OPTICAL FIBER PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND CROSSHEAD DIE THEREFOR

摘要

A crosshead die (16) for a plastic optical fiber fabrication system (10) is provided. The crosshead die (16) includes a body (28), an insert (32), mounting flanges (58) on the upstream (25) and downstream end (26) for securing the crosshead die (16) to adjacent equipment or another crosshead dies (16), an axial bore (14) for receiving a mixed molten material that makes up the core, and a radial bore (36) for receiving a mixed molten material that makes up the outer layering material to be co-extruded over the core. The die insert (32) includes a material distribution channel system (70) that provides substantially the same linear distance for the mixed molten material to travel prior to the co-extrusion. If multiple die inserts are utilized, the crosshead die is able to co-extrude multiple layers over the core. If the crosshead dies are serially assembled, additional concentric layers of material can be co-extruded atop the layered plastic optical fiber extruded from the upstream crosshead die.