Thermal flash conditioner for fusion splicing; and methods

A method of end-to-end fusion splicing a ferrule fiber stub to an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

• stripping a coating layer of the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber to expose bare fiber segments of the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber, the bare fiber segments including a glass core and cladding;
• inserting the bare fiber segments of the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber into a resistive heating element structure to remove residual coating from the cladding of the bare fiber segments and severed ends of the coating layer of both the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber are shaped such that the severed ends of the coating layer are fully within a cylindrical envelope defined by a non-disturbed portion of the coating layer;
• loading the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber into respective alignment grooves of a fiber alignment fixture such that the shaped severed ends of both the ferrule fiber stub and the optical fiber are respectively in contact with the alignment grooves;
• and
• fusion splicing the bare fiber segment of the ferrule fiber stub and the bare fiber segment of the optical fiber together.