Methods and Systems for Control of 3D Printing

A system for controlling the 3D printing of an object by a 3D printing apparatus comprising:

• a build module having a build platform and 3D printing module for building an object;
• a controller configured to receive a digital print file (F) which includes data representative of the object to be printed, including layer by layer information;
• the controller further configured to receive details of objects predefined as subject to print control;
• the controller further comprising a 3D object analyser;
• wherein the controller is configured to build a representation of the object to be printed;
• and
• wherein the 3D object analyser is configured to interrogate the representation of the object to be printed to determine whether the object includes a possible match to a feature of an object predefined as subject to print control;
• if it is determined by the object analyser that the object to be printed includes a possible match to one or more features that correspond to features of a pre-defined controlled object;
• the controller is configured to:
• (i) effect further interrogation of the object to be printed to determine whether the object to be printed includes a possible match to more than one feature of an object predefined as subject to print control;
• and/or (ii) to interrupt printing.

A method for controlling the 3D printing of an object by a 3D printer:

• providing 3D printing apparatus having a printing module and build module and a print controller;
• storing file data of digital print files pertaining to objects pre-defined as subject to print control in memory, wherein the store may be remote, cloud based, or local and wherein the stored data is accessible by the printer or may be downloaded to the printer;
• providing a hash algorithm to the printer to allow the printer perform a hash of a received digital print file;
• upon receipt at the printer of a print request and an input digital print file (DPF) representative of an object to be printed;
• performing a hash on the received input digital print file;
• comparing the hash on the input digital print file which the stored digital print file hashes;
• determining whether there is a match between the hash of input digital print file and the stored digital print file hashes pertaining to objects predefined as controlled;
• interrupting printing if there is a match.

A system for controlling the 3D printing of an object by a 3D printing apparatus comprising:

• a build module having a build platform and 3D printing module for building an object;
• a controller configured to receive a digital print file (F) which includes data representative of the object to be printed, including layer by layer information;
• the controller further configured to access or receive details of objects predefined as subject to print control, wherein the details comprise file names or hash function of the files;
• the controller further configured to receive a hash algorithm to the printer to allow the printer perform a hash of a received digital print file;
• the controller performing a hash of a received digital print file;
• the controller comparing the name and the hash of a received digital print file with those indicated as being subject to print control;
• if it is determined that there is a match between the file name or hash function of the received digital print file and of those indicted as being subject to print control;
• the controller is configured to:
• (i) interrupt printing or (ii) prevent printing.