Methods for fusing a fiber termination

A system for forming a fused connector end, the system comprising:

• a heat source;
• a first optical imaging device positioned so as to provide images of a connector termination including an optical fiber and a ferrule along a first viewing axis;
• and
• a second optical imaging device positioned so as to provide images of the connector termination along a second viewing axis, wherein the second viewing axis differs from the first viewing axis, and wherein the first viewing axis is parallel to or coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber,
• wherein the heat source is positioned to apply heat to both the ferrule and the optical fiber of the connector termination.

A system for forming a fused connector end, the system comprising:

• a movable heat source heat source configured to apply heat to a proximal portion of a connector termination in order to fuse an optical fiber to a ferrule;
• and
• a first optical imaging device positioned proximate to the optical fiber when the heat source applies heat to the proximal portion of the connector termination, wherein the first optical imaging device has a first viewing axis that is parallel to or coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber,
• wherein the heat source is positioned to apply heat to both the ferrule and the optical fiber of the connector termination.