Method of making multi-ferrules having a series of channels with parallel axes

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of making multi-ferrules. It provides a method of making multi-ferrules from a vitreous material, the multi-ferrules having a series of cylindrical channels with parallel axes. The method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: forming a blank (1) of well-defined section from a vitreous material, in which cylindrical passages (2) having parallel axes and an inside diameter Di have been machined, the dimensions of the outside section of the blank and the diameter Di being defined with relative accuracies at least equal to the accuracies required respectively for the dimensions of the outside section of the multi-ferrule (11) to be made and the inside diameter of the channels (9) of said multi-ferrule, positioning this blank (1) vertically in an apparatus of the same type as a fiber drawing apparatus for optical fibers, exerting traction on the piece (6) being formed at the bottom end of said blank (1) in such a manner as to obtain the required outside dimensions, controlling the dimensions of the outside section of the piece (6) being formed, and forming a multi-ferrule (11) of selected length by cutting a given length from the piece (6) obtained as indicated above.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.