3D printing optical fibre preforms

3D printing of optical fibre preforms is reported. Tens of meters of air-structured optical fibre made from a propriety combination of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polystyrene is drawn. Propagation losses better than α < 1.5 dB/cm @ 632 nm, α < 0.75 dB/cm @ 1064 nm, and α < 1.51 dB/cm @ 1550 nm are obtained. This work signals a milestone in the history of optical fibre manufacturing, further revolutionised by future 3D printing of materials such as silica and other glasses as well as sapphire and the like.