Disposable device for end finishing of plastic optical fiber

The present invention relates to the utilization of plastic optical fiber, and, more particularly, to the finishing of the end of a plastic optical fiber for insertion into an optical connector. Finishing the end of a plastic optical fiber by a device having a semi-rigid or rigid base, a solvent liner for absorbing and holding a solvent, and a re-attachable pull-off cover for keeping the solvent from evaporating when not in use. To polish the end of a plastic optical fiber, the cover is peeled off, the end of the optical fiber is contacted with the solvent liner such that solvent is transferred to the end of the optical fiber, the cover may be reapplied (using a pressure sensitive adhesive integral to either the bottom of the peel-off cover or the top of the liner), the excessive solvent, if any, is removed by using an appropriate swab, and the end of the plastic optical fiber is allowed to return to its normal state. The solvent temporarily dissolves the surface layer of the end of the optical fiber. The resulting surface tension automatically polishes the end of the optical fiber.