.STLX – A secure system to transmit confidential Additive Manufacturing design and production data in an encrypted manner, directly to Additive Manufacturing machines - enabling full remote control over the distributed manufacturing process.

The market for automotive and aviation spare parts is collectively worth 787bn USD pa,
making it one of the largest industries in the world. Traditionally, these parts are
manufactured subtractively, in very high volumes at a single location before being stored and
then shipped globally when required. The economies of scale have always outweighed the
logistic and inventory costs associated with this model. However, the advent of Additive
Manufacturing (AM) technology, it will soon be both technically and commercially feasible
to manufacture physical products closer to the point and time of demand using a network of
distributed manufacturers – significantly reducing downtime, logistic costs and inventory
sizes.
So far the adoption of distributed AM by industry has been hampered by a number of
concerns regarding the transmission and sharing of valuable AM designs and data:
- loss of control over confidentiality;
- loss of control over manufacturing process and therefore product integrity; and
- lack of secure and reliable audit mechanisms.
- legal protection is costly, ineffective & easy to circumvent.
As a result only 1% of all parts are manufactured using distributed AM, despite its growing
advantages and reduced cost.
To address this, with the support of the three largest AM machine manufacturers, we will
develop the first system to transmit confidential AM designs and manufacturing instructions
DIRECTLY to AM machines in a secure, encrypted manner, enabling full remote control over
the distributed AM process.
The project is the result of innovative, patented POC work we have completed on the
encryption of STL files and the communication of manufacturing process metadata direct to
AM machines. By removing the confidentiality, integrity and audit concerns regarding
distributed manufacturing, we hope to remove the barriers to it’s, and AM's, adoption with
clear cost, efficiency and environmental benefits.