Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibres

A method of splicing optical fibers includes affixing a first fiber to a first keying element having a particular radial orientation, inserting the keying element in a support which receives the keying element only in a specific radial orientation, cleaving the fiber affixed to the inserted keying element at a predetermined angle (alpha) relative to the support to form an angled fiber end face, removing the keying element from the support, inserting the keying element into a splicing body which receives the keying element only in a specific radial orientation such that the angled fiber end face has a predictable radial orientation with respect to the splice body, and repeating the above operations for a second fiber and a second keying element, whereby the first angled fiber end face and the second angled fiber end face abut in a substantially parallel orientation.