Method for assembling a light wave guide switch

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch having two groups of end faces of light wave guides, each group of end faces facing the other group of end faces and each group being disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the light wave guides, said switch further having a base plate with centering devices that extend parallel to each other from a first end of the base plate to a second end of the base plate, each centering device securing a light wave guide that extends through the coupling plane when each of said wave guides forms a single component, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling the first end of the baseplate to a stationary part of the switch while the switch is in a given switching position;
• coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position;
• cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane;
• and
• cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane,
• wherein the two coupling steps are completed before either of the cutting steps is performed, the step of cutting the base plate comprises the step of cutting the base plate with a laser, and the step of cutting the base plate is performed before the step of cutting the light wave guides.

A method for assembling a light wave guide switch having two groups of end faces of light wave guides, each group of end faces facing the other group of end faces and each group being disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the light wave guides, said switch further having a base plate with centering devices that extend parallel to each other from a first end of the base plate to a second end of the base plate, each centering device securing a light wave guide that extends through the coupling plane when each of said wave guides forms a single component, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling the first end of the baseplate to a stationary part of the switch while the switch is in a given switching position;
• coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position;
• cutting the light wave guides with a laser in the coupling plane;
• and
• cutting the base plate in the region of the coupling plane,
• wherein the two coupling steps are completed before either of the cutting steps is performed, and wherein the light wave guides each have a coating and further comprising the steps of removing the coatings in the region of the coupling plane before cutting the wave guides and sheathing the light wave guides with plastic.