OPTICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Optical connector assemblies suitable for use in harsh environments such as down hole oil and gas well applications and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, an optical connector assembly suitable for down hole oil field applications comprises a first and second optical waveguide urged by a biasing member against a bracket. Each of the waveguides has at least one base surface formed on the exterior of the waveguide that is disposed against at least one of a plurality of reference surfaces of the bracket. In another embodiment, flats comprise two of the ba se surfaces on each optical waveguide. In another embodiment, a method of fabricating an optical connector assembly suitable for down hole oil field applications includes the steps of forming a first flat on a first optical waveguide, forming a second flat on the first optical waveguide, forming a first flat o n a second optical waveguide, forming a second flat on the second optical waveguide, and biasing the first flats of the first and second optical waveguides against a first seating surface and second flats of the first and second optical waveguides against a second seating surface.