Understanding Numerical Aperture (NA) in Optical Fibers Numerical aperture (NA) is one of those specs that's easy to overlook when you're choosing a fiber. Core diameter, material, connector type — those get all the attention. But NA directly determines whether light can get in and travel efficiently. What Is NA? NA describes the range of angles from which a fiber can accept incoming light. Not all light that hits the fiber end face gets guided. If the angle is too steep, it exceeds the critical angle for total internal reflection and escapes into the cladding. Only light within a certain acceptance cone is trapped and propagates. The sine of that maximum acceptance angle is the numerical aperture. The formula: NA = √(n₁² − n₂²), where n₁ is the core refractive index and n₂ is the cladding index. The bigger the difference, the larger the NA and the wider the acceptance cone. What High vs. Low NA Means High NA = better light collection. For a divergent source like an LED, light sprays in all directions. A fiber with high NA has a wider acceptance cone, so it captures more light. Multi-component glass fibers can have NA above 0.5, with acceptance angles over 120 degrees — great for uniform illumination. Low NA = fewer modes, lower dispersion. But bigger NA isn't always better. Higher NA supports more modes, and more modes mean modal dispersion — different paths arrive at different times, spreading the pulse. For long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission, low NA is preferred. So NA is a trade-off: light collection vs. transmission quality. Pick too high, and you get more light but more dispersion. Pick too low, and you get better transmission but struggle to couple light in. Why NA Matters for Selection The most immediate consequence of mismatched NA is light that simply doesn't get in. Take a spectrometer. If the fiber's NA is larger than the spectrometer's acceptance NA, the excess light can't enter the instrument — it's wasted. Conversely, if the fiber NA is smaller, the spectrometer could accept more, but the fiber can't deliver it — also wasted. The core rule: match the fiber NA to the light source NA and the downstream device NA. Different sources have very different NAs. Lasers typically have low NA (collimated beam). LEDs have high NA (divergent beam). Pair an LED with a low-NA laser fiber, and most of the light never makes it in. Pair a laser with a high-NA fiber, and you're over-collecting — modal dispersion may hurt transmission quality. Typical NA Values by Fiber Type Fiber Type Typical NA Notes Singlemode fiber 0.08–0.14 Few modes, low dispersion, long-haul telecom Multimode silica fiber 0.20–0.22 Industry standard, balanced Multimode glass fiber 0.3–0.6 High collection, illumination and sensing Plastic optical fiber (POF) 0.3–0.5 High NA, easy coupling, low cost Singlemode fiber is around 0.14. Multimode graded-index fiber typically ranges from 0.2 to 0.6. Common multimode NA values include 0.1, 0.22, 0.39, and 0.5 — with 0.22 being the most widely used. Three Steps for NA Selection Look at the light source: Its NA defines the entrance cone. Mismatch means poor coupling. Look at the downstream device: What's at the fiber output? A spectrometer, detector, or another fiber? Its acceptance NA determines how much of the output can be used. Look at the application: Need maximum coupling? Choose NA that matches or slightly exceeds. Need long-distance transmission? Choose low NA, fewer modes. Practical tip: If the output spot expands too much over distance (for example, a 0.22 NA fiber produces a ~22mm spot after 50mm), the NA is too high for the application — light diverges quickly. Either shorten the distance or switch to a lower-NA fiber. What Hecho Technology Offers Hecho Technology has nearly two decades of experience in specialty fibers, covering plastic, glass, and quartz with NA options from 0.10 to 0.50. We support OEM/ODM customization and can match the right NA to your light source and downstream device. For help with NA matching, contact the Hecho technical team.

In machine vision and industrial inspection, light source selection directly affects inspection accuracy. The two most common options are fiber optic cold light sources and standard LED light sources. Both provide illumination, but their working principles and ideal applications are fundamentally different. I. What Is a Fiber Optic Cold Light Source? The defining feature of a fiber optic cold light source is "light-heat separation" — the light source and the output end are physically separated. Here's how it works: the light source (typically a halogen lamp or high-power LED) is housed inside the main unit. Light is delivered to the inspection point through a fiber optic light guide. The heat stays at the source — the output end remains cool to the touch. That's where the name "cold light" comes from. II. Key Differences at a Glance Aspect Fiber Optic Cold Light Source Standard LED Light Source Structure Light source + fiber optic bundle, light-heat separation Integrated unit, LEDs on the fixture itself Output end temperature Cool, virtually no heat Warm, requires thermal management Installation flexibility High — source can be placed remotely Limited — source must be near the inspection point Light pattern Changeable by swapping fiber bundles Fixed — changing pattern requires replacing the entire fixture Uniformity Continuous fiber output, no gaps Discrete LED array, subtle bright-dark zones Color temperature stability Stable during dimming May shift when dimmed Lifespan Depends on the bulb (halogen ~1,000-2,000 hrs; LED source ~30,000+ hrs) LED chips ~30,000-50,000 hrs Cost Higher system cost Lower system cost III. Core Advantages of Each Advantages of Fiber Optic Cold Light Sources: Cold light output. Fiber optics transmit light with virtually no heat at the output end. For heat-sensitive inspection targets — semiconductor wafers, precision electronics, biological samples — this is an irreplaceable advantage. Flexible light delivery. Fiber optic bundles are flexible and can route light to tight or hard-to-reach spaces. The light source can be placed away from the inspection area, saving valuable space inside the equipment. Versatile light patterns. Swapping the fiber bundle changes the light pattern — ring, linear, area, or spot. One light source can adapt to different inspection setups. Better uniformity. Fiber bundles emit continuous light with no gaps between output points — no bright-dark alternation. Advantages of Standard LED Light Sources: Lower cost. Simpler construction — no fiber bundles or complex optical systems — means lower overall cost. Long lifespan. LED chips typically last 30,000 to 50,000 hours, far exceeding halogen bulbs. Fast response. LED response time is in nanoseconds — suitable for strobe applications. High shape flexibility. Can be made in various shapes and sizes to fit different mounting requirements. IV. How to Choose? Choose a fiber optic cold light source when: The inspection target is heat-sensitive (semiconductors, precision