The Right Fiber
for Every Effect.
End Glow, Side Glow, Sparkling and Jacketed PMMA fiber optic cables — from 0.5mm to 3mm, sold per metre or in bulk reels. The fiber behind every star ceiling, pool installation, contour run and feature wall.
All Nucleo fiber optic cables use PMMA — Polymethyl Methacrylate, also called plastic optical fiber. PMMA offers high optical clarity, low light attenuation over the distances common in architectural installations, and the flexibility to cut, bend and thread through ceiling panels, conduit and furniture cavities without specialist tools.
Diameter affects brightness per point. Fiber type determines where the light goes. An end glow fiber keeps light inside and releases it at the tip — one strand, one point. A side glow fiber lets light escape along its full length — one strand, one continuous glowing line. A sparkling fiber does something different again — it scatters light unpredictably along its body, creating a shimmering effect the other types cannot replicate.
Choosing the wrong fiber type for an application delivers a result that no amount of wattage adjustment can correct. Specifying the right type before purchase is the single most important decision in any fiber optic lighting project.
Each cable type has a specific emission characteristic that determines what it can and cannot be used for. Understanding each type avoids misspecification before purchase.
All four cable types are available across the full diameter range. Diameter determines how much light the fiber carries, how bright each emission point appears, and what drill bit size is needed for ceiling installation.
A real night sky contains stars of many different magnitudes — some faint and distant, some bright and close. A uniform 1mm end glow installation produces consistent brightness across all points, which reads as clean and modern but not naturalistic.
The Nucleo 300-point mixed kit uses three diameters specifically to replicate magnitude distribution: 180 fine 0.75mm fibers create the background field of dim distant stars, 90 medium 1mm fibers add definition, and 30 bright 1.5mm fibers become the prominent accent stars the eye is naturally drawn to. The same principle applies to any custom installation — specifying a diameter mix is what separates a realistic night sky from a uniform grid of identical dots.
The majority of fiber optic cable enquiries come down to choosing between end glow and side glow. These two types are not interchangeable — each works for a specific category of application.
- Emits light only at the tip — fiber body is completely dark
- One strand = one star point or accent point
- Fiber is invisible after installation — the light appears to emerge from the ceiling surface directly
- Highly efficient — all guided light is delivered to the emission point
- Available in 0.5mm to 3mm — widest diameter range of any fiber type
- Works with all Nucleo NLE illuminators
- Can be optionally polished at the tip for sharper, brighter output
- Correct choice for: star ceilings · pool floors · museum and art lighting · decorative panel dot arrays · any application requiring discrete, separated points
- Emits light continuously along the full fiber length — the body glows
- One strand = one continuous luminous line
- Light intensity decreases gradually from the engine end to the far end of the fiber
- Available in 1mm to 3mm — minimum diameter is larger than end glow
- Available in single strand and bundled multi-strand rope configurations
- Works with all Nucleo NLE illuminators
- Can be looped back to the engine for dual-end feed to reduce the brightness gradient
- Correct choice for: stair and step nosing edges · pool wall outlines · architectural contour runs · furniture profiles · signage outlines · any application requiring a continuous glowing line
| Requirement | Recommended Type | Diameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star ceiling — uniform look | End Glow | 1mm uniform | All points appear at equal brightness |
| Star ceiling — natural look | End Glow | 0.75 + 1mm + 1.5mm mixed | Diameter variation creates magnitude depth |
| Pool floor / underwater points | Jacketed End Glow | 1–2mm | Jacketed for moisture resistance; engine in dry plant room |
| Stair edge / step nosing | Side Glow | 1–2mm | Continuous glowing line along each step |
| Outdoor contour run | Jacketed Side Glow | 2–3mm | Jacketed for UV and weather resistance |
| Feature wall / resin panel | Sparkling | 0.75–1.5mm | Shimmering effect through embedded fibers |
| Museum / artwork lighting | End Glow | 1–2mm | No UV or heat at emission point — safe for light-sensitive works |
| Long outdoor conduit run | Jacketed End Glow | 2–3mm | Larger diameter compensates for attenuation over long runs |
PMMA Core with Fluoropolymer Cladding
The high-clarity PMMA core is enclosed in a fluoropolymer cladding that maintains total internal reflection — keeping light inside the core along end glow fiber and controlling the emission profile on side glow types.
