A fiber orientation system that uses a spot reflection alignment technique for fast and simple fabrication of polarization-maintaining (PM) mechanical polished fiber optical couplers is presented. An extinction ratio higher than 27 dB (between the orthogonal polarized states) and a low insertion loss (0.2 dB) have been achieved at output ports for a 0.85 mu m device, as well as good thermal and mechanical stability. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.1917577