electronics, biological samples) Space is tight — the light source cannot be placed near the inspection point Illumination uniformity is critical (precision measurement, high-resolution inspection) Light patterns need to be changed frequently (the same equipment inspects different products) Choose a standard LED light source when: Budget is limited and inspection requirements are not extreme General surface inspection or routine industrial vision No special constraints on installation space Light patterns don't need to be changed frequently V. A Detail Often Overlooked Many people assume "LED light source" automatically means "cold light." That's a common misunderstanding. LED chips themselves generate heat. With standard LED light sources, the chips are on the fixture — heat dissipates right near the inspection area. While thermal management helps, the heat is still present for sensitive samples. Fiber optic cold light sources achieve "cold" through fiber optic transmission — the heat stays at the source, and only light travels through the fiber to the output end. Even when using an LED as the source, as long as it outputs through a fiber bundle, the output end stays cool. VI. What Hecho Technology Offers Hecho Technology has years of experience in fiber optic cold light sources, offering both LED-based and halogen-based cold light sources. The S5000 series LED cold light sources feature high-power LED chips and specialized optical focusing systems — low power consumption, efficient heat dissipation, and stable high-intensity cold light output. With a power consumption of just 65W, they deliver light output comparable to a 250W metal halide source, reaching up to 800,000 lx at 50mm from the fiber output end. They also support high-speed triggering with response times under 100ns and external trigger frequencies up to 100KHz. In addition, Hecho supplies original SCHOTT cold light sources, including KL, ACE, DCR, and MEGALIGHT series. Whether you need standard products or custom solutions, Hecho provides complete optical transmission chains from light source to fiber bundle. For selection assistance, contact the Hecho technical team.

In machine vision illumination, linear light guides and ring light guides are the two most common fiber optic lighting solutions. Many engineers struggle with the same question: which one should I use? A linear light guide emits light from a straight line. A ring light guide emits light from a circle. Different shapes solve different problems. I. Linear Light Guide: Built for High-Speed Scanning The output end of a linear light guide is a straight line — light exits uniformly from a continuous row of fibers. Its application is very specific: pairing with line scan cameras for continuous scanning inspection. Line scan cameras capture one line at a time, building a complete image through the motion of the object. The light source must deliver a uniform, continuous, high-intensity line of light — this is exactly what linear light guides do. Typical applications for linear light guides: Flat panel display inspection. Surface defect inspection of LCD, OLED, and other glass substrates. Large area, high speed — line scan camera paired with a linear light guide is the standard configuration. PCB and FPC inspection. Boards move continuously on the production line — linear light guides with line scan cameras handle high-speed scanning. Semiconductor wafer inspection. Micron-level defects on wafer surfaces demand high-resolution imaging — the uniform line light from a linear light guide meets this requirement. Web inspection for paper, film, and foil. Continuous production of sheet materials — online surface defect detection. Linear light guides are a proven solution. Selection checklist: Illumination length must cover the inspection width. Fiber material: plastic (POF) is cost-effective, glass (GOF) offers longer life, quartz delivers the broadest spectrum. Connectors typically use SMA905. II. Ring Light Guide: The Shadow-Free Light The output end of a ring light guide is a circle — light exits uniformly from a continuous ring of fibers, surrounding the camera lens or microscope objective. Its core value is eliminating shadows. Single-direction lighting always creates shadows — raised features cast shadows, and algorithms mistake shadows for defects. A ring light guide emits light from 360 degrees — light from all directions cancels out the shadows. Typical applications for ring light guides: Microscope illumination. Ring light guides mount around the microscope objective, illuminating samples evenly from all directions — the viewer sees a clear image free of shadow interference. PCB solder joint inspection. Solder joints, traces, and components are densely packed. Single-direction lighting creates shadows — a ring light guide illuminates evenly from 360 degrees, revealing solder joint shape and defects clearly. Semiconductor wafer inspection. Detecting micron-level surface defects demands high uniformity. Dark-field ring light guides make tiny scratches and particles stand out against a dark background. Precision part dimensional measurement. When measuring small parts, edge clarity directly affects accuracy — shadow-free illumination from a ring light guide ensures crisp, sharp edges. Selection checklist: Inner diameter must be larger than the lens outer diameter. Output angle depends on the inspection target — shallow angles suit flat surfaces, steep angles suit textured surfaces. Fiber material: glass fiber resists high temperatures, plastic fiber is lower cost. III. How to Choose? Three Rules to Remember Use linear light guides for line scan camera applications. Line scan cameras require linear light — there's no alternative. Make sure the illumination length covers the inspection width. Use ring light guides where shadows are a problem. Precision measurement, solder joint inspection, microscopic observation — anywhere shadows interfere with judgment, ring light is the better choice. If you're not sure, look at what you're inspecting. Large-format, continuously moving materials → linear light. Stationary or small-area, high-precision inspection → ring light. IV. Can They Be Interchanged? No. Line scan cameras must use linear light — a ring light guide produces a circular light pattern that won't work with line scan cameras. Area scan cameras can use either, but ring light guides are better for shadow elimination, while linear light guides are typically used for specialized angle lighting in area scan applications. The difference between linear and ring light guides comes down to "scanning" vs. "illuminating." Linear light scans across moving objects. Ring light illuminates stationary objects or small-area precision inspection. The choice depends on your camera type and inspection target. Hecho Technology has years of experience in both linear and ring fiber optic light guides — offering plastic, glass, and quartz fiber materials, with custom length, connector, and output configurations available. For selection assistance, contact the Hecho technical team.

