The invention relates to a machine (100) for manufacturing an optical fiber (200), characterized in that the machine comprises: - at least one capstan (20, 21) and at least one pulley (22) which define a run of the optical fiber in a main area (2) of the machine; - an optical fiber guiding system comprising a transmission member (25) and a clamping element (26) that is rigidly connected to the transmission member (25) and is able to retain an end of the optical fiber (200), the transmission member (25) being arranged parallel to the run of the optical fiber; and - a device (5) for having the clamping element (26) automatically grip the optical fiber (200), said device (5) comprising: - means (53) for placing the optical fiber in a starting position in which the optical fiber runs at a distance from the clamping element in a direction extending substantially perpendicularly to the clamping element (26); - a fiber-spacing finger (51) that can move between a neutral position at a distance from the optical fiber located in the starting position and a position in which the finger (51) keeps the optical fiber at a distance from the starting position in such a way as to bring the optical fiber into an intermediate position opposite the clamping element (26); - means for opening and closing the clamping element (26), said means being designed to open the clamping element when the finger (51) has brought the optical fiber (200) into the intermediate position and close the clamping element again when the finger (51) has returned to the neutral position thereof.