Method for fabricating a cable core including optical fibers

A method for fabricating a cable core including a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising the steps of

• heating a central strength member;
• extruding a first layer of a thermoplastic material onto the heated central strength member;
• with a planetary strander helically laying the plurality of optical fibers with a planetary motion onto the first layer of thermoplastic material;
• a plurality of bobbins within the strander pay out the optical fibers;
• the optical fibers pass entirely enclosed, each fiber passing through a separate part of a whipping prevention enclosure, from the bobbins to a rotating closing die;
• the central strength member, coated with the first layer of the thermoplastic material and helically wrapped with the optical fibers, passes through the closing die, which rotates with the rotation of the helix, applying to the optical fibers forces directed radially into the cable core but without applying to the optical fibers forces directed side-to-side with respect to the surface of the first layer of thermoplastic material;
• and
• extruding a second layer of the thermoplastic material over the plurality of optical fibers to merge with the first layer of thermoplastic material.