In urology operating rooms, one technology is transforming the treatment experience for millions of stone patients — holmium laser lithotripsy. No incisions. No cuts on the body. A flexible optical fiber passes through the body's natural passages to reach the stone, and the laser pulverizes it instantly. At the heart of this procedure, beyond the laser generator itself, is the unassuming but critical component — the holmium laser fiber. The fiber handles the "last mile" — delivering high-energy laser signals from the generator to the target site with minimal loss. Transmission efficiency, end-face quality, and bending resistance directly affect surgical outcomes. A substandard fiber can cause energy attenuation, end-face burn, or even intraoperative light loss — unacceptable in surgery. Hecho Technology has been developing medical laser fibers for years, receiving Class II medical device registration for both "Medical Laser Fiber" and "Single-Use Sterile Laser Fiber" in June 2026. This article provides technical information and selection guidance for holmium laser fibers. I. Why Is Holmium Laser Ideal for Minimally Invasive Surgery? Holmium laser is a high-energy pulsed laser with a wavelength of 2100nm (2.1μm). This wavelength has a special property — it falls within the strong water absorption band. Human tissue has high water content. When holmium laser energy reaches tissue, it is efficiently absorbed by water, resulting in extremely shallow penetration depth (less than 0.5mm) and minimal thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Clinically, this means two things: precision — the laser acts only on target tissue; and safety — shallow penetration means lower risk when operating near delicate organs. Additionally, holmium laser effectiveness is largely unaffected by stone composition. Calcium oxalate, phosphate, cystine, and uric acid stones — holmium laser treats them all. This "universal" capability is unmatched by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or pneumatic lithotripsy. II. How Does the Fiber Affect Surgical Outcomes? Holmium laser fiber technology involves three core requirements: 1. Low Transmission Loss At the 2100nm wavelength, water has a strong absorption peak. If the fiber material contains trace amounts of hydroxyl (OH⁻) groups, it creates significant absorption at this wavelength, causing laser energy attenuation. Therefore, holmium laser fibers must use low-hydroxyl (Low-OH) quartz fiber to maintain low transmission loss in this band. 2. End-face Damage Resistance Holmium laser is pulsed, with each pulse delivering several joules of energy. The fiber end-face withstands extremely high power densities. Improper end-face preparation or microscopic defects can cause end-face burn during use. A significant portion of clinical fiber failures trace back to end-face quality issues. 3. Bending Performance Holmium laser fibers pass through endoscope working channels into the body, bending with the scope as it navigates. The fiber must maintain low loss while bent and must not break. This is why smaller-diameter fibers are preferred for flexible ureteroscopy — thinner fibers navigate tighter bends and narrower channels. III. Key Clinical Applications Holmium laser fibers are used primarily in the following areas: Urinary Stone Treatment This is the largest-volume application for holmium laser fibers, including kidney stones, ureteral stones, bladder stones, and urethral stones. Endoscopic holmium laser lithotripsy achieves a single-session success rate of over 95%, reaching 100% for bladder stones. By comparison, the success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is only 20% to 60%. Prostate Hyperplasia Treatment Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a rapidly growing minimally invasive procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia, offering less bleeding, faster recovery, and lower recurrence rates. Other Soft Tissue Surgeries This includes ureteral stricture incision, bladder tumor resection, and urethral stricture incision. Holmium laser provides simultaneous precise cutting and coagulation hemostasis. IV. Selection Guide: Key Parameters For procurement and clinical use, the following parameters are the core considerations when selecting holmium laser fibers: Parameter Description Clinical Significance Core diameter Multiple options available, from fine to large Fine fibers suit flexible scopes; larger diameters deliver higher power Wavelength matching Low loss at 2100nm band Ensures efficient laser energy delivery to target Connector interface Multiple standard options available Must match the laser generator output Sterility Single-use sterile vs. reusable Sterile type is ready to use, eliminates cross-infection risk Bend radius Smaller is better Determines compatibility with flexible endoscope working channels Key features of Hecho Technology's medical laser fiber products: Aspect Description Fiber material Low-hydroxyl quartz fiber Operating wavelength 2100nm (holmium laser) Core diameters Multiple specifications available Standard connectors SMA905, SMA906, FC, ST Transmission loss Low-loss design Product types Medical laser fiber, single-use sterile laser fiber V. Market Trends The medical laser fiber market continues to grow. The domestic market was valued at approximately 5.55 billion RMB in 2023 and is projected to reach 11 billion RMB by 2028. Minimally invasive surgery adoption and endoscopy technology upgrades are the primary growth drivers. Fiber technology is evolving in parallel: smaller-diameter fibers for flexible ureteroscopy enable higher surgical efficiency. Single-use sterile laser fibers are shifting from "optional" to "standard" to eliminate cross-infection risk from the source. The reprocessing and sterilization protocols for reusable fibers are being reevaluated under stricter regulatory requirements. Hecho Technology has obtained registration certification for medical laser fibers and is now capable of batch delivery. For holmium laser fiber selection or custom requirements, please contact the Hecho technical team. About Nanjing Hecho Technology Co., Ltd. Hecho Technology focuses on optical transmission solutions for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Products include plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, quartz fiber, fiber bundles, light guides, and sensors, with OEM/ODM customization available. Website: www.gohecho.cn | Email: sales@gohecho.cn | Tel: (025)52374096

