New Fibre Technlogy

A new machine to produce glass fibre extrusions is being developed by a team at the University of Southampton. The machine, called TUSGEM (The Ultimate Soft Glass Extrusion Machine), is being developed by a team headed by Prof H Rutt, who is deputy head of the University's school of Electronics & Computer Science aided by a grant from the UK Engineering & Physical Science Research Council. This new research follows on from the University's development in using soft glass to be extruded and used to make glass fibres containing tiny holes to help optical information to be passed along them. This new machine will provide a more accurate way to squeeze the soft glass through multiple holes.