3D Printing Control Unit With Encrypted Object Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additively manufacturing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the secrecy of three-dimensional object details during the manufacturing process, as third-party manufacturers or users can access and view the object or data, compromising the secrecy of the geometrical details.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a control unit that generates and decrypts encrypted object data, allowing only authorized personnel to access the manufacturing process, and uses an encryption structure to conceal secret geometrical details, ensuring that only authorized users can view the completed object, with features like a bounding box for public information and a removable encryption structure for secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If third-party manufacturers provide apparatus for additive manufacturing to users, then productivity and accessibility are improved, but the secrecy of three-dimensional object details deteriorates because manufacturers and other users can view the manufactured objects and access manufacturing data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing data into two distinct parts: encrypted object data that remains confidential and unencrypted process data that enables manufacturing. The control unit separates these data types and processes them differently, allowing the apparatus to receive and manufacture objects based on encrypted data while only authorized users can decrypt and view the actual geometrical details. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling public access to manufacturing services while maintaining secret protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an encryption/decryption intermediary system between the user and the manufacturing apparatus. The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives encrypted object data, decrypts it for processing, and then re-encrypts or protects the finished object data. This intermediary mechanism allows the apparatus to function with public access while maintaining secrecy through controlled decryption and encryption operations.
2Loss of information
If encrypted object data are used to protect secret details, then secrecy is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for encryption and decryption functionality in the control unit
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a standard manufacturing controller and as an encryption/decryption device. It can process both encrypted object data and unencrypted process data, manage security protocols, and control the manufacturing apparatus. This universal design reduces the need for separate dedicated encryption hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining security functionality.
3Loss of information
If an encryption structure is built around the object to conceal geometrical details, then secrecy is improved, but manufacturing time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The encryption structure is built as a preliminary action during the additive manufacturing process itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step. As layers are deposited, the encryption structure is simultaneously formed around the object, concealing geometrical details during and after manufacturing. This preliminary integration eliminates additional time-consuming steps and reduces overall manufacturing time while maintaining secrecy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively maintains the secrecy of three-dimensional object details by restricting access to encrypted data and using encryption structures, preventing unauthorized personnel from viewing or accessing the object's geometrical details during and after the manufacturing process, ensuring secure and confidential production.
Implementation Method 1
selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source (4), e.g. an energy beam, in particular a laser beam or an electron beam
Implementation Method 2
an application of build material and a consolidation of build material is performed separately, such as a selective laser sintering apparatus, a selective laser melting apparatus
Implementation Method 3
a selective electron beam melting apparatus
Implementation Method 4
The successive layerwise selective consolidation of build material may be performed via at least one binding material
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source (4), wherein a control unit (6) is provided that is adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object (2) to be built in a, in particular additive, manufacturing process performed on the apparatus (1), wherein the or a control unit (6) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.