The issue of .STL file security is one of the (many) limiting factors to a more rapid rate of AM adoption, especially at an industrial level. In the era of cloud computing and P2P and at the dawn of distributed manufacturing, the most precious secret prototype designs are generally transported to and from the 3D printer using a USB key as online security is not fully trusted. One possible approach is giving up security entirely and adopting an open source business mode; however, that is not always a realistic option. Many startups and software companies have been working to create secure online file sharing systems, and the time may have finally arrived for STL file security to… Grow Secure.
Founded in 2014 by current CEO Ray Coyle (a lawyer and IP specialist), with backing from SLS 3D printer manufacturer EOS, Grow is the company behind the Grow Secure encryption software, specifically designed for 3D printable STL files. Joining Coyle at the helm of the company is Siavash Mahdavi, who founded Within Labs (later acquired by Autodesk) and co-founded the Digital Forming design customisation platform. Third board member Dermot Madden is the company’s CTO and was instrumental in the platform’s development.
Downloadable free from the Grow.am website, Grow Secure is a standalone Windows-based software solution designed specifically to protect digital intellectual property in designs used in a remote or distributed manufacturing environment. The way it works is by providing a direct link with a series of additive manufacturing service providers throughout the world and a secure way to get the file to them.
The file security is provided through a highly secure 3076 bit, RSA-level of encryption combined with an asymmetric (public:private) double key system. The file can either be transferred to the AM service via Grow’s cloud system or through a fully encrypted direct file transfer. This simply means that, once encrypted, the file can be e-mailed, sent via STP or any other non-secure means of digital communication.
The Grow Hubs network is a professional high-end 3D Hubs-like platform and, at the moment, counts five registered subscribers: two in the US (Indiana and Connecticut) and two in Europe (Germany, Slovakia and UK), including even at least one large and well-know AM service provider, Alphaform AG. Services can apply to become certified Grow Hubs and adopters can suggest a new hub and ask them to contact Grow to be listed. The entire process is fairly straight forward, which means there are no more excuses. Time to toss the USB and for the AM industry to Grow… up.
*This article was updated on June 12th to reflect the fact that the Grow Secure encryption key is 3076 RSA instead of 1024 RSA as initially communicated by the company.
