This first bill allows the state of California to regulate and oversee all 3D prints in the name of public safety.

  • Liana
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    1 day ago

    Speaking as someone that knows basically nothing about 3d printing (though has done similar with CNC), do you think it’d be possible to reverse-engineer the code in some way? I’m thinking something like a simulated 3d printer 🤷‍♀️

    • marxismtomorrow@lemmy.today
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      1 day ago

      You can, sure. but then you have a new file that is entirely distinct from the original model (as far as computer hashing is concerned). So you have to do several steps to legally comply with this:

      1. Receive gcode file

      2. use costly ai to convert the gcode to a 3d model.

      3. use costly ai to try to figure out what the 3d model is.

      4. do all of this either via a remote connection, or on a processor weaker than the median game console from the 1990s.

      5. repeat for every single attempted print, which can be several dozen per completed product depending on how annoying the calibration was that day

      So if you’re a 3d printing business you now have to have your own data center basically dedicated to the tens of millions of potential prints you’re going to receive, because it’s near impossible to fingerprint g-code as it’s dynamically generated from each different CAD software differently based on thousands of settings.

      Essentially any 3d printer manufacturer is going to just say “not for use in california” instead of paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year to try to comply with this.

      • astropenguin5
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        1 day ago

        I don’t think you would have to use AI to convert gcode into a 3d model. The way I would approach it is basically run the gcode and take all the 3-D coordinates you get for where to print, then maybe run it through a filter or some such to extract just the outermost wall passes for each layer. Stack those up, do some sort of automated linking to create your triangles, and ship it off to the recognition AI.

        it’s possible you could run that on a printer processor but unlikely.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      there are many open sourced software applications than can produce G-Code for any printer. All of it can be done offline.