Additive Manufacturing Tool Path Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing techniques, such as material extrusion, can produce high-quality components but struggle to prevent counterfeiting, as copies can appear identical to originals despite differing internal structures or materials, making it difficult to authenticate components and potentially leading to market undercutting and warranty issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves encoding information into the tool path patterns of adjacent tracks in additively manufactured components, allowing for embedded anti-counterfeiting features that can be easily identified without disrupting the component's structure, using a computer-readable three-dimensional model to create layers with encoded tool path patterns that are repeated across the component's cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional anti-counterfeit features are printed onto an intermediate layer inside the part, then counterfeit detection is enabled, but the component structure is interrupted creating weak points and voids
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the anti-counterfeit information from the traditional intermediate layer location and embeds it within the tool path pattern of the extrusion process itself. The encoded information is integrated into the tracks as they are deposited, rather than being placed in a separate intermediate layer, thereby eliminating structural interruptions while maintaining authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the anti-counterfeit encoding function with the structural extrusion process. The tool path pattern that forms the component's structure simultaneously encodes authentication information, combining two functions (structural formation and anti-counterfeiting) into a single integrated process without creating separate features that would weaken the component.
2Reliability
If anti-counterfeit features are embedded in the component, then authentication is possible, but the features may themselves be easy to copy once their existence is determined
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of information encoding from traditional visible text or logos to encoded tool path patterns. The authentication information is embedded in the geometric configuration and trajectory of the extrusion tracks, which can be verified through analysis of the printed structure's geometry rather than through visual inspection of traditional markings, making replication more difficult.
3Reliability
If traditional anti-counterfeit features are used, then counterfeit detection is enabled, but it is difficult to determine where to cut the part to find the features
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the tool path pattern serve multiple functions: it forms the structural tracks of the component and simultaneously encodes authentication information throughout the printed part. This universal application means authentication features are distributed across the entire component rather than localized to specific intermediate layers, making them accessible for verification at multiple locations.
Data Source
AI summary
An additively manufactured component has a plurality of overlapping layers bonded to each other. The plurality of overlapping layers includes at least a first subset of layers, and at least one layer of the at least a first subset of layers includes adjacent tracks bonded to each other. At least one of the adjacent tracks has a tool path pattern that is encoded with information.