These images are of a large diameter Polarisation Maintaining fiber taken using a VF-20 Trio, on Hi Mag setting.

The images clearly show the cleave initiation point, the stress members and the cracking caused during cleaving because of the stress locked into the fiber.

Click on an image to see an larger version.

These images are of a 105/125 um fiber, taken using a VF-20 Classic. The cleave initiation point is clearly visible at the bottom of the image, and the interferomgram indicates a significant end angle is present on the fiber. The cleave angle estimation feature in the VF-20 software showed this to be an angle of over 3 degrees. The inspect mode shows the core/caldding boundary

Click on an image to see an larger version.

These images are of a 125um diameter singlemode fiber cleaved using a Photon Kinetics FK-12 angled cleaver set at 8 degrees. The cleave was inspected using a VF-20 Classic with an VF-H8 8 degree fiber holder.

The interferogram shows the cleave is very close to 8 degrees but the end face has the saddle shape which is characteristic of a fiber cleaved using the "tension and torsion" method of angled cleaving. The cleave initiation point is at the bottom of the picture and shards of glass which can be seen on the inspect image are typical of the debris caused by the damage which occurs to the surface of the fiber at higher cleave angles.

Click on an image to see an larger version.