The present invention provides an improved optical cross connect (OXC) which utilizes interleaved channel separators and grating-based channel separators. The OXC includes a plurality of de-multiplexing interleaved channel separators; a plurality of multiplexing interleaved channel separators; and a plurality of channel routers optically coupled between the plurality of de-multiplexing interleaved channel separators and the plurality of multiplexing interleaved channel separators, where each of the channel routers includes: a grating comprising an alignment surface, a first sleeve comprising a mount, the mount capable of contacting the grating, and an alignment plate coupled to an outer surface of the first sleeve, wherein the alignment plate is capable of contacting the alignment surface of the grating. This grating-based channel separator affords a quick, easy, precise and reproducible positioning and alignment of the grating block. Thus, the OXC is minimized in size while also reproducibly assembled with perfect alignment in a minimal amount of time.