Patent ID: 8150226

Claim:
Method for manufacturing an optical cable comprising at least one metal tube housing at least one optical fiber, said cable having a predetermined excess fiber length (EFL), said method comprising the steps of: advancing said optical fiber; measuring a length of said optical fiber advanced in a time span; forming a metal tube around said optical fiber; obtaining the congruence between the metal tube and said optical fiber; plastically deforming the metal tube shortening the metal tube by a predetermined amount (S t ) greater than said predetermined EFL, while advancing the metal tube; plastically deforming the metal tube after shortening to provide an elongation thereof, while advancing the metal tube; measuring a length of the metal tube advanced in said time span after said elongation; evaluating a resulting excess fiber length as a function of said measured optical fiber length and of said measured metal tube length; adjusting the resulting excess fiber length by controlling the elongation of the metal tube to reach said predetermined excess fiber length.