Apparatuses and methods for use in the making of a self-supporting fiber optic cable

A cable tensioning apparatus for use in making a self-supporting fiber optic cable having a messenger section and a core section, comprising:

• a messenger tensioner having a profile with a tensioning recess and a clearance recess;
• the tensioning recess being operative to grip and to apply tension to the messenger section;
• the clearance recess being operative to essentially frictionlessly accommodate the formation of undulations in the core section, whereby undulations are formed in the core section as the cable progresses through the tensioning apparatus by maintaining an essentially decoupled relationship between the core section of the cable and the clearance section of the tensioning apparatus.

A cable tensioning apparatus for use in making a self-supporting fiber optic cable having a messenger section and a core section, comprising:

• a messenger tensioner having a profile with a tensioning recess and a clearance recess;
• the tensioning recess being operative to apply tension to the messenger section;
• the clearance recess being operative to essentially frictionlessly accommodate the formation of undulations in the core section whereby the undulations are free to be formed in any radial direction relative to the center of the core section.