Linear Fiber Optic Light Guides for Line Scan Cameras Line scan cameras capture one line at a time, building a complete image through motion. They are built for high-speed, continuous inspection of wide surfaces. Their working principle imposes a very specific requirement on illumination: the light must be a uniform, continuous, high-intensity line. That's exactly what a linear fiber optic light guide does. A linear fiber optic light guide takes a bundle of optical fibers — round at the input end to connect to the light source — and rearranges them into a straight line at the output end. Light enters the fiber bundle and exits uniformly from the linear output surface, forming a continuous line of light with no gaps. The fibers are arranged continuously, with no breaks between them. No bright-dark alternation. Four Key Characteristics of Linear Fiber Optic Light Guides 1. High Uniformity The continuous fiber arrangement means no gaps between light points. No bright-dark zones. With cylindrical focusing lenses and diffusers, uniformity and light density can be further improved. For line scan cameras, uniformity is the top priority — uneven lighting shows up as stripes in the image, and the algorithm can't tell if it's a defect or a lighting artifact. 2. High Brightness Pair it with a high-power cold light source. Low loss, high output. Add a cylindrical focusing lens to concentrate the light further. For high-speed line scan cameras, brightness determines exposure time — and exposure time determines inspection speed. 3. Cold Light Output Fiber optics transmit light with virtually no heat at the output end. For heat-sensitive materials — films, paper, precision electronics — this matters. 4. Customizable Illumination length from 50mm to 1260mm. Fiber material options: plastic (POF), glass (GOF), or quartz. Length and connectors can be customized. For ultra-long linear light, multi-branch input designs allow multiple light sources to feed a single light guide. Linear Fiber vs. LED Line Light LED line lights are cheaper. But LED chips are discrete points with gaps between them — subtle bright-dark alternation remains. Linear fiber light guides offer continuous output with no gaps — superior uniformity. For high-precision inspection, linear fiber is the more reliable choice. Where It's Used: Key Applications Flat panel display inspection (LCD, OLED), PCB and FPC inspection, semiconductor wafer inspection, web inspection for paper/film/foil, glass and optical component inspection. Line scan camera paired with linear fiber is the standard configuration for these high-speed continuous inspection applications. Selection Checklist Illumination length (must cover the inspection width), fiber material (plastic/glass/quartz), connector type (SMA905 is the standard). For ultra-long lines, use multi-branch input with multiple light sources. Hecho Technology offers linear fiber optic light guides in plastic, glass, and quartz — with illumination lengths from 50mm to 1260mm, and full customization support. For inquiries, contact our technical team.

On August 21, YOFC (Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable) released its 2026 semi-annual report. Revenue: 9.809 billion yuan, up 53.64% year-over-year. Net profit: 2.925 billion yuan, up 888.88% year-over-year. The company's optical transmission products segment alone generated about 6.126 billion yuan in revenue during the first half, up roughly 59.2% year-over-year, with a gross margin of 63.11%. This isn't an isolated case. The Wind Fiber Index is up over 130% so far this year. Yongding shares posted 47.75% revenue growth in the first half. Corning's AI-related sales nearly doubled. The entire fiber optic industry is in the middle of a boom cycle. And the driving force is one thing: AI data centers. How Much Fiber Are AI Data Centers Actually Eating? YOFC's semi-annual report states it plainly: revenue growth was driven primarily by the accelerated construction of compute-data centers. The numbers are staggering. According to CRU, AI-driven data center optical cable demand has jumped from less than 5% of total demand in 2024 to a projected 35% in 2027. Global data center fiber demand is expected to hit 91.6 million fiber-kilometers in 2026, up 32% year-over-year. By 2030, that number is projected to reach 128 million fiber-kilometers, with AI applications accounting for over 80 million fiber-kilometers. To put that in perspective: a single large-scale GPU cluster consumes 5 to 10 times more fiber than a traditional data center. Every rack, every connection, every link in an AI cluster requires fiber. Beyond Telecom: Specialty Fiber Is Feeling the Pinch Too AI data centers aren't just driving demand for standard telecom fiber. High-density cabling scenarios are driving demand for G.657 series bend-insensitive specialty fiber. Supply-demand data tells the story: global G.657 specialty fiber demand in 2026 is about 370 million fiber-kilometers, while China's effective production capacity is only about 200 to 210 million fiber-kilometers — a gap of over 46%. And prices reflect the shortage. G.657.A2 specialty fiber has gone from around $3–4 per fiber-kilometer last year to over $30 today — a 10x increase. Orders are booked through 2028. Major Chinese fiber manufacturers have shifted 30% to 40% of their capacity from standard telecom fiber to specialty fiber — and it's still not enough. What Makes This Cycle Different In the past, fiber price fluctuations were mostly driven by telecom carrier procurement cycles. This time is different. The clearest evidence: two of the three major demand drivers — AI data centers and fiber-optic drones — barely existed until recently. Both are still in rapid growth phases, with no visible ceiling in the near term. CRU projects AI and data-center-related optical cable demand will grow at about 32.6% CAGR over the next five years — roughly five times the overall market. What This Means for Hecho Technology YOFC's earnings surge is a signal from the telecom fiber space. But the surge in demand for high-density, high-bandwidth fiber from AI data centers is also driving specialty fiber categories like G.657. The specialty fiber market is moving from standardized products to customized solutions. AI data centers need high-bandwidth, low-loss fiber with tight bend tolerance. Industrial inspection, medical devices, and