Apparatus and method for arraying optical fibers side by side on a pitch greater than the diameter of the fiber

A method for arranging optical fibers at a pitch greater than a diameter of the optical fibers in tool having a base with a top surface and a recessed channel in the base with a portion of the top surface on either side of the recessed channel, the method comprising:

• sliding individual optical fibers one by one into a slot and into the recessed channel;
• moving an object along the optical fibers in the recessed channel from the slot towards an end of the base;
• passing the individual optical fibers through a respective one of a plurality of grooves created by ribs within the recessed channel;
• and
• maintaining the individual optical fibers at a distance of 0.250 mm at an end of the recessed channel.

An optical fiber arranging tool comprising:

• a base having a recessed channel extending along the base from adjacent a rear end to a front end of the base;
• a stacker associated with the base at the front end, there being a slot in the stacker to receive optical fibers to be arranged, the slot having a width that is less than twice the diameter of the optical fibers;
• and
• a plurality of grooves disposed within the recessed channel having a pitch of 250 microns at the front end.