Panduit FC3XN-16-10NMBN OM3 Fiber Optic Cassette
The Panduit FC3XN-16-10NMBN is a pre-terminated OM3 multimode fiber cassette built around Panduit's QN (QuickNet) connector platform. It ships with 16 QN front-facing connectors and a 10-fiber FB (fiber breakout) cable on the rear — a configuration suited for high-density patch environments where you need to terminate multiple OM3 multimode runs into a structured cassette housing without field-polishing individual connectors.
Overview
Fiber cassettes in this family are designed to drop into QuickNet-compatible frames, converting trunk cable connections to individual patching ports. The FC3XN-16-10NMBN specifically uses OM3 glass — an aqua-jacketed 50/125µm multimode fiber that supports 40GbE and 10GbE transmission at data center distances typically up to 100m and 300m respectively, depending on transceiver type. That makes this cassette a practical choice for MDA-to-EDA runs or top-of-rack to core switch connections inside a structured cabling deployment.
Key Features
- OM3 Multimode Fiber: 50/125µm OM3 glass supports 40G and 10G Ethernet at data center-relevant distances — compatible with common OM3 transceivers and direct-attach configurations without requiring OS2 single-mode infrastructure.
- 16 QN Front Connectors: Sixteen QuickNet ports in a single cassette housing means higher port density per rack unit compared to traditional adapter-panel approaches — fewer panels needed to hit a given port count.
- 10-Fiber FB (Breakout) Cable: The rear breakout cable allows individual fiber routing to trunk connections, giving installers flexibility in how they route and manage fiber within the frame.
- Pre-Terminated Factory Precision: Factory-terminated cassettes eliminate field polishing variability — insertion loss and return loss are controlled at the manufacturing stage, which matters for 40G links where link budgets are tighter.
- QuickNet Platform Compatibility: The QN connector format is native to Panduit's QuickNet ecosystem, meaning this cassette integrates directly into QuickNet frames and panels without adapter hardware.
Integration and Compatibility
The FC3XN-16-10NMBN (often searched as FC3XN 16 10NMBN) is designed for use within Panduit's Panduit QuickNet structured cabling infrastructure. It requires a compatible QuickNet cassette frame for installation — the cassette slides and locks into the frame housing rather than mounting independently. Verify frame compatibility with Panduit's QuickNet frame line before ordering, as frame slot count and cassette form factor must match. This product belongs to the broader fiber optic cable and assemblies category and is relevant to data center structured cabling projects where structured cabling planning is already underway with Panduit infrastructure. If your deployment requires OS2 single-mode rather than OM3 multimode, or a different front-connector count, verify the cassette variant against your fiber plant design before ordering — Panduit offers multiple cassette configurations within the QuickNet family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What fiber type does the FC3XN-16-10NMBN use?
A: It uses OM3 multimode fiber (50/125µm), which supports 40GbE and 10GbE at data center distances. It is not compatible with single-mode OS1/OS2 transceivers.
Q: How many connectors does the FC3XN-16-10NMBN have on the front face?
A: The cassette has 16 QN (QuickNet) connectors on the front, providing 16 individual patching ports per cassette.
Q: What does the 10-fiber FB designation mean on the FC3XN-16-10NMBN?
A: FB stands for fiber breakout. The rear of the cassette terminates a 10-fiber breakout cable, which routes individual fibers to trunk connections within the QuickNet frame system.
Q: Does the FC3XN-16-10NMBN require a separate cassette frame?
A: Yes. This cassette is designed to install into a compatible Panduit QuickNet frame. It does not mount independently — verify frame compatibility with Panduit's QuickNet frame specifications before purchasing.
Q: Is the FC3XN-16-10NMBN pre-terminated or does it require field polishing?
A: It is factory pre-terminated. No field polishing is required, which removes end-user insertion loss variability from the link budget.
The FC3XN-16-10NMBN is a QuickNet OM3 cassette I'd reach for specifically when a 40G or 10G multimode fiber plant is already standardized on Panduit QuickNet frames — the 16-port QN front face and 10-fiber FB rear breakout make it a natural fit for high-density MDA or EDA patching runs where you want pre-terminated precision without field-polishing risk.
Technical Highlights:
- OM3 Multimode Glass: 50/125µm OM3 supports 40GbE up to 100m and 10GbE up to 300m — the right glass for typical data center inter-switch and server-to-ToR distances without stepping up to single-mode infrastructure costs.
- 16 QN Front Ports: Sixteen QuickNet connectors per cassette delivers meaningful port density per rack unit — critical when you're filling a high-slot-count frame and need to minimize the number of cassette swaps during a build-out.
- Pre-Terminated FB Breakout: Factory termination on the 10-fiber breakout rear means link budgets are predictable before the cassette is ever installed — no field polishing, no technician variability on insertion loss at 40G where headroom is limited.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm the target QuickNet frame accepts this cassette form factor before ordering — not all Panduit frames share the same slot geometry, and a mismatch means the cassette won't seat correctly.
- OM3 is a multimode standard — if any segment of the link runs OS2 single-mode (common in campus or inter-building runs), this cassette is the wrong choice; you'll need an OS2 variant with compatible connectors instead.
Best positioned for data center structured cabling builds already committed to Panduit QuickNet infrastructure, where 40G or 10G OM3 multimode is the fiber plant standard and installation teams need pre-terminated cassettes with a predictable, low-variability insertion loss profile.
