Patent ID: 8439665

Claim:
A ribbon liquefier for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the ribbon liquefier comprising: an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component; a static channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, the static channel having an inlet end with dimensions that are configured to receive a ribbon filament, and an outlet end, wherein the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the static channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow, and wherein the dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow to an axially-asymmetric flow within the static channel; and an extrusion tip extending from the outer liquefier portion at the outlet end of the static channel, wherein the dimensions of the extrusion tip are configured to conform the melt flow from the axially-asymmetric flow in the static channel to a substantially axially-symmetric flow for extrusion from the extrusion tip.