Apparatus and method for filament tensioning

A filament tensioning apparatus for releasably securing an optical fiber, said tensioning apparatus comprising:

• a filament organizer having an optical fiber extending between a lockable spool and a rotary spool, said optical fiber including a measured fiber portion and a bare fiber portion;
• a tensioning holder including:
• a support bar;
• a first carriage movably mounted at a first location on said support bar said first carriage including an upper surface having a first clamp and a voice coil mounted thereon for movement relative to said support bar;
• a second carriage movably mounted at a second location on said support bar such that a separation exists between said first location and said second location said second carriage including an upper face having a second clamp and a load cell mounted thereon for movement relative to said support bar, said second clamp in axial alignment with said first clamp to secure said measured fiber portion including said bare portion thereof, located inside a first boundary and a second boundary, between said first clamp and said second clamp;
• a guide bar extending from said voice coil for contact with said load cell to adjust said separation of said first location from said second location, to change tension applied to said measured fiber portion, during activation of said voice coil;
• and
• a pair of grippers secured to said filament tensioning apparatus, and in axial alignment with said fist clamp and said second clamp to substantially immobilize said bare fiber portion.

A method of filament tensioning comprising the steps of:

• providing a tensioning holder including at least one support bar;
• attaching a filament to a first clamp coupled to a first carriage mounted at a first location on a said support bar said first carriage having a voice coil mounted thereon for movement relative to a said support bar;
• holding the filament using a second clamp coupled to a second carriage mounted at a second location on a said support bar such that a separation exists between said first location and said second location said second carriage having a load cell mounted thereon for movement relative to a said support bar;
• and
• activating said voice coil to move a guide bar extending from said voice coil to contact said load cell to adjust said separation of said first location from said second location to apply tension to a filament held between said first clamp and said second clamp.