I think that sums up RepRapping \o/
what purpose do the tubes serve?
@Chapman_Baetzel By the looks of the other parts, decoration. It looks like this is a functioning art piece (maybe steampunk?)
Plus, tubes are cool.
No purpose other than decoration 
I went to a lot of trouble lighting the actual filaments but they were barely noticeable so I settled on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=020SJiX2emU