HCS® 300 µm 0.37 NA High OH Optical Fibre

HCS fibre uses a hard polymer cladding around a silica glass core, unlike standard all-glass fibres that use glass cladding. This makes the fibre mechanically tougher and easier to terminate in the field. It supports practical crimp-style connector attachment without the epoxy and polishing processes usually associated with conventional glass fibre termination. The trade-off is that HCS fibre typically has higher attenuation and lower bandwidth than telecom-grade fibre, so it is best for rugged short-range links rather than long-distance transmission.

A 300 µm core captures much more light than a smaller-core fibre, which makes alignment and coupling easier. The 0.37 numerical aperture allows the fibre to accept light over a relatively wide angle, improving tolerance to source misalignment and helping maintain transmission under practical installation conditions. Together, these characteristics make the fibre well suited to LEDs, VCSELs, sensors, and industrial systems where ease of coupling and robust operation matter more than maximum bandwidth.

A high-OH fibre is generally preferred for visible to near-infrared use, especially across roughly 400 nm to 900 nm, including common wavelengths such as 650 nm and 850 nm. In this range, it offers good transmission performance. For longer infrared wavelengths such as 1300 nm or 1550 nm, a low-OH fibre is typically the better choice because it reduces attenuation in those regions. In short, high-OH is the right option for visible and 850 nm applications, while low-OH is better for deeper infrared transmission.

This fibre supports a simple crimp-and-cleave termination process. The connector ferrule can be crimped directly onto the fibre, and the protruding core is then cleaved flush. This avoids adhesive curing, ovens, and polishing steps, making installation faster and easier with handheld tools. It is especially useful for industrial and remote environments where quick field termination is important.

Yes. The fibre is designed for demanding environments and supports operation from –65 °C to +125 °C. It can tolerate short-term bends down to 15 mm and long-term bends of 24 mm or more, while the hard polymer cladding and ETFE buffer improve resistance to crush, twist, abrasion, oils, solvents, and other industrial stresses. These characteristics make it a strong fit for harsh installations requiring long service life.

Typical applications include industrial data communication, fibre-optic sensors, instrumentation, spectroscopy, illumination systems, and laser delivery in medical or industrial equipment. It is a strong choice wherever a large-core multimode fibre is needed for reliable short-to-moderate distance transmission, straightforward connectorisation, and dependable performance in rugged conditions.

Not ideally. With attenuation around 12 dB/km at 820 nm and the modal dispersion expected from a large-core step-index multimode design, this fibre is intended for short-haul to moderate-distance links rather than long-distance high-speed communication. It is well suited to applications spanning tens or hundreds of metres, but for multi-kilometre transmission, a standard graded-index multimode or single-mode fibre is typically more appropriate.