Blockchain technology in additive manufacturing

Blockchain, the technology behind virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, is being promoted by many as one of the most promising emerging technologies. In theory, most software applications today could somehow be realized through or complemented by blockchain. However, not every application that can be realized through blockchain should be. At its core, the blockchain is a distributed, immutable database, able to confirm exactly when and by whom a given transaction has been made. However, its underlying technologies peer-to-peer networks, cryptography, and game theory have been around for years, and the blockchain is a rather new way of effectively combining the three Figure 1. With the help of cryptographic hash functions , every block is linked to both its preceding and succeeding block.

We are searching data for your request:

Blockchain technology in additive manufacturing

Wait the end of the search in all databases.
Upon completion, a link will appear to access the found materials.

Content:

• SIMBA Chain to Study Feasibility of 3D Printing for Air Force
• How blockchain could affect manufacturing and R&D
• Protecting Additive Manufacturing Workflow with Blockchain Technology
• Welcome to the Link3D Blog
• Blockchain – Implications and Use Cases for Additive Manufacturing
• GE Research builds blockchain for 3D printing supply chain
• Blockchain, an asset to integrate additive manufacturing
• Smart digital production
• Blockchain in manufacturing: The perfect match

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: Evan Diewald presents at TMS 2021 on blockchain technologies for additive manufacturing

SIMBA Chain to Study Feasibility of 3D Printing for Air Force

If 3D printing technology wants to get ahead of its inherent security issues, the best way would be to adopt blockchain. Researchers and experts praise 3D printing as a technology that drives business model innovation, but most firms that have adopted 3D printing have not yet altered the way they create, deliver, or capture value.

Businesses have not leveraged interorganizational business models due to inherent threats within distributed 3D printing that pertain to IP management and data security. Blockchain technology seems to be a promising solution. Specifically, the immutable blockchain ledger can safeguard various types of part-related historic records, making key printing parameters, material specifications, or certifications non-repudiable.

Smart contracts help to transfer sensitive data, such as printing licenses for sensitive design files, and to execute payments among numerous 3D printing stakeholders. Based on these features, blockchain could be the appropriate infrastructure for interorganizational 3D printing networks.

As such, blockchain could facilitate the emergence of three business models: local 3D printing, shared factories, and secure design marketplaces…. Among the industries affected, additive manufacturing seems to be especially primed to profit from this technology…. Additive manufacturing AM technologies, more commonly known as industrial 3D printing, have been identified to be the next level concerning the industrial production of goods Deutscher et al.

However, the lack of secure data protection throughout the production process, especially when third parties are involved, is a well-acknowledged challenge that has yet to be overcome and for which so far, no efficient technological solution exists Wee et al. Traditional manufacturing is ripe for a complete digital transformation.

In this segment of whatandwhyfirst I explain how 3D printing in manufacturing, also known as additive manufacturing, and blockchain both are heading for a friendly convergence that I like to call distributed additive manufacturing DAM. You must be logged in to post a comment. Shop for 3D Printed Products. All Rights Reserved. Search for:. Write a comment Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment.

How blockchain could affect manufacturing and R&D

Three years ago, the integration of blockchain in additive manufacturing processes was an idea that professionals had not studied yet in-depth. In , companies really started sharing the first applications of Blockchain in additive manufacturing processes. However, so far, the concept remains vague and uncertain for additive manufacturing operators. Hopefully, this article will remove these uncertainties. Blockchain is seen as a chain of records stored in the forms of blocks that no authority controls. The first link with additive manufacturing is that, blockchain is resistant to data modification.

Protecting Additive Manufacturing Workflow with Blockchain Technology

Click here to read the complete illustrated article as originally published or scroll down to read the text article. As more and more industries are realizing the benefits of additive manufacturing AM , the transportation, distribution, and security of the needed digital files has become a major topic of consideration. The products of AM are only as viable as the integrity of the digital files and the printers that create them. The Department of Defense DoD is using AM for several maintenance activities and the security of those pieces cannot be left to chance. Today, the sheer volume of data produced by supply chains and their newly formed digital ecosystems is overwhelming. If unsecured, this data has the potential to harm through counterfeit, maliciously modified, and poor quality technology data packages. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences NCMS and their partners seek to investigate how a blockchain enabled security solution can improve the digital supply chain and enable new manufacturing and sustainment models across DoD. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences NCMS has identified cybersecurity for manufacturing as a key challenge that needs to be addressed for companies to be able to fully achieve the benefits of Industry 4. The manufacturing sector is the third most targeted sector for cyberattacks after the government and the financial sectors. The next logical target of potential attacks after sites and machines will be the parts themselves and more specifically their digital version.

