Electroplating assembly for metal plated optical fibers

An assembly for at least partial immersion in an electrolyte, in a container, for electroplating nonconductors having conducting portions, said assembly comprising:

• an insulating frame including a shell having a first slot and a second slot, said insulating frame further including a first projection opposite a second projection;
• a metal filament for connection to a negative pole of a source of electrical energy, said metal filament extending from said first projection to said second projection of said insulating frame;
• a first conductive plate retained in said first slot of said shell at a first distance from said metal filament;
• and
• a second conductive plate retained in said second slot of said shell at a second distance from said metal filament, said first conductive plate and said second conductive plate being adapted for connection to a positive pole of the source of electrical energy, said metal filament and at least a portion of each of said first projection and said second projection of said insulating frame being located to submerge in said electrolyte for electroplating said nonconductors having conducting portions.

An assembly for at least partial immersion in an electrolyte, in a container, for electroplating conducting portions of a plurality of nonconductors, said assembly comprising:

• an insulating frame including a tubular shell having openings at opposing ends thereof, said tubular shell including a first slot and a second slot said insulating frame further including a first projection opposite a second projection;
• a clamp attached to said insulating frame to hold said plurality of nonconductors within said tubular shell;
• a metal filament for connection to a negative pole of a source of electrical energy, said metal filament extending from said first projection to said second projection of said insulating frame;
• a first conductive plate retained in said first slot of said tubular shell at a first distance from said metal filament;
• and
• a second conductive plate retained in said second slot of said tubular shell at a second distance from said metal filament, said first conductive plate and said second conductive plate being adapted for connection to a positive pole of the source of electrical energy, said metal filament and portions of each of said first projection and said second projection of said insulating frame being located to submerge in said electrolyte for electroplating said conducting portions of said plurality of nonconductors held by said clamp.