A clamping
assembly having a top and bottom and front and back orientation, at least one
optical axis, and a pre-actuated state in which a
fiber is not secured to the clamping
assembly and a post-actuated state in which a
fiber is secured to the clamping
assembly, the clamping assembly comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a platform disposed in the housing and being fixed therein both radially and axially, the platform defining a
fiber-receiving channel along the
optical axis to receive at least one fiber, at least a portion of the fiber-receiving channel being accessible from the top; (c) a first
cam member disposed in the housing above and adjacent to the fiber-receiving channel, the first
cam member being radially actuateable within the housing, the first
cam member having a first cam surface; (d) a second cam member disposed in the housing and axially slidable therein, the second cam member having a second cam surface adjacent the first cam surface and configured such that, upon forward motion of the second cam member relative to the first cam member, the first cam member is urged downward as a result of a camming action between the first and second cam surfaces; and (e) an
actuator disposed slidably within the housing behind and adjacent to the second cam member and configured such that, when moved forward, it forces the second cam member forward relative to the first cam member.