research applications need equally targeted custom solutions. Hecho Technology has been in specialty fiber for nearly two decades, with products spanning plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, and quartz fiber — serving industrial laser transmission, medical device integration, and research applications. In this AI-driven fiber demand surge, the trend toward specialty fiber customization is accelerating — and customization is exactly where Hecho's strength lies. If you're looking for a custom specialty fiber solution, reach out to the Hecho technical team. About Nanjing Hecho Technology Co., Ltd. Hecho Technology focuses on optical transmission solutions for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Products include plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, quartz fiber, fiber bundles, light guides, and sensors, with OEM/ODM customization available. Website: www.gohecho.cn | Email: sales@gohecho.cn | Tel: (025) 52374096

Telecom fiber is just one branch of the fiber family. In industrial, medical, and research applications, the more common and flexible choice is often glass fiber. Glass fiber has a core and cladding both made of glass materials — typically multi-component glass fiber, which consists of multiple glass compositions and allows flexible adjustment of refractive index and numerical aperture. Four Key Characteristics of Glass Fiber High temperature resistance: Operates reliably at up to 350°C and withstands autoclave sterilization. Plastic optical fiber (PMMA) typically maxes out around 70°C. Large acceptance angle: Numerical aperture can reach 0.5 or higher, capturing light from a wide angle. Paired with broad-angle light sources, it delivers larger illumination areas. Chemical inertness: Resists most solvents and cleaning agents. Safe for direct contact with human tissue in medical applications. Good flexibility: At 50 microns in diameter, it can bend to a radius of about 5 mm — more flexible than most people expect. Glass Fiber vs. Plastic Fiber — How to Choose? Need high-temperature sterilization, long-distance transmission, or high-precision imaging? Choose glass fiber. Short distance, low cost, general illumination? Plastic fiber will do. Where Is It Used? Medical: Endoscope light guides, surgical illumination, laser therapy — roughly 75 million endoscopy procedures performed globally each year depend on glass fiber. Industrial inspection: AOI, machine vision illumination, flame detection. Research and labs: Spectroscopy, fluorescence detection, microscope illumination. Specialty environments: High-temperature sensing, nuclear industry applications. Market Opportunity The global medical glass fiber market was valued at approximately $110 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $157 million by 2034. The adoption of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy technology upgrades are the primary growth drivers. Hecho Technology has nearly two decades of experience in glass fiber, offering multi-component glass fiber and quartz fiber products for medical device integration, industrial inspection illumination, and research optical transmission — with OEM/ODM customization available. For inquiries, contact the Hecho technical team. About Nanjing Hecho Technology Co., Ltd. Hecho Technology focuses on optical transmission solutions for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Products include plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, quartz fiber, fiber bundles, light guides, and sensors, with OEM/ODM customization available.

G.657 specialty fiber: global demand in 2026 is 370 million fiber-kilometers. China‘s effective production capacity? Only 200 to 210 million. That’s a gap of over 46%. Orders are booked through 2028. Customers are putting down deposits just to secure capacity. Major Chinese fiber manufacturers have shifted 30% to 40% of their capacity from standard telecom fiber to specialty fiber — and it‘s still not enough. Where Does the Gap Come From? Two reasons: demand surged, and supply can’t keep up. Demand side — AI data centers are consuming fiber at an unprecedented rate In the past, China‘s fiber demand was largely driven by the three major telecom carriers’ procurement cycles — steady growth with clear seasonality. This time is different. AI compute centers are being built at scale globally — the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are all in the race. A single cluster with 10,000 GPUs consumes 5 to 10 times more fiber than a traditional data center. Global data center fiber optic cable demand grew 75.9% year-over-year in 2025, and is projected to reach 91.6 million fiber-kilometers in 2026 — up another 32%. Beyond data centers, fiber-optic drones are adding new demand. Drones use single-use fiber as consumables — it‘s not reused, it’s replaced. Scaled deployment translates to millions of kilometers of recurring demand. Supply side — expanding production is extremely difficult The core raw material is optical fiber preforms. A single preform plant with 3,500 tons of annual capacity costs $560 million and takes two years to build. Preform manufacturing demands extreme technical precision, and expansion cycles run 18 to 24 months. The four major Chinese manufacturers — YOFC, Hengtong, ZTT, and FiberHome — are already running at 100% capacity, with at most 10% to 15% additional expansion possible under current conditions. The industry went through a prolonged price war, and few companies invested in major capacity expansion. The result: demand is rising, capacity is stuck, and the gap keeps widening. The Numbers Tell the Story G.657.A2 specialty fiber was priced around $3 to $4 per kilometer last year. Today? Over $30 — a 10x increase in 12 months. Standard fiber prices surged too. China‘s G.652.D bare fiber spot price hit $11.50 per kilometer in March 2026 — up 165% from January, and 418% year-over-year. CRU projects a global supply-demand gap of 16.4% for fiber optic cable in 2026. This isn’t something that gets fixed in a few months. Long expansion cycles, raw material constraints, and continued global demand growth mean tight supply isn‘t going away anytime soon. Domestic Substitution: From “Window of Opportunity” to “Certainty” The global specialty fiber market has long been dominated by U.S. and European manufacturers. The U.S. has maintained export controls on high-performance specialty fiber through the