Fiber optic interface with adhesive fill system

A fiber optic termination, comprising:

• an exposed length of fiber optic filaments;
• and
• an interface, comprising:
• a homogeneous flexible body comprising grooves defined therein, each groove receiving a corresponding filament of the ribbon;
• each groove carrying an adhesive to attach the groove to a first portion of a corresponding filament while leaving a second, opposing portion of the corresponding filament and lateral side portions of the corresponding filament between the first and second portions substantially accessible for connection to a mating component;
• each groove further comprising an overflow port extending from a corresponding groove through the body of the interface;
• and
• the body further comprising an adhesive well inset from a perimeter of the body, the adhesive well being positioned to receive and spread the adhesive to the first portions of the filaments;
• wherein sides of the adhesive well are encompassed by the body, such that a filling port is positioned along the adhesive well, the filling port being configured to receive the adhesive.

A method for manufacturing a fiber optic termination, comprising:

• forming an interface comprising:
• a homogeneous flexible body having grooves defined therein, each groove receiving a corresponding filament of ribbon length of optical ribbon comprising a plurality of exposed optical filaments;
• each groove carrying an adhesive to attaching the groove to a first portion of a corresponding filament while leaving a second, opposing portion of the corresponding filament and lateral side portions of the corresponding filament between the first and second portions substantially accessible for connection to a mating component;
• and
• each groove further comprising an overflow port extending from a corresponding groove through the body of the interface;
• applying the adhesive in the grooves;
• placing the filaments on the adhesive in the grooves with each filament placed adjacent to a corresponding groove;
• squeezing the filaments into the grooves with a force sufficient to push excess adhesive from the grooves through the overflow ports;
• applying one of:
• near ultraviolet, ultraviolet or infrared light to the body to cure the adhesive;
• providing an adhesive well defined in the body inset form a perimeter of the body;
• and
• filling the adhesive well with the adhesive prior to positioning the filaments adjacent to their corresponding groove to spread the adhesive to spread the adhesive onto a portion of each filament when the filaments are squeezed into their corresponding grooves;
• wherein sides of the adhesive well are encompassed by the body, such that a filling port is positioned along the adhesive well, the filling port being configured to receive the adhesive.