Method and apparatus for constructing optical waveguide components using electrostatic gun

A method for producing an optical waveguide component, comprising:

• generating a glass producing soot via a burner having a flame that produces heat;
• providing the generated soot to a surface area collector;
• collecting the soot within the surface area collector, the burner being disposed such that the soot collected in the surface area collector is substantially unaffected by the heat from the burner
• providing a soot delivery device adapted to provide a charge to the soot;
• providing a substrate material adapted to receive the glass producing soot thereon;
• delivering the soot from the surface area collector to the delivery device;
• accelerating the soot as it passes through the delivery device;
• charging the soot as the soot passes through the delivery device with a sufficient charge to attract the soot to the substrate material;
• depositing the soot on the substrate material by spraying the soot onto the substrate material via the delivery device;
• conveying a plurality of the substrates in proximity to the delivery device such that the plurality of substrates receive the soot thereon via the delivery device;
• conveying the plurality of substrates from proximate the delivery device to a sintering oven;
• and
• sintering the plurality of substrates that have collected the soot.