Eavesdropping On 3D Printers Allows Reverse Engineering of Designs (gizmag.com)

Zothecula writes: 3D printers have opened up all kinds of possibilities when it comes to turning digital blueprints into real word objects, but might they also enable new ways to pilfer intellectual property? Amid all that mechanical whirring, these machines emit acoustic signals that give away the motion of the nozzle, new research has found. And by discreetly recording these sounds, scientists say it is possible for sneaky characters to deduce design details and reverse engineer printed objects at a later date.

Comments

yet again another

[Anonymous Coward]

The issue might be real, but the summary is asshandedly disingenious. There is no "Intellectual Property" to be leaked, unless something copyrighted or patented is being printed, with permission.

In many cases, physical objects of no artistic value (such as screws) cannot be copyrighted.

If it's patented, then the leaked info does nothing to bypass the patent liability.

Seems the whole thing is either a paid hit piece attacking 3d printers, or bad sensationalistic journalism trying to drum up a fake controversy.

In either case, to avoid rewarding such misbehavior, DO NOT READ TFA.

Not surprised, and old news

[Firethorn]

Back shortly after WWII, we developed the ability to tell what was being typed by the sounds of the typewriter being worked. Today, we can often do the same if we know the typer's 'fist', the patterns they use to type. Beyond that, you have electromagnetic patterns - record the radio signals, process them, and you can get the image on the screen, the characters typed, even for wired instruments.

In short, this is neat, but really no big deal.