than 10
Less than 10
Greater than 10
Less than 10
Greater than 100
Greater than 10
Quality cleaver/
Nano finisher/ Install
tool provided
Quality cleaver/
Install tool provided
Electric oven/
Polish tools
Scribe and actuator/
Polish tools
Adhesive syringe/
Polish tools
Adhesive syringe/
Polish tools
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$
$$
$$
$$$
$$$
$$
$$
$
$
$
$
$$
$$
$$$
$$$
Epoxy
Field inject
(Anaerobic) adhesive/
field polish
†
* Outdoor wide temperature range meets Telcordia standards of -40°C to 75°C (-40°F to 167°F). Controlled environment meets TIA 568B.3 requirements for structured cabling.
3M
™
No Polish Connectors , 3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connectors, and 3M
™
Crimplok
™
Connectors use mechanical technology that is quick to set up to install a few connectors.
3M
™
Hot Melt Connectors and 3M
™
Epoxy Connectors installation processes are optimal for a larger number of connectors installed at one location.
3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connectors
3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connectors provide fast, easy field installation of 250 μm
and 900 μm singlemode and multimode fiber without a splice, gel or adhesive.
The connectors are SC compatible with a metallic element that mechanically
locks the fiber in place. To install, the fiber is cleaved, inserted through the
connector and locked in place using the 3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Protrusion Setting
Tool and the fiber tip polished with the 3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Nano Finishing Tool.
This hand tool utilizes a polishing film and an orbital mechanism that polishes
with a single turn of the handle. Once completed, the connector is cleaned and
ready for use.
Crimplok+ Connectors have a thermally balanced design that is tested for
premises and FTTP applications for indoor and outdoor conditions from
-40°F to 167°F. The connectors have a streamlined boot attached to the
body, minimizing the chance of losing or forgetting to install it during the
termination process. After installation, the boot helps keep the fiber from
kinking, even during side pull.
The Crimplok+ Connectors and Tools are RoHS compliant.*
Field-polished
fiber tip
Mechanical fiber crimp
(No splice or gel)
Field fiber through
connector
3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connector Family
Features and Benefits
3M
™
Crimplok
™
+ Connectors
No splice, gel or adhesive
Simple assembly tools
Thermally balanced design
Polishing film with every connector
One-piece, pre-assembled design
Field installation
SC/APC angle polish
Eliminates splice interface/potential optical loss point
Fast, easy installation without electrical power
Excellent optical performance from -40°F to 167°F
Always have new polishing film
No small, loose parts
Always the right cable length with no cable slack to store