A laser diode array beam translator includes a laser diode array having a number of spaced-apart laser elements, or diodes, each emitting laser radiation. The typical laser diode array laser elements are rectangular in shape, and linearly spaced apart along an axis with the long dimensions of the element along the axis. A number of optical fibers, or waveguides, having rectangular cross-sections are placed adjacent each laser element and sized horizontally and vertically to approximate the rectangular dimensions of the laser element. The optical fibers rotate ninety degrees (90°) from a horizontal configuration to a vertical configuration. Once the fibers are in the vertical configuration, due to the flexible nature of the rectangular fibers in their short-dimension direction, the optical fibers translate horizontally so that the output ends of the rectangular fibers are parallel and adjacent to a receiving end of an optical fiber. The proximity and similar sizing of the receiving end of the optical fiber to the combined size of the rectangular optical fibers provides for the near total reception of the optical energy from the rectangular fibers to the optical fiber.