Tools and Methods for Preparing a Ferrule-Less Optical Fiber Connector

A ferrule-less fiber optic connector system for terminating an optical fiber, the ferrule-less fiber optic connector system comprising:

• a ferrule-less fiber optic connector adapted for terminating the optical fiber, the ferrule-less fiber optic connector including a housing with a locating feature;
• a crimping tool adapted to crimp the ferrule-less fiber optic connector to the optical fiber, the crimping tool including a locating feature adapted to engage the locating feature of the housing of the ferrule-less fiber optic connector, the crimping tool further including a stop adapted to engage an end of the optical fiber, the locating feature and the stop of the crimping tool thereby locating the end of the optical fiber with respect to the locating feature of the housing of the ferrule-less fiber optic connector;
• and
• a polishing tool adapted to polish the end of the optical fiber to a polished end, the polishing tool including a locating feature adapted to engage the locating feature of the housing of the ferrule-less fiber optic connector, the polishing tool further defining a plane to which the end of the optical fiber is polished, the locating feature and the plane of the polishing tool thereby locating the polished end of the optical fiber with respect to the locating feature of the housing of the ferrule-less fiber optic connector.