Commerce Control List. But this time, the landscape is shifting. Chinese manufacturers now account for over 60% of global fiber production. YOFC, Hengtong, ZTT, and FiberHome hold the second, third, fourth, and fifth positions globally — combined market share close to 50%. In the demand surge driven by AI infrastructure, Chinese fiber companies have seized the opportunity. Domestic manufacturers are achieving scale production in mid- and low-power ytterbium-doped fibers, and some leaders are breaking through technical barriers in high-power ytterbium-doped and ultra-broadband erbium-doped fibers. Domestic substitution is no longer a future prospect — it‘s happening now. What This Means for Hecho Hecho Technology has been in specialty fiber for nearly two decades, with products spanning plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, and quartz fiber — serving industrial laser transmission, medical device integration, and scientific research applications. This structural shift in the specialty fiber market — from standardized products to high-end customized solutions — aligns directly with Hecho’s core strength in custom, non-standard manufacturing and OEM/ODM. If you‘re looking for a custom specialty fiber solution or have questions about current market trends, reach out to the Hecho technical team. About Nanjing Hecho Technology Co., Ltd. Hecho Technology focuses on optical transmission solutions for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Products include plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, quartz fiber, fiber bundles, light guides, and sensors, with OEM/ODM customization available. Website: www.gohecho.cn | Email: sales@gohecho.cn | Tel: (025)52374096

Among fiber optic products, fiber bundles are easy to overlook — but they're among the most widely used. Most people think of optical fiber as a single thin strand — light goes in one end and comes out the other. That's correct for a single fiber. But in many applications, one fiber isn't enough, or one fiber simply can't do the job. That's where fiber bundles come in. What Is a Fiber Bundle? The definition is simple: a bundle is a collection of individual optical fibers grouped together. A single fiber transmits one path of light — point-to-point. A fiber bundle can do much more: multiple inputs to one output, one input to multiple outputs, or even multiple inputs to multiple outputs. The fiber arrangement at each end can be customized. This flexibility means light paths are no longer limited to straight lines — they become networks. You can split one light source into multiple outputs, combine several light sources into one, or position output ends in different locations to suit your setup. What Can Fiber Bundles Do? Scenario 1: One light source, multiple workstations Imagine a production line with four inspection stations, all needing illumination. Equipping each with its own light source is costly and space-consuming. A fiber bundle solves this: place one light source centrally, split the light into four branches, and deliver it to each station. One source to maintain, one power supply — simple and efficient. Scenario 2: Custom-shaped illumination Some inspection tasks don't need a round spot — they need ring-shaped, linear, square, or other custom patterns. A single fiber can't do that, but a fiber bundle can. The input end stays round to connect to the light source. The output end is rearranged into the shape you need. Ring-shaped bundles are common for microscope or camera lens illumination — providing 360-degree shadow-free light. Linear bundles pair with line-scan cameras for continuous scanning inspection. Square or rectangular shapes suit area-scan cameras or specific part geometries. Scenario 3: Light delivery in harsh environments In high-temperature, confined, or corrosive environments, you can't place the light source directly — but you can run fibers. Fiber bundles deliver light from a safe location to where it's needed. With different fiber materials — plastic (POF), glass (GOF), or quartz — you can cover a wide spectral range from near-UV to mid-IR. How to Choose a Fiber Bundle Fiber bundles seem straightforward, but a few key parameters matter during selection: Material: Plastic optical fiber (POF) is low-cost and flexible — ideal for general illumination. Glass optical fiber (GOF) offers higher transmission efficiency and better temperature resistance, with continuous operation up to 350°C. Quartz fiber covers the broadest spectrum, from 190 nm to 2500 nm — suitable for applications with specific spectral requirements. Branch configuration: Straight (one-to-one) is the simplest. Y-shape or one-to-many split light to multiple stations. Multi-input/multi-output handles more complex optical designs. Connectors: Fiber bundles need to interface with light sources and equipment. SMA905, FC, ST, and other standard connectors are available. Custom connectors can also be made. Output shape: Round, ring, linear, square — choose based on your inspection needs. Where Are Fiber Bundles Used? Fiber bundles are found in many applications, but they fall into a few broad categories: Industrial inspection: Machine vision illumination, AOI automated optical inspection, semiconductor wafer inspection, PCB defect detection. Bundles deliver light to hard-to-reach areas and shape it for specific inspection tasks. Medical devices: Endoscope light guides, surgical illumination, medical laser fiber delivery. Medical applications demand higher material purity and biocompatibility, making glass and quartz the preferred choices. Laboratory and research: Spectroscopy, fluorescence detection, microscope illumination. Bundles simplify experimental optical setups with flexibility. Specialty environments: Flame detection, high-temperature sensing, UV curing. Quartz fiber with polyimide coating withstands harsh conditions reliably. What Hecho Technology Offers Hecho Technology has nearly two decades of experience in fiber bundles. We offer three material options: plastic, glass, and quartz. Branch configurations include straight, Y-shape, and multi-branch designs. Output shapes are customizable. Connectors cover SMA905, FC, ST, and other standards, with custom options available. In short: whatever shape, material, or configuration you need — Hecho can deliver. If you're designing a system that needs to split, combine, or reshape light, a fiber bundle is worth considering.

