Methods and systems for marring fiber optic substrates

Abstract

A method of marring a fiber optic substrate by directing a water jet abrasive slurry at the substrate while causing relative movement between an elongate support for the substrate and the water jet abrasive slurry to produce a marring pattern on the substrate. The pressure of the water jet abrasive slurry and/or the rate of relative movement between the elongate support and the water jet abrasive slurry may be varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate.

1 . A method of marring a fiber optic substrate comprising the steps of supporting a length of the substrate on an elongate support, and directing a water jet abrasive slurry at the substrate while causing relative movement between the elongate support and the water jet abrasive slurry to produce a marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pressure of the water jet abrasive slurry is varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rate of relative movement between the elongate support and the water jet abrasive slurry is varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the elongate support is caused to move at a variable speed lengthwise relative to the water jet abrasive slurry to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the water jet abrasive slurry is caused to move at a variable speed lengthwise relative to the elongate support to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the elongate support is vertically oriented and the water jet abrasive slurry is directed horizontally at the substrate to facilitate runoff of the abrasive slurry from the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one or more nozzles are used to direct the water jet abrasive slurry at the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more nozzles are intermittently operated during relative movement between the elongate support and the one or more nozzles lengthwise of the elongate support to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the rate of relative movement between the elongate support and the one or more nozzles is varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the elongate support is caused to move at a variable speed lengthwise relative to the one or more nozzles to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more nozzles are caused to move at a variable speed lengthwise relative to the elongate support to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . A method of marring a fiber optic substrate comprising the steps of supporting a length of the substrate on an elongate support, and directing a water jet at the substrate while causing relative movement between the elongate support and the water jet to produce a marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the water jet contains an abrasive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the pressure of the water jet is varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the rate of relative movement between the elongate support and the water jet is varied to produce a variable marring pattern on the substrate.