Abstract: A structure for holding an optical subassembly such as a laser and which minimizes the tilt of the optical subassembly. Pads are placed between the optical subassembly and the housing forming grooves along the inside of the housing and between the pads. The solder for mounting the subassembly to the housing is placed in the grooves. The volume of the solder is chosen so that it does not overflow the grooves. But the solder can be constructed so that its height is greater than the height of the grooves. The optical subassembly is placed against the solder with a downward force and heat is applied to the bottom of the base to melt the solder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for polishing a rotationally symmetric object such as a glass ball lens. The apparatus includes first and second plates for securing a plurality of glass ball lenses therebetween. The plates are secured to one another and the entire apparatus is pressed against a polishing pad in order to flatten a portion of the surface of the lenses. The apparatus also serves to maintain the orientation of the rotationally symmetric objects, so that they may be easily operated upon by future processing steps.

Abstract: Optical fiber must be adequately protected during manufacturing, testing, and transportation from physical damage due to over-bending, crushing, and chafing. Prior art methods of packaging optical fiber have been ineffective in protecting against these forms of damage and have required manual assembly, thus their effectiveness being heavily dependent upon operator skill and training. The present invention provides an optical fiber spool that has open and closed positions which allow optical fiber to be loaded into and unloaded from the spool automatically. Furthermore, this spool protects loaded optical fiber from physical damage such as over-bending, crushing, and chafing. The spool of the present invention achieves these goals by providing a plurality of cavities which open and close to capture the optical fiber. These cavities are formed between a plurality of radial tabs positioned around the circumference of a spool lid and over a channel formed within a spool base.

Abstract: A multi-fastener assembly tool (10, 10' and 10") for engaging at least one threaded fastener (14) for securing the fastener to a threaded stud (20) includes a member (26) having a fastener locating and holding mechanism (27) at one end. The fastener locating and holding mechanism is adapted to be squeezed through the fastener to retain it on the member. The member is seated within, and is springbased from, a circumferentially disposed socket (32) sized to engage the fastener. A shaft (42), having a handle (44) at one end, is integrated to the socket to allow a force to be applied to urge the socket against the member once the fastener locating and holding means are aligned with the stud. As the socket is urged against the member, the threaded fastener is seated in the socket and is then pushed off the member to the stud. Once the fasteners is at the stud, a rotational motion is imparted to the handle to thread the fastener onto the stud.

Abstract: A clamping fixture (10) for releasably clamping a workpiece (12) to avoid damage to the workpiece comprises a support (40) having a pair of arms (60,62) mounted thereto for rotation to and from each other. Each arm has a jaw assembly (68,70) spring-biased thereto opposite the jaw assembly on the other arm so that each jaw assembly can "float" along each of the x, y and z axes. When the arms are rotated together, the jaw assemblies conformally grip the workpiece therebetween with a reduced incidence of damage.