Drawing of glass fibres is an important industrial process used for the manufacture of a variety of materials ranging from optical communications cables to fibre filter media. A variety of machines exist for performing the drawing function, but all share similar problems with control of the fibre diameter and breakage of the fibres during the extrusion process. In many cases, control systems are not configured to monitor the most critical process variables, but instead use only furnace crown temperature. Upsets in disturbance variables such as ambient temperature are compensated manually by operators, usually only after significant problem with fibre breakage occur. This work sets to provide a better understanding of the effects of important process variables on the key quality and production parameters such as fibre diameter and production rates.
