Apparatus and method for making low-loss permanent optical fiber splices

A single laser (16) is used as a heat source to activate droplets of acid (31) applied to two optical fibers (10,20) for selective stripping of fiber coating, for forming conical sections on the coating adjacent the exposed fiber for improved bonding, and for fusing the fibers together in a splice. An enhanced method for aligning the two fiber ends prior to splicing is also disclosed, consisting of a TV camera (82) scanning of selected cross-sections of both fibers following stripping and cleaving, to develop indicia of the relative location of the fiber cores. Lateral adjustment of a movable chuck (11) responsive to the indicia, brings the prepared fiber ends into precise axial alignment. The method uses a minimum of acid, and constructs low-loss permanent fusion splices without flame or need for skilled operators.