The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fibre
optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical
connector (20) for connecting optical fibres. The connector (20)
comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an
end (35) of an optical fibre (38), a cylindrical ferrule (32) within the
housing (6) having opposite first and second ends (33, 35), and an
optical fibre stub held axially (14) within the ferrule (32) and
extending between said ferrule ends (33, 35). The connector (20) also has
a lens (8) for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam (40)
optically coupled with the optical fibre stub at the first ferrule end
(33). A sleeve (34) surrounds the ferrule (32) and extends towards the
port (48) axially away from the second ferrule end (35) to present an
open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule (36) of an
optical fibre (38) inserted into the port. The connector (20) has a
connector portion (2, 4, 5) for connecting the optical fibre connector
(20) to another expanded beam optical fibre connector so that said
expanded beam (40) traverses between the connectors. A channel (28)
extends through the housing (6) from the port (48) towards the lens (8),
the ferrule (32) being secured by means of a cured adhesive (30) to the
housing (6) and in alignment with respect to the lens (8), the open end
of the sleeve (34) and/or the second end (35) of the ferrule being
surrounded by a void (60) within the channel (28).