High-Speed Multi-Color Optical Fiber Ring Marking
The demand for efficient, low-attenuation and flexible optical fiber manufacturing is driving the need for faster and more versatile marking systems. Conventional inkjet ring marking is limited by printer speed, single-color output and contributes to increased attenuation. This paper presents a wet-on-wet ring marking technology that achieves significantly higher speeds and supports multi-color identification while maintaining attenuation at levels comparable to standard fiber coloring. The system applies both the ring and coating color directly to the fiber surface, followed by rapid curing, enabling stable mark spacing at production speeds. A wide range of ink colors allows extensive combinations for improved identification and market differentiation. Testing with multiple coating materials
confirmed attenuation performance via OTDR, showing improvements over traditional inkjet marking. By combining high-speed operation, multi-color capability and minimal attenuation, this development represents a major advancement in fiber manufacturing. System design, process integration and production trial results are detailed.