Methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing a cable assembly with breakout and molded cable assembly
Methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing a fiber optic cable breakout assembly comprising a molded array of furcation tubes are provided. In some embodiments, a pin retainer is connected to a plurality of pins for use in facilitating heat transfer to furcation tubes and influencing a structural arrangement of a molded array of the furcation tubes. The pin retainer can be removably connected to a pull arm on a heating system for heating molding the furcation tubes, and the pull arm can be automatically retracted after a molding process is complete, to withdraw the pins from the molded array.
1. A molding system for use in molding a furcation tube bundle to generate a molded array, the molding systems comprising:
an automated pull arm having an attachment member affixed thereto for use in attaching the pull arm to a pin retaining member;
a plurality of pins attached to the pin retainer member;
a heating compartment disposed adjacent the pull arm; and
a clamp member for use in retaining the furcation tube bundle when the automated pull arm is activated to pull the plurality of pins from a molded portion of the furcation tube bundle.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pin retainer member comprises a plurality of slots from which the plurality of pins extend.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of slots are defined by vertically stacked separating strips.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stacking separator member, the stacking separator member having a plurality of horizontal slots defined by vertically stacked wall members.