Abstract: In one embodiment, a process for manufacturing an optical fiber coupler of the invention utilizes a rotating drum that has a sloted portion or stacking slot for receiving multiple lengths of fiber in a stack. A support for the input ends of the fibers is in the form of a block which is secured to the surface of the drum in spaced relation with the slot. The block has a plurality of shallow, parallel spaced apart grooves in parallel alignment with the stacking slot. An end of the fiber is initially threaded preferably into the stacking slot and then sequentially located alternately in vacant grooves in the support. As the drum is rotated, a positioner operates to move the fiber transversely in the direction parallel to the drum axis so as to align the fiber in each respective one of the grooves and the slot for each rotation of the drum. The process continues until all the grooves are all occupied and the stacking slot is filled with a corresponding number of fiber lengths.