As previously reported on 3D Printing Industry, the protection of intellectual property (IP) in CAD files is a chief concern, not only for independent designers, but for companies seeking security over digital assets.
As a solution to design theft, a research team at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, propose a security feature for CAD files to make them fail if 3D printed incorrectly.
We reported last year on research that introduced flaws into a 3D print for malicious purposes, however this latest paper aims to use the flaws in a 3D print for good, rather than evil.
Imperfections enter stealth mode
In this proof-of-concept study, researchers hypothesise a security feature within CAD software that deliberately inserts faults into a component’s design. If 3D printed with the correct settings, the object will keep the desired quality. However, if the .stl file is not processed with the correct settings, the object will 3D print with a critical imperfection.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers examine two file modifications for creating unnoticeable flaws.
In the first instance the team investigate a command to create a split within a part. With this command, CAD engineers can embed a curved surface inside the geometry of a part. As this surface should not be present in a solid object, the curve creates a fracture in the demonstrated bar, making it unusable for the purpose.
Second, the researchers embed a sphere into the internal geometry of a cube. When sliced with the incorrect parameters, the 3D printer is programmed to believe it is making a solid cube, but following the 3D shape it encounters the sphere, leaving a cavity in the surface.
Simple but effective
Though the examples shown are simple shapes, the flaw concept is easily transferable to more complex parts. The particular type of flaw must also be considered on a part by part basis, as it is dependent upon a part’s dimensions and the internal geometry.
Fei Chen, one of the co-authors on the study, comments
The range of security feature designs demonstrated in this work can provide great flexibility to application engineers in terms of how to disguise these flaws easily in a complex shaped part. Most industrial components manufactured using 3D printing have complex designs to justify the use of 3D printing, which further helps in embedding these features without detection.
It is also worth noting that, although the imperfections could be removed by an experienced CAD user, multiple flaws in a complex part would be laborious to fix.
Nikhil Gupta, lead author of the Tandon School of Engineering study, adds,
…cybersecurity tools can be applied as usual to make the files and cloud secure; however, in case the design files are stolen, there is nothing in the designs to deter printing a high-quality component. The new approach is designed to provide an advantage in this scenario and to make printing high-quality parts from stolen files difficult.
Protection for 3D printing
With the additive manufacturing market becoming more and more competitive, some 3D printing companies are taking steps to patent features and processes in their work. IP protection for digital designs has also been discussed in relation to a copyright case between cheerleading uniform producers Varsity Brands and Star Athletica.
Tandon School of Engineering’s full article on this study, titled Security features embedded in computer aided design (CAD) solid models for additive manufacturing, is published online in the journal Materials & Design, Volume 128. It is co-authored by Fei Chen, Gary Mac and Nikhil Gupta. You can read an interview with Professor Gupta by 3D Printing Industry editor-in-chief Michael Petch here.
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Featured images: CAD model of a 3D printable cube with embedded flaw (sphere). Image credit Nikhil Gupta, Ph.D.