A year ago, G.657.A2 specialty fiber cost $3 to $4 per kilometer. Today, it‘s over $30. That’s a 10x increase — and it‘s still in short supply. Orders are booked through 2028. Customers are putting down deposits just to secure production capacity. Major Chinese fiber manufacturers have shifted 30% to 40% of their capacity from standard telecom fiber to specialty fiber — and the gap still isn’t closed. Everyone in industrial, medical, and research fiber optics is asking the same question: What happened? 1. Three Demand Drivers Hit at Once This isn‘t a single-factor story. Three distinct sources of demand converged at the same time. Driver 1: AI Data Centers AI compute center construction is accelerating globally — the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are all building at scale. These facilities require high-density cabling, high-speed interconnects, and large quantities of specialty fiber. The numbers tell the story: global data center fiber optic cable demand grew 75.9% year-over-year in 2025, reaching 69.6 million fiber-kilometers. 2026 projections stand at 91.6 million fiber-kilometers. CRU projects the global optical cable market will grow at about 6.6% CAGR over the next five years. But AI and data-center-related optical cable demand? 32.6% CAGR — roughly five times the overall market. AI-related fiber demand is expected to jump from under 5% of total demand to 35%. Driver 2: Fiber-Optic Drones Fiber-optic drones are a newer variable in the demand equation. These drones use optical fibers for signal transmission — offering strong anti-interference and low-latency performance. Each drone consumes 20 to 50 kilometers of specialty fiber. And it’s single-use — replaced after every mission. What this means: scaled drone deployment translates to tens of millions of kilometers of recurring demand. This isn‘t tied to the traditional telecom procurement cycle — it’s a persistent consumption stream. Driver 3: Overseas Infrastructure Expansion Beyond AI and drones, overseas infrastructure markets continue to expand. Fiber optic cable and transceiver export volumes posted double-digit year-over-year growth in the first quarter. Overseas demand is adding further pressure to an already tight domestic supply situation. 2. How Big Is the Supply-Demand Gap? Let‘s do the math on G.657 series specialty fiber: 2026 global demand: 370 million fiber-kilometers Effective production capacity in China: 200 to 210 million fiber-kilometers The gap is over 46%. That’s why prices jumped 10x. That‘s why orders are booked through 2028. Demand surged — and supply hasn’t caught up. 3. What Makes This Cycle Different In the past, fiber price fluctuations were mostly driven by telecom carrier procurement cycles — up for a few years, down for a few years. Cyclical. Predictable. This time is different. The clearest evidence: two of the three major demand drivers didn‘t exist until recently. AI data center demand comes from the global computing race. Fiber-optic drones come from expanding military and industrial applications. Both are still in rapid growth phases, with no visible ceiling in the near term. Overseas infrastructure is more traditional, but global digitalization continues to drive steady expansion. Three demand streams, all pulling at once — and all sustained. This suggests a structural shift. Specialty fiber may be transitioning from a cyclical industry to a growth industry. 4. What This Means for the Industry This isn’t just a price spike — it‘s reshaping how the fiber industry operates. In the past, fiber was largely a standardized product. Carrier procurement dictated specifications. Factories produced high volumes of identical products — low margin, commoditized. But this demand surge is driven by high-end, customized requirements. AI data centers need high-bandwidth, low-loss fiber with tight bend tolerance. Drones require specific grades like G.657.A2. Industrial IoT and automotive fiber applications are further diversifying the market. Fiber optics are moving from standardized products to customized solutions. 5. What This Means for Hecho Technology Hecho Technology has been in specialty fiber optics for nearly two decades, spanning plastic optical fiber, glass fiber, and quartz fiber — with a focus on industrial laser transmission, medical device integration, and scientific research applications. The shift from standardized products to high-end customization is where Hecho‘s strength lies. Unlike large-scale telecom fiber manufacturers, Hecho specializes in application-specific optical transmission solutions — whether for industrial sensing, medical laser delivery, or research applications. Customers often need a solution that fits precisely, not a generic product. If you’re looking for a custom specialty fiber solution or have questions about current market trends, reach out to the Hecho technical team.

In machine vision inspection, ring lights are one of the most widely used lighting configurations. But here’s the thing — two types of ring lights look similar, function similarly, but work very differently underneath. Ring light guides (fiber optic ring lights) and LED ring lights. Many engineers find themselves stuck between these two options. Both are ring-shaped. Both reduce shadows. But the price difference can be significant. So what‘s actually different? Which one should you pick? This article lays it out directly. Ring Fiber Optic Illumination 1. The Structural Difference: Where the Light Comes From This is the fundamental difference between the two. LED ring lights are straightforward — LEDs are arranged in a ring, and the ring itself emits light. The light source is right there on the ring, shining directly onto the object. Ring light guides work differently. The light source (LED or halogen) sits remotely. Light travels through a bundle of optical fibers to the ring and exits from the fiber ends on the ring. The ring emits light, but the actual light source is somewhere else. In simple terms: LED ring light: light emits from the ring Ring light guide: light exits from the ring, but the source is remote This structural difference drives everything else. 2. Illumination Uniformity: Continuous vs. Discrete Points LED ring lights consist of individual LED chips arranged in a circle. Each chip is a discrete point of light. Multiple points form a ring. There are gaps between chips, creating alternating bright and dark zones. With enough LEDs packed tightly, the human eye may not notice. But in high-precision inspection, cameras are far more sensitive than the eye — subtle non-uniformity can show up in images and affect measurement accuracy. Ring light guides use fiber bundles arranged continuously around the ring. The output surface has no gaps. Light exits uniformly from the fiber ends, creating a smooth, continuous ring of light. In short: no gaps between light points, no bright-dark alternation. Some studies have compared the two: LED ring arrays produce spot-like shadows, while fiber optic ring light guides deliver uniform, shadow-free illumination. 3. Heat Dissipation: Heat at the Ring vs. Heat at the Source LEDs generate less heat than halogen lamps, but they still produce heat. With LED ring lights, the LEDs are right on the ring — heat dissipates near the inspection area. While thermal management designs help, heat-sensitive samples may still be affected. Ring light guides keep the light source remote. Light travels through optical fibers, which transmit virtually no heat to the output end. The ring itself stays cool. The heat stays at the source, away from the inspection point. This is what people mean by “cold light” illumination. For heat-sensitive applications — semiconductor wafers, precision electronic components — this is a real advantage worth considering. 4. Flexibility and Customization LED ring lights are fixed units. The inner diameter, outer diameter, and number of LEDs are set at manufacturing. Need a different size or angle? You replace the entire unit. Ring light guides decouple the ring from the light source. Need a different ring size or output angle? You swap the fiber bundle, not the entire light source. One light source can work with multiple rings, adapting to different lenses and inspection setups. Fiber material selection also offers more options: glass fiber for high temperature, plastic fiber for lower cost, quartz fiber for UV transmission. LED ring lights offer wavelength choices, but those choices are limited to the specific LEDs used. Selection recommendations: For high uniformity requirements and precision inspection — ring light guides offer smooth continuous output For heat-sensitive samples (semiconductors, precision electronics) — cold light advantage makes a difference For frequent changes in ring size or angle — ring light guides offer more flexibility For budget-conscious general inspection — LED ring lights are a mature, cost-effective choice For routine surface inspection and standard industrial vision — LED ring lights are a proven solution There’s no absolute “better” — only what fits your specific needs. Clarify your inspection requirements, sample characteristics, budget, and installation constraints, and the choice becomes straightforward. Hecho Technology offers a range of ring light guides with various inner diameters, outer diameters, and output angles. Available in glass or plastic fiber, with custom length and connector options. For selection assistance or sample testing, contact the Hecho technical team.

