Print-and-Draw: From 3D-Printed Fused Silica Preforms to Microstructured Hollow-Core Optical Fibres

In recent years, there have been significant developments in the field of additive manufacturing, which has the potential to transform traditional manufacturing processes. Moreover, recent developments have seen the implementation of additive manufacturing in the processing of glass [1]–[5]. Nevertheless, the fabrication of preforms for microstructured optical fibres is predominantly conducted through the stack-and-draw method. This method is severely limited in its ability to produce more complex fibre structures, which are of great importance for the continued improvement of confinement losses, or for exploring new guidance mechanisms.