Optical fibres are used increasingly frequently in waveguides and in communications systems, generally, wherein light energy is transmitted through very long distances within optical fibres with little or no concomitant energy losses. Devices using optical fibres often must be coupled, and such coupling requires the severance of and the reconnecting thereof of the transmitting fibres, which are made, generally, of glass. Loss of light energy at a coupling is detrimental to most transmissions and is to be avoided.

A junction between light fibres should be as near-perfect as possible; that is, the glass-to-glass interface should abut precisely one fibre to another, to minimize energy losses and signal imperfections at these junctures. To accomplish precise joining, a precision cleaving tool must be employed.