Abstract: A system for winding optical fiber onto a spool includes a spindle assembly for receiving the spool and rotating it around its longitudinal axis. A fiber source for providing a continuous supply of fiber to the spool is positioned relative to the spindle assembly such that rotation of the spool by the spindle assembly causes fiber to be wound onto the spool around its longitudinal axis. A tension sensing device senses and provides feedback related to the amount of tension in the fiber. A traverse assembly causes the fiber to wind onto the spool back and forth between a front spool flange and a rear spool flange, the traverse assembly including a front turnaround position at the front spool flange and a rear turnaround position at the rear spool flange. A controller receives the fiber tension feedback and uses the feedback to determine what adjustment, if any, is to be made to the front and rear turnaround positions.

Abstract: A continuous length of fiber from a fiber supply is wound onto first and second sections of a spool by an apparatus and method that collect a first portion of the continuous length of fiber from the fiber supply, wind the collected first portion onto the first section of the spool, and wind a second portion of the continuous length of fiber onto the second section of the spool.