3D printing means creating physical-three dimensional objects through additive processes. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing involves adding a material layer one by one to make the object. This process is unique because it makes it possible to solidify materials like powder grains or liquid molecules and create a 3D object – all by using computer software. Unlike traditional manufacturing, 3D printing requires less material to make complex shapes and even allows you to manufacture objects from your own home. The best part is that you can do a lot with a 3D printer, whether creating a toy for your child or a new door handle.
3D printing is a 3-step process, which involves:
- Preparation. This is probably obvious, but preparation comes first in 3D printing. You need a digital design file of the 3D object you want to print, which you can create with software or download online. For instance, if you plan to make a cover for your smartphone, you’ll first need a digital 3D model. However, it’s vital to ensure that there are no copyright issues if you decide to download a file instead of designing one.
- Printing process. After the 3D digital model is prepared, the printer’s software slices it into two-dimensional layers and then turns it into specific instructions that the printer must execute. During this step, you must choose the right material for the printing process to ensure the object has the required properties. 3D printing materials range from plastics and ceramics to glass, biomaterials, food, and more. Coming to the example of the phone cover, you should use plastic and load the 3D printer with it, ensuring sufficient material. To create a physical object, a 3D printer requires many layers of materials, which must be deposited on the print bed. After being loaded with enough material, the 3D printer receives instructions from the computer and starts turning the digital design into a physical object, namely the phone cover.
- Finishing process. Once the object is printed, you’ll either obtain a final product or an indirect one, with the latter requiring assembly, finishing and heat.
When thinking of 3D printing, rapid manufacturing is probably the first thing that comes to mind. But in reality, it has applications in many other industries, such as:
- Construction;
- Jewelry;
- Footwear;
- Eyewear;
- Biotech;
- Prosthetics.
3D printing has grown exponentially, and while it provides many opportunities, it also poses significant challenges, like counterfeiting, unauthorized IP usage, and malicious data manipulation. For instance, 3D printing allows everyone to reprint a part, often leading to illegitimate reprinting and posing financial threats for companies that embrace this technology. Product counterfeiting is another critical issue, as producing something that looks like the original is basically the proliferation of pirated copies. Moreover, 3D printing poses threats due to its digital nature, as unauthorized parties could easily misuse or manipulate the design data.
Blockchain is an innovative technology primarily associated with cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Bitcoin, BNB, and many others, which you can buy and sell on a crypto exchange like Binance. However, blockchain’s utility goes beyond the crypto world – this technology can be a safeguarding layer for 3D printing, helping prevent data manipulation. Since most of the 3D printing process is digitized, bridging it with the digital ledger is feasible.
In 3D printing, the three-dimensional image is created via computer-aided software (or CAD), which further has to be analyzed. During this stage, CAD systems and analysis tools switch sensitive data, posing cybersecurity risks, as the 3D print could either be corrupted or stolen. Therefore, a solution is required to protect the company’s intellectual property, and that’s where blockchain technology plays a vital role. The digital ledger can track the design files’ origin and evolution and provide a timestamp record of all the design modifications, which can then be distributed across different organizations and departments. This way, everyone involved in the 3D print will know how the process goes in a safe manner. Due to its decentralized nature, blockchain ensures that no one can steal or alter a 3D-printed file, which would be incredibly difficult. As a result, using blockchain with 3D printing can help decrease cyber risk and protect intellectual property rights.
Blockchain can also help solve the counterfeit issue, as during the manufacturing process, a physical part can be tagged with an identification number and recorded in the ledger. This unique identification number can be scanned to trace back information in the blockchain, thus helping determine if the product is original or copied. Moreover, the technology can also be utilized to build a distributed network of 3D printers globally. This would allow manufacturers to monitor and limit the number of printed product copies, helping meet quality standards and preventing the creation of counterfeits.
Through blockchain and smart contracts, companies can issue licenses to users so that a specific number of 3D images is printed, ultimately leading to business expansion. Let’s say a particular company authorizes another to print 150 copies of its 3D images. In this case, the smart contract will store the license, ensuring that the 3D files can only be accessed by the recipient, namely the other company. Moreover, the blockchain can also store the serial numbers of every printed component to prove that the quantity and type of the files are created based on the license terms. This ensures that the company will only print that specific quantity rather than make more copies and sell them later on the market.
3D printing is indeed an innovative technology, but it poses specific challenges that must be addressed. Fortunately, blockchain is a promising solution, helping transfer sensitive data and ensuring a product isn’t copied. Combining blockchain with 3D printing means creating new business opportunities, assisting companies in overcoming data security barriers, and facilitating manufacturing. Moreover, 3D printing can also help ventures improve their value proposition by boosting value delivery and providing more affordable products, which are more customized and with fewer risks.