Tracable 3d prints?

[Nathan Peterson]

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/researchers-embed-digital-fingerprints-into-3d-printed-parts-tech-may-make-future-ghost-guns-more-traceable

Anyone seen this yet? 

Same type of tech as a normal office printers or something new?

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I wonder how that works? 
The article says it embeds info in the print, but where and how and how does one know where and how to look?

[Ed Street]

This is not new tech or new stuff at all.  We have known for several decades now that tools have fingerprints, so to speak. How this is done is a structural analysis of the extrusion, by which I am talking inside the extrusion itself in the print.  Think of the extruder teeth causing ripples inside the melted plastic.  Also, the nozzle and hot end internal patterns form unique shapes. Even more, the adhesive material on the bed would be trapped inside the filament on the lower layers. Even the extruder motor itself would leave traces in the melted filament.  How?  Pulses and movement, which would show teeth marks as well.

So in closing, yes *ALL* machines and tools have fingerprints if you know where and how to look.

[Nathan Peterson]

Was wondering if it was just structural/forensic analysis, or something new 🤔  but the article didn't shed too much info on it but sounds like you're saying it's nothing new yet... 

Anyways thanks for the great and quick reply 

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[Ray Price]

All of that makes sense, but wouldn't the "fingerprint" change on a regular basis, and you could only really "match" one after the fact, if you have the source printer?  I would suspect you get a new or markedly different fingerprint when you;  Change the nozzle, change the bed, change the filament?  change the temp? etc etc.  I guess ballistics matching relies on the same after the fact fingerprinting, so I guess it isn't too much different, but bad actors can make above changes to cover their tracks or even toss the entire printer, they are cheap enough.

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[Michael Vohs]

Yeah, just as you can change the rifling striations by reaming out a barrel, swapping hot ends, extruded gears etc would render any marked characteristics impossible to match. I’m not even sure I believe it’s possible. Likely it’s propaganda to assuage some fears. 

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[Ed Street]

Things you can't change ;)  DNA from YOU and your family, including cats/dogs/birds/reptiles/chickens/rabbits that are airborne and get into the filament when it's in the non-dry state.  These 

Things that could be changed and will show up in all of your prints.  If it shows up in the resonance test, then it WILL show up in the prints. You can even see frame effects in the print as well.  

Manufacturers can also embed micro-stamping on printers like Prusa, Bambu, Creality, Stratasys, etc.  Also, Filament manufactures that could easily trace back to the lot number.