Systems and techniques for splicing together optical fiber ribbon cables having different core-to-core spacings

A system for forming, at an end of an existing multifiber ribbon cable having an initial core-to-core spacing, a multifiber ribbon cable segment having an enlarged core-to-core spacing, comprising:

• a chassis,
• a mold mounted on top of the chassis,
• a reservoir and pumping system mounted on top of the mold for holding a flowable, light-curable material and injecting the light-curable material into the mold, and
• a curing light source mounted into an enclosure within the chassis,
• wherein the mold is formed from a material that is transparent to the curing light and is positioned such that light-curable material injected into the mold is exposed to light from the curing light source,
• wherein the mold comprises a base and a lid that, when in a closed configuration, define an internal cavity corresponding to the multifiber ribbon cable segment to be formed, and further define a plurality of individual fiber channels corresponding to individual fibers of the existing multifiber ribbon cable and having a spacing equal to that of the enlarged core-to-core spacing, wherein each individual fiber channel passes through the internal cavity, and extends between a respective entrance at a first end of the mold to a respective exit at a second end of the mold,
• wherein the assembled mold further includes an injection system for receiving light-curable, flowable material from the reservoir and pumping system and feeding it into the internal cavity, and at least one vent for allowing air to escape from the internal cavity as the light-curable, flowable material is fed into the internal cavity.