<em>This call for prior art is part of the [EFF][1]'s effort to keep 3D printing open. Read about the initiative [here][2], and check out [Google Patents][3] or the [USPTO][4] for full details about this particular application.</em>

![enter image description here][5]
**"Ribbon Filament and Assembly for Use in Extrusion-based Digital Manufacturing Systems"**

This application relates to 3D printing with a flattened, rectangular filament shaped like a ribbon instead of a cylindrical filament, taking advantage of the “insight” that larger surface area results in faster melting of print material. (Think fettuccine versus spaghetti.) 

**<b>BASIC APPLICATION DATA:</b>**

- **App Number:** 13/530,191
- **Publication Number:** US20120258190 A1
- **Assignee:** Stratasys, Inc. 
- **Prior Art Cutoff Date:** September 30, 2009
- **Availability for Challenge:** Open Until At Least April 11, 2013

**APPLICATION OVERVIEW:** This application claims the use of a ribbon-shaped build material for use in 3D printing. The build material is shaped like ribbon rather than a cylinder and put through a ribbon liquefier rather than a cylindrical liquefier.  The ribbon shape allows the build material to melt faster and reduces build times.  

**WHY IT MATTERS:** This patent is about using a basic, well-known scientific principle and applying it in an obvious way to 3D printing technology to improve melting and print speed. 

<h2>Are you familiar with technology similar to that described in this patent application?</h2> 

If so, please submit evidence of that prior art as an answer below. For details about what makes good prior art, please see our [FAQ][6]. Once you have submitted prior art, check back soon to see if the [EFF][7], the [Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard Law School][8], and the [Ask Patents][9] community have chosen your prior art to be submitted to the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

If you'd like to contribute in another way, please vote or comment on submissions made below. And we welcome you to [post your own request for prior art][10] if you know of another questionable patent or patent application.

Thanks for participating! 


  [1]: https://www.eff.org/
  [2]: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/join-effs-efforts-keep-3d-printing-open
  [3]: http://www.google.com/patents/US20120258190
  [4]: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20120258190&OS=20120258190&RS=20120258190
  [5]: https://i.sstatic.net/05h0n.png
  [6]: http://patents.stackexchange.com/faq#prior-art
  [7]: https://www.eff.org/
  [8]: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/teaching/cyberlawclinic
  [9]: http://patents.stackexchange.com/about
  [10]: http://patents.stackexchange.com/questions/ask?source=3dask