Grooved Guide for Providing Filament

A guide for providing a filament to a deposition point, comprising:

• a first member having an anterior surface into which a first groove is formed, wherein the first groove is configured to guide the filament in a direction of travel from a first end to a second end of the first groove, wherein the first end is configured to receive the filament from a source, the first member also having a posterior surface into which a cavity is formed, wherein the cavity is shaped to accommodate a roller such that the roller, while pressing the filament at the deposition point, is at least partially situated within at least a portion of the cavity, and the first member also having a notch that is adjacent to the cavity and that is in alignment with the first groove and extending from a bottom edge of the anterior surface toward the second end of the first groove, wherein the notch is configured to guide the filament from the second end of the first groove, through at least a portion of the cavity, and toward the deposition point;
• a second member that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation and disposed on the anterior surface of the first member, wherein the second member covers a downstream portion of the first groove in relation to the direction of travel and provides anterior support for the filament;
• and
• a third member disposed on the anterior surface of the first member upstream from the second member in relation the direction of travel, wherein the third member covers an upstream portion the first groove and provides anterior support for the filament.

A guide for providing a filament to a deposition point, comprising:

• a first member having an anterior surface into which a first groove is formed, wherein the first groove is configured to guide the filament in a direction of travel from a first end to a second end of the first groove, wherein the first end is configured to receive the filament from a source, the first member also having a posterior surface into which a cavity is formed, wherein the cavity is shaped to accommodate a roller such that the roller, while pressing the filament at the deposition point, is at least partially situated within at least a portion of the cavity, and the first member also having a notch that is adjacent to the cavity and that is in alignment with the first groove and extending from a bottom edge of the anterior surface toward the second end of the first groove, wherein the notch is configured to guide the filament from the second end of the first groove, through at least a portion of the cavity, and toward the deposition point;
• and
• a second member that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation and disposed on the anterior surface of the first member, wherein the second member covers a at least a downstream portion of the first groove in relation to the direction of travel and provides anterior support for the filament, and wherein the second member is a plate comprising fused quartz.

A guide for providing a filament to a deposition point, comprising:

• a first member having an anterior surface into which a first groove is formed, wherein the first groove is configured to guide the filament in a direction of travel from a first end to a second end of the first groove, wherein the first end is configured to receive the filament from a source, the first member also having a posterior surface into which a cavity is formed, and the first member also having a notch that is adjacent to the cavity and that is in alignment with the first groove and extending from a bottom edge of the anterior surface toward the second end of the first groove, wherein the notch is configured to guide the filament from the second end of the first groove, through at least a portion of the cavity, and toward the deposition point;
• a second member that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation and disposed on the anterior surface of the first member, wherein the second member covers a downstream portion of the first groove in relation to the direction of travel and provides anterior support for the filament;
• a third member disposed on the anterior surface of the first member upstream from the second member in relation the direction of travel, wherein the third member covers an upstream portion the first groove and provides anterior support for the filament;
• and
• a first mirror portion arranged at least partially along the first groove and at an oblique angle with respect to both a first side of and a bottom of the first groove.