Abstract: Armored fiber optic cables and methods for making are disclosed that include an armor layer generally surrounding a fiber optic cable that includes at least one optical waveguide and a cable jacket. The cable jacket has an outer diameter and armor layer has an inner surface, wherein a gap exists between the outer diameter of the cable jacket and the inner surface of the armor layer. The armored fiber optic cable further includes a centering element disposed in the gap between the fiber optic cable and the armor layer. The centering element generally inhibits the fiber optic cable from moving away from a middle of the armored fiber optic cable towards the inner surface of the armor layer during winding of the armored fiber optic cable, thereby inhibiting wavy armor and/or preserving the optical performance of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable is provided that includes a plurality of lengthwise extending, non-jacketed bundles of optical fibers and a cable jacket surrounding the bundles of optical fibers. Each bundle of optical fibers may include a binder, such as a binder thread, for maintaining the integrity of the bundle. The binder may include, for example, a binder thread formed of an air entangled, textured, continuous multi-filament thread. The fiber optic cable may also include a separation element for preventing adhesion between the bundles of optical fibers and the cable jacket without having to separately jacket each bundle of optical fibers.