How should a 3d printer be encrypted?

[mikttaf]

Basically, how can a 3d printer be encrypted to prevent misuse like printing copyrighted models, firearms etc? TY.

[cobnut]

Hi @mikttaf I would suspect this would be virtually impossible - and you can imagine why by thinking of how you might do this with an ordinary “2D” paper printer. The printer just receives instructions to print “something”, and those instructions have to be readable by the printer (for example, as a .3xg file).

You could possibly ensure that the computer connected to the printer has some form of protection on it (though I can’t imagine how you’d do this), but even then, you’d have to disable any SD card input on the printer itself and, of course, that still doesn’t stop someone plugging in a different computer.

[MindFuLL]

Misuse is subjective. Does my inkjet printer prevent me from printing copyrighted material? No. I build my own machines. You think your going to “encrypt” my machines? Do you think this is a feature anyone even wants? Do you want to police the whole internet or just my printer?
This in nonsense.
-Jesse