Descrizione
Light that travels inside a material instead of across it changes what a surface can be. A side glow fibre does not project a beam and does not cast a shadow; it becomes the line itself, a continuous thread of even luminance that bends around a corner, disappears into a wall and reappears on the other side of a room without a visible source. This is the material behind star ceilings, illuminated counters and the soft perimeter lines in hospitality interiors, and it is sold here by the five meter run in four diameters so a design can be tested before a ceiling is opened.
The core is PMMA, an optical acrylic chosen for clarity and toughness rather than for the cheapest possible extrusion. Light is carried by total internal reflection across a 380 to 780 nm range, which means the entire visible spectrum passes through without the amber shift that cheaper cores impose on white light. Attenuation sits around 7000 dB/km, so a five meter run loses almost nothing perceptible. The cable is not electrically conductive: it attaches to an illuminator at one end only, carries no current through its length, produces virtually no heat, and emits no UV or IR, which matters when the installation sits behind fabric or near artwork that would fade.
Two finishes are available for a reason. The transparent version behaves as a light pipe and glows along its length with a hard, crisp edge; the milky version diffuses the emitted light into a softer, wider halo and hides the internal refraction pattern that some designers dislike. Diameters run 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm and 6mm, and the smaller gauges bend to a radius that a rigid acrylic rod cannot approach, which is what makes lettering and tight curves possible.
A cable is not a lamp. It is a way of making the line itself luminous.
What You Are Actually Buying
✦ PMMA optical core: clarity and toughness, not the brittle recycled acrylic used in budget fibre.
✦ Full visible spectrum transmission across 380 to 780 nm, so white light stays white.
✦ Attenuation around 7000 dB/km, meaning a five meter run loses almost nothing visible.
✦ Non-conductive and water tolerant: no current through the length, no shock path in wet installations.
✦ No UV and no IR output, safe behind textiles, artwork and veneer that would otherwise fade.
✦ Milky finish diffuses to a soft halo, transparent finish keeps a crisp luminous edge.
✦ Bends to a tight radius in 2mm and 2.5mm gauges for lettering, curves and star ceilings.
Technical Specifications
- Core material PMMA (optical acrylic)
- Item type Side glow solid core fibre optic cable
- Diameters available 2 mm / 2.5 mm / 3 mm / 6 mm
- Finish options Milky diffused / transparent clear
- Wavelength range 380-780 nm, full visible spectrum
- Attenuation approx. 7000 dB/km
- Length per order 5 meters
- Bend behaviour Flexible, excellent toughness, tight radius at small gauges
- Heat output Virtually none at the cable surface
- UV / IR emission None
- Illuminator compatibility Standard LED fibre optic illuminator engines
- Electrical Non-conductive, no current carried along the cable
Where This Belongs
Interior designers specify side glow fibre when a ceiling has to read as sky, when a bar front needs a line of light with no visible fixture, or when a stair nosing needs illumination that survives being stepped on. Sign makers use the 2mm and 2.5mm gauges for illuminated lettering and logo outlines, where the fibre traces a shape that an LED strip cannot follow without visible joins. Aquarium and model builders use the milky finish to fake depth inside a diorama. Because the cable carries no current and generates no measurable heat, it is also the practical answer for installations inside fabric drapes, behind timber slats and in humid rooms where a conventional fixture would need an IP-rated housing.
Questions Worth Asking
Does the cable light up along its whole length or only at the ends?
Along its whole length. This is a side glow fibre, so light escapes laterally through the cladding. The transparent version produces a crisp visible line; the milky version spreads that line into a wider halo.
What illuminator do I need?
Any standard LED fibre optic illuminator engine with a matching port. The cable carries no electronics of its own, so brightness is entirely a function of the illuminator's output and the run length. A 5 meter run of 6mm cable needs a noticeably stronger engine than a 5 meter run of 2mm.
Can I cut it to length?
Yes. Cut square with a sharp blade or hot knife and re-polish the cut end, because a ragged end scatters light and dims the whole run. The cut end is where the illuminator couples, so squareness matters more than length.
Is it safe near water or outdoors?
The fibre itself is non-conductive and tolerant of moisture, which is why it is used in wet rooms and aquarium builds. The illuminator and coupler are not waterproof and must be housed separately.
Will 6mm bend around a tight corner?
6mm is the stiffest gauge in the range and wants a generous radius. If the design has tight curves or lettering, specify 2mm or 2.5mm and accept lower total light output.
Does it get hot or fade fabrics?
No measurable heat at the cable surface and no UV or IR emission, which is why it can be run behind drapes, behind veneer and beside textiles without discolouration over time.
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