Methods of terminating one or more optical fibers

A method of terminating an optical fiber, comprising:

• providing a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends, and a bonding agent disposed in at least a portion of the ferrule bore;
• applying energy to heat the bonding agent;
• inserting an end section of an optical fiber into the ferrule bore and through the bonding agent when the bonding agent is heated, wherein the end section of the optical fiber includes a primary coating prior to insertion into the ferrule bore, and further wherein the heated bonding agent thermally removes at least a portion of the primary coating during insertion of the end section of the optical fiber through the bonding agent;
• and
• securing the optical fiber in the ferrule bore with the bonding agent;
• wherein:
• the ferrule bore includes a first section extending inwardly from the rear end of the ferrule and having a first width, a second section extending inwardly from the front end of the ferrule and having a second width is less than the first width, and a transition section located between the first section and the second section;
• the bonding agent is at least partially located in the transition section;
• the end section of the optical fiber is at least partially exposed to the bonding agent after thermally removing at least a portion of the primary coating from the end section;
• and
• the end section of the optical fiber pulls at least some of the bonding agent into the second section of the ferrule bore when the end section is inserted through the bonding agent.