Welcome to the Link3D Blog

Blockchain and additive manufacturing: two innovations driving the circular economy. Circular economy is an alternative to the so-called linear economy. It is aimed at optimising and multiplying the value of the resources by prolonging their life span and use and minimising waste. Such system for sharing and managing resources enables to mitigate the environmental impact and increase product, component, and material efficiency at all stages of production.

Blockchain – Implications and Use Cases for Additive Manufacturing

Within this project, particular attention is paid to the entire process chain of 3D printing. This chain includes the creation of the print data, the subsequent transfer of the print data to a 3D printing service provider, the printing on trusted 3D printers secured by secure elements as well as the unambiguous identifiability of the print object and the assignment to the used printing license. The solution developed in SAMPL makes it possible to prove the origin of printed components and to verify their authenticity. For this purpose, well-established encryption technologies are employed. A blockchain technology based digital license management system is added to enhance the security. Both encryption technologies and license management system are integrated into the data exchange solution OpenDXM GlobalX.

GE Research builds blockchain for 3D printing supply chain

Hence GE has created a blockchain to manage the supply chain for the additive manufacturing process, one that it says is secure enough for the high-performance world of quantum computing. Some of the parts that GE builds use highly reactive metallic powders which have a limited shelf life. This is one example of the importance of efficiently managing the supply chain process for additive manufacturing. GE Research developed the blockchain platform at its Forge Lab. Other divisions of GE are also exploring blockchain. GE Power participated alongside numerous prominent name participants in a study exploring blockchain for energy organized by the German energy agency Dena. GE Aviation has an existing program called TruEngine for verifying that engines have been properly maintained, which is important for their re-sale. A similar solution not limited to engines has been developed by Honeywell Aviation.

Blockchain, an asset to integrate additive manufacturing

By using blockchain technology GE would be able to trace all of their AM produced parts from design through final production. Recognizing the opportunity of blockchain in connection with the additive manufacturing industry, GE has filed a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for blockchain in the use of verifying and validating 3D printed objects in its supply chain. It goes on to state that basically any user with access to an additive manufacturing device would be able to copy the design without referring to the proper build file that GE created. By filing for this patent the company hopes to lower the chances of customers unknowingly buying a counterfeit part.

Smart digital production

If this technology wants to get ahead of its those issues, the best way would be to adopt another innovation: blockchain. So what could be more obvious than the use of one of the techniques that everyone is talking about? Blockchain, a continuously expandable list of data sets, which are linked together by cryptographic methods, has the potential to solve the security risks before they become a major issue. But what are the issues that can occur? The process of 3D printing includes several stages: from concept, to CAD file, to the generated design and the actual 3D print.

Blockchain in manufacturing: The perfect match

Offer does not apply to e-Collections and exclusions of select titles may apply. Offer expires June 30, Browse Titles. What is Additive Manufacturing AM 1. Additive manufacturing AM is also known as ALM additive layer manufacturing process, which is the modern manufacturing fabrication n am e for three-dimensional printing 3DP , basically a computer controlled method that makes 3D objects layer by layer liquid material depositing. The process of making 3D objects by applying layer upon layer. AM is the process of manufacturing parts by melting and depositing the material in layer by layer fashion.

Industrial conglomerate General Electric GE wants to use a blockchain to verify 3D-printed parts in its supply chain, according to a recently-published patent filing. Released by the U. Patent and Trademark Office USPTO on June 21 and submitted last December, the application outlines a method for integrating blockchains into additive manufacturing — commonly known as 3-D printing — to create a database that validates and verifies the manufacturing process.