FGC-GS Fiber Geometry System

The FGC-GS Fiber Geometry System from Arden Photonics is a comprehensive fiber geometry measurement solution designed for both research and development laboratories and high-volume production environments. Engineered to measure standard and specialty optical fibers with diameters up to 800 μm, the system provides fast, accurate, and repeatable characterization of a wide range of fiber types, including single-mode fibers, polarization-maintaining (PANDA) fibers, active fibers, multi-core fibers, and hollow-core fiber designs such as NANF and DNANF.

To address the evolving requirements of the photonics industry, Arden Photonics has redesigned its flagship fiber geometry platform, creating a system that is approximately 25% smaller than previous generations while delivering enhanced accuracy, improved usability, and a more compact footprint. The result is a modern measurement solution that combines advanced performance with practical laboratory and production-floor integration.

The FGC-GS has been specifically developed for manufacturers and researchers working with increasingly complex fiber designs. As specialty fibers continue to expand into new telecommunications, sensing, medical, and industrial applications, reliable geometry measurements have become essential for maintaining product quality and ensuring design compliance. The FGC-GS provides the precision required to characterize critical fiber features quickly and consistently.

One of the system's standout capabilities is its impressive measurement speed. Advanced optical hardware and software algorithms work together with one-click dual-wavelength illumination to provide rapid results while maintaining exceptional accuracy. This combination supports efficient quality control procedures and accelerates product development cycles without compromising measurement confidence.

Absolute measurement accuracy is maintained through Arden’s unique golden-fiber calibration artefact, the FGC-FCD125. This calibration standard is fully traceable to the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom, ensuring reliable and traceable results throughout the instrument's operational life. Users can perform in-house calibration, significantly reducing downtime and eliminating the need for frequent factory servicing.

The system’s innovative software architecture further enhances its flexibility. Dedicated software plug-ins provide standardized measurement routines for specific fiber types, helping manufacturers establish consistent quality control procedures across production lines. At the same time, powerful manual analysis tools enable engineers and researchers to characterize new and emerging fiber designs that may not yet fit established measurement workflows.

Combining excellent repeatability, advanced automation, flexible analysis tools, and industry-leading speed, the FGC-GS delivers the performance required for next-generation optical fiber development and manufacturing.

Key Features

• Measures the geometric parameters of standard and specialty optical fibers with diameters up to 800 μm.
• Suitable for a broad range of fiber types, including single-mode, multimode, PANDA polarization-maintaining, active, multicore, NANF, and DNANF hollow-core fibers.
• Redesigned platform offers a significantly smaller footprint, approximately 25% smaller than previous models, while improving measurement accuracy and usability.
• Enhanced optical system and advanced algorithms deliver faster measurements without compromising precision.
• One-click dual-wavelength illumination improves workflow efficiency and enables rapid characterization of fiber structures.
• User-performed calibration using the FGC-FCD125 golden-fiber artefact ensures long-term measurement accuracy and traceability to the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
• In-house calibration minimizes downtime and reduces the need for external servicing and recalibration visits.
• Improved manual analysis tools allow quick assessment of new or unconventional fiber designs without requiring automated measurement setup.
• Measurement results can be stored and managed efficiently to support production feedback, traceability, and quality assurance programs.
• Flexible software plug-in architecture enables dedicated measurement routines for specific specialty fiber types and manufacturing processes.

Optional Software Plug-ins

The FGC-GS platform can be expanded through optional software plug-ins designed to automate and standardize geometry measurements for specialty fibers with cladding diameters from 80 μm to 800 μm. Available plug-ins currently support:

• Polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers
• Single-mode and multimode fibers
• Active fibers
• Multi-core fibers
• Hollow-core fibers, including NANF and DNANF designs

These plug-ins streamline production quality control while ensuring consistent and repeatable measurement procedures across manufacturing operations. Additionally, customized plug-ins can be developed to support emerging fiber technologies and future product requirements.

Applications

The FGC-GS is ideally suited for specialty fiber manufacturing environments where precise geometry measurements are required to ensure product consistency and compliance with design specifications. Its automated capabilities help operators verify fiber dimensions rapidly and reliably during production.

Research and development laboratories benefit from the system’s flexible analysis tools, which enable detailed characterization of novel fiber structures and emerging optical fiber technologies. Engineers can quickly evaluate design iterations and gather critical geometry data needed for product optimization.

Manufacturers of polarization-maintaining fibers use the FGC-GS to verify critical geometric parameters that directly influence fiber performance. Similarly, multicore fiber developers can rely on accurate characterization of complex internal structures throughout development and production processes.

The system is also highly effective for active fiber production, where precise geometry plays an important role in optical performance and manufacturing quality. In addition, hollow-core fiber manufacturers can use dedicated plug-ins and advanced measurement capabilities to characterize NANF and DNANF structures with confidence.

Quality assurance departments, production engineers, and fiber researchers alike benefit from the combination of measurement speed, traceability, repeatability, and flexibility that the FGC-GS offers.

Why buy from AMS Technologies?

• Expert product selection and technical support
• Proven components from qualified suppliers
• Reliable European service and supply
• Custom engineering when standard products are not enough
• One partner from component to complete solution

What's next

As optical fiber technologies continue to become more advanced and specialized, accurate geometry characterization is increasingly critical to successful development and manufacturing. The FGC-GS Fiber Geometry System provides a future-ready platform capable of supporting both today’s established fiber designs and tomorrow’s emerging technologies.

With its compact design, enhanced optical performance, NPL-traceable calibration capability, powerful software architecture, and expanding library of specialized measurement plug-ins, the FGC-GS delivers the precision, repeatability, and flexibility required by modern fiber manufacturers and research organizations. Whether deployed in quality control, process development, or advanced photonics research, the system provides a reliable foundation for accurate