User Guide

3M
™
Polishing Film helps you consistently meet geometry and fiber height requirements in your
MT connector polishing operation. Precisely graded minerals coated on a fibrous backing enable
you to generate fiber protrusion and attain the proper ferrule geometry.
3M Polishing Film can provide:
• Control of fiber protrusion • Less cleaning than a slurry process
• High throughput • Low rejects
Suggested Process for Polishing MT Fiber Optic Connectors
3M Technical Service Engineers recommend using the following sequences for polishing MT fiber
optic connectors. These sequences provide typical starting points. Your actual process may vary
depending on your polishing equipment and finish requirements.
3M
TM
Polishing Film
Prod. Micron
I.D. Mineral Grade Color
298X aluminum oxide 0.5 pink
298X aluminum oxide 1 green
498X silicon carbide 3 gray
598X cerium oxide 0.5 peach
Thermoset MT (singlemode)
Micron Product
Step Grade Mineral I.D. Description Color
Remove Epoxy 15 Silicon Carbide 468X 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 2 3 Silicon Carbide 468XW 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 3 3 Silicon Carbide 498X 3M
TM
Polishing Film gray
Repeat Step 3 with fresh abrasive for increased protrusion
Step 4 1 Aluminum Oxide 298X 3M
TM
Polishing Film green
Step 5 0.5 Cerium Oxide 598X 3M
TM
Polishing Film peach
Thermoset MT (singlemode or multimode)
Micron Product
Step Grade Mineral I.D. Description Color
Remove Epoxy 15 Silicon Carbide 468X 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 2 3 Silicon Carbide 468XW 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 3 1 Aluminum Oxide 298X 3M
TM
Polishing Film green
Step 4 0.5 Cerium Oxide 598X 3M™ Polishing Film peach
Thermoplastic MT (singlemode or multimode)
Micron Product
Step Grade Mineral I.D. Description Color
Remove Epoxy* 15 Silicon Carbide 468X 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 2 (cut angle) 15 Silicon Carbide 468X 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 3 3 Silicon Carbide 468XW 3M
TM
Lapping Film gray
Step 4 3 Silicon Carbide 498X 3M
TM
Polishing Film gray
Repeat Step 4 with fresh abrasive for increased protrusion
Step 5 1 Aluminum Oxide 298X 3M
TM
Polishing Film green
Step 6 0.5 Cerium Oxide 598X 3M
TM
Polishing Film peach
*Remove epoxy in flat fixture
For multimode, add or replace last step with 863X or 863XW Final Polish Film for 5 seconds.
All products listed above are available without PSA.
Thermoset Angled MT
3M
™
Polishing Film for MT Style Fiber Optic Connectors
3