Re:3D metal printing is about to go mainstream
by zxcmx on Monday July 31, 2017 @06:51PM
(#14896558)
In terms of second order effects, I think one interesting angle is that low-setup manufacturing makes ip / copyright in the STL files more valuable.
If you don't have the design then a human needs to spend a bunch of time dialling in the geometry.
I can imagine manufacturers wanting to find ways to "DRM" spare parts. One way to do that might be to make it more costly to produce designs from first principles. So having for example specific complex bits of geometry that ultimately force you to license the authorised design if you want to "economically" fab the part at low volume.
If you don't have the design then a human needs to spend a bunch of time dialling in the geometry.
I can imagine manufacturers wanting to find ways to "DRM" spare parts. One way to do that might be to make it more costly to produce designs from first principles. So having for example specific complex bits of geometry that ultimately force you to license the authorised design if you want to "economically" fab the part at low volume.