Technical data

What materials do I need for proper cleaning? 3
Cleaning Procedures 13
the alcohol is evaporated. You should therefore first remove
the alcohol and the dust with a soft tissue, and then use com-
pressed air to blow away any remaining filaments.
If possible avoid using denatured alcohol containing additives.
Instead, apply alcohol used for medical purposes.
Never drink this alcohol, as it may seriously damage your
health.
Do not use any other solvents, as some may damage plastic
materials and claddings. Acetone, for example, will dissolve
the epoxy used with fiber optic connectors. To avoid damage,
only use isopropyl alcohol.
Cotton swabs
We recommend that you use swabs such as Q-tips or other
cotton swabs normally available from local distributors of med-
ical and hygiene products (for example, a supermarket or a
chemist’s shop). You may be able to obtain various sizes of
swab. If this is the case, select the smallest size for your small-
est devices.
Ensure that you use natural cotton swabs. Some foam swabs
will often leave behind filmy deposits after cleaning.
Use care when cleaning, and avoid pressing too hard onto your
optical device with the swab. Too much pressure may scratch
the surface, and could cause your device to become mis-
aligned. It is advisable to rub gently over the surface using only
a small circular movement.
Swabs should be used straight out of the packet, and never
used twice. This is because dust and dirt in the atmosphere, or
from a first cleaning, may collect on your swab and scratch the
surface of your optical device.
Soft tissues
These are available from most stores and dis-
tributors of medical and hygiene products such
as supermarkets or chemists shops.
cleaning.book Page 13 Wednesday, May 22, 2002 5:16 PM