Automated Precision Centering of Optical Fibers for Nano-Grinding

Abstract An automated centering mechanism has been developed to enable axisymmetric grinding of lensed optical fibers. The system has two perpendicular two-degree of freedom motion planes and is mounted on a precision spindle. This provides a total of five-degrees of freedom, allowing for position and angle control in the perpendicular planes, as well as rotation about the spindle's axis. A closed loop centering controller has been implemented and feedback is provided via a high precision machine vision system. The mechanism is capable of axial alignment accuracies to the order of less than 500 nm and 0.03°.