a method and apparatus for automatic threading and winding of optical fiber onto various components in a fiber draw system , as well as methods and apparatus for conducting online tensile screening of optical fiber at high speeds . in a preferred embodiment , the fiber is tensile tested during fiber draw and wound directly onto a shipping spool to be shipped to a customer . the tensile stress can be imparted to the fiber during the draw process by feeding the fiber through a screener capstan , which works in conjunction with another capstan to impart the desired tensile stress to the fiber during the draw process . another aspect is a method and apparatus for threading or rethreading of a moving length of fiber through a fiber draw or fiber testing process , in which fiber is wound onto a spool , comprising activating an aspirator to obtain the fiber at a first location and moving said aspirator in at least two dimensions to thereby move the fiber to a second location and thread the fiber through or onto at least one component in the fiber draw or testing process .