In machine vision and industrial inspection, most people focus on camera resolution and algorithm performance. But anyone who has actually tuned a vision system knows — more often than not, the bottleneck isn't the camera. It's the lighting. Get the lighting right, and defects stand out clearly. Get it wrong, and even the best camera won't save you. This sounds simple enough. But when it comes to selecting a light source — what to look for, what parameters actually matter — not every engineer has a clear answer. This article walks through three key dimensions: power consumption, stability, and wavelength. Power Efficiency: Why LED Is Replacing Halogen If you've been around industrial lighting for a while, you know that halogen and metal halide light sources used to be the standard. They are bright, but they have short lifespans — typically 2,000 to 3,000 hours. They also generate a lot of heat and require additional cooling. LED light sources have changed the game. Take Hecho Technology's S5000D series as an example. It consumes only 65W of power, yet delivers light output comparable to a 250W metal halide source. In other words, it achieves similar brightness with less than a third of the power consumption. With a standard fiber optic light guide, illuminance reaches 800,000 lx at 50mm from the fiber output end. For most high-speed line scan cameras, this is more than sufficient for continuous inspection. And LED lifetime exceeds 30,000 hours — by the time you replace a halogen lamp ten times, the LED might still be running. Lower power consumption means less heat, less energy use, and lower long-term operating costs. For production lines running 24/7, this makes a real difference. Stability: The Hidden Requirement for High-Speed Inspection Brightness alone is not enough. In high-speed inspection, light source stability is often the overlooked variable. Line scan cameras demand highly consistent illumination. Even small fluctuations in light output can show up as stripes or uneven brightness in high-speed scanned images, making it difficult for the algorithm to distinguish between actual defects and lighting artifacts. The S5000D uses multi-stage filtering in its circuit design, achieving output ripple within ±2mV. For most inspection scenarios, this is sufficient to avoid image anomalies caused by light fluctuation. Another parameter that often goes unnoticed is response speed. In strobe lighting applications — such as inspecting moving objects — the light source needs to turn on almost instantly after receiving a trigger signal from the host system. The S5000D responds in under 100ns and supports external trigger frequencies up to 100KHz. In plain terms: trigger signal comes in, light turns on immediately — no delay. Dimming is continuously adjustable from 0 to 100%, with multiple control options: manual panel adjustment, RS232/RJ45 remote commands, 0-5V analog signals, external 10K potentiometer, and PWM signals. For integration into automated production lines, remote control is the more common approach. Wavelength Selection: Different Colors Reveal Different Things This is a detail that often gets overlooked, but it matters more than you might think. Different wavelengths of light interact differently with various materials, colors, and surface characteristics. White light isn't always the right choice. Red light (630nm): Good penetration, suitable for rough surfaces and general illumination Green light (525nm): Sensitive to scratches on metal surfaces, ideal for highly reflective materials Blue light (465nm): Shorter wavelength, suitable for high-precision measurement and semiconductor inspection Warm white light: For applications requiring specific color rendering So when selecting a light source, it's not just about brightness. It's about what you're inspecting, what type of defects you're looking for, and what wavelength makes those defects most visible. In precision inspection, this is often more important than brightness. The S5000D series offers all four wavelength options mentioned above, allowing flexible selection based on inspection requirements. On Fiber Optic Light Guides: Getting Light from Source to Workspace LED cold light sources typically work with fiber optic light guides. The light source sits outside the equipment, and light is delivered to the inspection point through the fiber. The advantage here is "cold light" — heat generated at the source stays at the source. By the time light reaches the output end through the fiber, there's virtually no heat. For heat-sensitive samples or precision measurement applications, this is a critical consideration. Fiber selection involves multiple parameters — length, connector type, branch configuration — and the light source and fiber need to be matched properly. Hecho Technology offers complete solutions covering both the light source and the fiber light guide. Summary Selecting an industrial light source ultimately comes down to balancing a few variables: Power consumption: Affects long-term operating costs and equipment heat generation Stability: Affects image quality and inspection consistency Wavelength: Affects how different defects appear Lifetime: Affects maintenance frequency and downtime costs No single light source works for every scenario. The key is understanding your specific inspection requirements and selecting accordingly. Hecho Technology's S5000D series LED cold light source offers a well-balanced solution across power efficiency, stability, and wavelength flexibility. If you're currently evaluating options for a specific application, feel free to reach out to the Hecho technical team for a discussion. About Nanjing Hecho Technology Co., Ltd. Hecho Technology focuses on optical transmission solutions for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Products include LED cold light sources, halogen light sources, fiber optic light guides, and fiber optic sensors, with OEM/ODM customization available. Website: www.gohecho.cn | Email: sales@gohecho.cn | Tel: (025)52374096