Alignment assembly for multi-optical fiber ferrules

An optical fiber connector ferrule comprising two or more support members stacked together in mating relationship;

• each of said support members having a face and having first and second longitudinally extending spaced V-grooves therein extending rearwardly from said face for forming an alignment pin passageway when mated with a second support member;
• a first stop member extending from the wall of at least one of said V-grooves defining a restricted passageway in said ferrule having a transverse dimension and a first length;
• an alignment pin having a transverse dimension less than that of said alignment pin passageway and greater than that of said restricted passageway and having a grooved portion of a transverse dimension less than that of said restricted passageway, the length of said grooved portion being greater than that of said restricted passageway;
• and
• at least one flat portion on said pin adjacent said groove and extending to the rear thereof for creating a reduced transverse dimension of said pin less than the transverse dimension of said restricted passageway in a first rotational orientation of the pin to permit insertion of the pin into and through said restricted passageway and in a second different rotational orientation to hold the pin in place within the support member.