No Heat at Emission Point
Infrared is filtered at the illuminator — only visible light enters the fiber. Zero heat at the fiber tip or along the fiber body. Safe for direct contact, fabric embedding, resin panel integration and ceiling void applications without any heat-related risk.
Cut-to-Length with No Specialist Tools
PMMA fiber cuts cleanly with a sharp blade or cable cutter. No fiber cleaver or polishing wheel required for standard installations. Cut ends can optionally be polished for sharper, brighter emission on end glow types.
Full Visible Spectrum Transmission
PMMA transmits the full visible spectrum with minimal colour distortion. Accurately carries RGBW, tunable white, single CCT and DMX colour sequences from the illuminator to every emission point without colour shifting or wavelength loss.
15m Maximum Run Length
PMMA fiber carries light effectively up to approximately 15 metres from the illuminator under normal installation conditions. Maintain a minimum bending radius of 25× the fiber diameter to avoid light loss at tight bends.
Per Metre and Bulk Reel Supply
Available per metre for small projects and prototyping, or in 50m, 100m and 200m reels for professional installer and project supply. All four cable types and all diameters are available in both formats.
Star Ceilings
End glow fiber in mixed 0.75mm/1mm/1.5mm for natural magnitude variation, or uniform 1mm for a clean modern look. The most common application for fiber optic cable in residential and hospitality projects.
Swimming Pools & Wet Areas
Jacketed end glow or jacketed side glow for underwater point arrays and pool wall outlines. Engine located in the dry plant room — no electrical connections in the water zone.
Stair & Step Edge Lighting
Side glow in 1mm or 2mm for a continuous luminous line along each step nosing. The fiber is routed in a recessed groove and connects back to a single engine — no drivers at each step.
Feature Walls & Resin Panels
Sparkling fiber embedded in stretched fabric panels, cast resin, or acrylic sheets. The shimmer shifts continuously, creating a living gem-effect surface impossible to replicate with LEDs.
Art & Museum Lighting
End glow fiber is the safest technology for illuminating light-sensitive artworks and textiles at close range — no UV, no IR and no heat at the emission tip. A single engine can light multiple individual artworks via a bundled multi-strand arrangement.
Architectural Contour Lighting
Side glow in 2mm or 3mm for glowing contour lines on columns, arches, cove edges and furniture profiles. A single engine drives a long continuous run — no junction boxes or power drops required along the route.
Outdoor & Landscape Lighting
Jacketed side glow for landscape path edges, garden contours and architectural facade outlines. UV and weather-resistant jacket; engine protected indoors or in an IP-rated enclosure.
Bedroom & Nursery Ceilings
End glow star ceiling in domestic bedrooms and nurseries. No electricity flows through the ceiling fibers — the emission tips are safe to touch, produce no heat, and emit no UV. Safe for children's rooms without any enclosure or guard.
| Specification | End Glow | Side Glow | Sparkling | Jacketed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | PMMA (Plastic Optical Fiber) with fluoropolymer cladding | |||
| Light Emission | Tip only | Full length (continuous) | Scattered + tip | Matches inner fiber type |
| Diameters Available | 0.5 · 0.75 · 1.0 · 1.5 · 2.0 · 3.0mm | 1.0 · 1.5 · 2.0 · 3.0mm | ||
| Jacket Material | None (bare) | None (bare) | None (bare) | PVC or LSZH · black or clear |
| Min. Bending Radius | 25× fiber diameter (tighter bends cause light loss) | |||
| Max. Run Length | ~15m from illuminator (PMMA) | |||
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to +70°C | |||
| UV Resistance | Low — use jacketed variant for UV-exposed installations | Good (PVC/LSZH jacket provides UV protection) | ||
| Colour Transmission | Full visible spectrum · compatible with RGBW, CCT, single CCT and DMX illuminators | |||
| Supply Format | Per metre · 50m reel · 100m reel · 200m reel | |||
| Compatible Illuminators | All Nucleo NLE series — NLE-18 · NLE-36 · NLE-45 · NLE-5S · NLE-90 | |||
Order Nucleo Fiber Optic Cable
End Glow, Side Glow, Sparkling or Jacketed — in any diameter from 0.5mm to 3mm, per metre or in bulk reels. Call or WhatsApp with your cable type, diameter and quantity.
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