Additive Manufacturing Workflow Verification With Packetized Build Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing systems face challenges in coordinating and verifying the capabilities and processes across distributed entities, especially in additive manufacturing, which requires precise control and certification of materials, machines, and operators.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a blockchain-based framework to securely verify and record manufacturer capabilities, product precursors, and operational parameters, using encrypted secure identifiers and discrete packets of instructions sent to additive manufacturing devices, ensuring end-to-end verification and control of manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discrete packets of operational parameters are sent to additive manufacturing devices with confirmation of completion and deletion, then security and control of manufacturing processes is improved, but communication time and coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments manufacturing instructions into discrete packets that are transmitted separately to additive manufacturing devices. Each packet contains specific operational parameters for a portion of the product, allowing for controlled delivery and verification without transmitting the entire instruction set at once, thus balancing security with communication efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires preliminary confirmation that previous packets are complete and deleted before transmitting subsequent packets. This preliminary verification step ensures security and control by confirming proper handling of sensitive manufacturing data before releasing additional information
2Reliability
If blockchain is used to verify manufacturer capabilities and record manufacturing processes, then transparency and accountability are improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between manufacturing entities and verification systems. The blockchain serves as a decentralized, immutable ledger that records manufacturer capabilities, operational parameters, and manufacturing processes, providing transparent verification without requiring direct trust between participating entities
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it verifies manufacturer capabilities, tracks operational parameters, records completion status, and maintains audit trails. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate verification systems into a single unified platform
3Reliability
If encrypted secure identifiers are used for products and manufacturers, then intellectual property protection is improved, but data processing time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses encrypted secure identifiers that serve as digital representations or copies of sensitive manufacturing information. These identifiers allow verification and tracking of intellectual property without requiring decryption or access to the actual proprietary data, thus protecting IP while enabling efficient processing
Data Source
AI summary
Methods may involve accepting pre-manufacture verification of manufacturer capabilities and product precursors for a product. Discrete packets of operational parameters to enable an additive manufacturing device to manufacture the product may be generated, each packet enabling manufacture of a respective portion of the product. The respective packets may be sent for only after receipt of confirmation that a previous packet is complete and associated operational parameters for the previous packet have been deleted. A time from completion of the previous packet may be sufficient to ensure that manufacture of another respective portion of the product may begin without interruption in an additive manufacturing process. In-manufacture verification of operational parameters utilized by the additive manufacturing device may be accepted. During at least some stages, a blockchain may be updated to associate data representative of workflows for the product with an encrypted, secure identifier utilizing a secure, distributed transaction ledger.