Hollywood\'s New Piracy Problem: 3-D Printers by: Erich Schwartzel Jul 21, 2015

Question

Hollywood's New Piracy Problem: 3-D Printers by: Erich Schwartzel Jul 21, 2015 TOPICS: Copyright, Distribution Channels, Legal Environment, Technology SUMMARY: Three-dimensional printers represent a threat to many businesses that thought they were immune from competition caused by disruptive technology. 3-D printers represent a threat because companies do not control manufacturing and production. Designers create digital patterns and templates used on printers to make many different kinds of objects. The issues of distribution, piracy and copyright are similar to those experienced in the music and entertainment businesses. The cost to replicate an object using a 3-D printer can be significantly different than the price you pay for auto parts, a coffee cup or a toy a traditional retail outlet. Companies that manufacture products understand the threat, but aren't sure how to respond or develop strategies that walk the tightrope between control and alienating users. The issue is becoming more important because patterns and printing are cheaper and more accessible. The legal environment involves some uncertainty. Is the designer, the person who wrote the code or the individual who operated the printer the target of possible legal challenges? Action against 3-D printing currently follows guidelines from the Digital millennium Copyright Act. Websites that host content infringing copyright have to remove it when the rightful owners notify them. One company, Shapeways, prints 3D orders for hobbyists and merchants. The company responds to takedown notices and asks users if they are the rightful copyright owner when they uploaded design. Companies manufacturing physical products may not have anticipated competition from 3-D printers, they need to understand the threats and consider strategies to meet the threat. CLASSROOM APPLICATION: As the costs of 3-D printers decline and more users began adopting the technology to print objects ranging from auto parts to toys companies need to consider how they will protect their intellectual property. Distribution channels in many different industries were affected bv changes in technoloav

Explanation / Answer

Q-1: How does 3D printing work?

The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.

It starts with making a virtual design of the object you want to create. This virtual design is for instance a CAD (Computer Aided Design) file. This CAD file is created using a 3D modeling application or with a 3D scanner (to copy an existing object). A 3D scanner can make a 3D digital copy of an object.

What are 3D scanners?

3D scanners are using different technologies to generate a 3D model. e.g: time-of-flight, structured / modulated light, volumetric scanning and many more. Companies like Microsoft and Google enabled their hardware to perform 3D scanning. In the future, digitising real objects into 3D models will become as easy as taking a picture. Future versions of smartphones will probably have integrated 3D scanners.

3D modeling software

3D modeling software also comes in many forms. Tinkercad is a free version and it works in browsers that support WebGL, for instance Google Chrome. They offer beginner lessons and has a built in option to get your object printed via various 3D printing services.

When you have a 3D model, the next step is to prepare it in order to make it 3D printable.

From 3D model to 3D printer

We have to prepare a 3D model before it is ready to be 3D printed. This is called slicing. Slicing is a process of dividing a 3D model into hundreds or thousands of horizontal layers. A 3D model is sliced from within a 3D modeling software application.

After slicing, we are ready to feed it to your 3D printer. This can be done via USB or SD or wifi. When a sliced object file is uploaded in a 3D printer, the object is ready to be 3D printed layer by layer. The 3D printer reads every slice (2D image) and creates a three dimensional object.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse H
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.