What is the most important requirement for making a good splice?

The most critical requirement for making a good splice is the use of a precision cleaving tool. Cleaving is the process of cutting the fiber ends to prepare them for fusion or mechanical splicing. A precise, clean cut is essential because it ensures that the ends of the fibers align perfectly, which significantly impacts the performance of the splice. If the fibers are not cleaved accurately, even by a few microns, it can lead to significant signal loss or even a complete failure of the splice.

While proper stripping tools, a clean environment, and understanding fiber tolerances are all important factors in fiber optic installation and maintenance, the cleaving step is where the quality of the splice is most directly determined. Therefore, achieving a high-quality cleave is fundamental to ensuring optimal splice performance.