阅读说明：本技术 用于增材制造三维物体的设备 (Apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects ) 是由 菲利普·舒曼 于 2019-08-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种设备(1),设备(1)用于借助于构建材料(3)的层的连续分层选择性照射和固结来增材制造三维物体(2),构建材料(3)的层能够借助于能量源(4)固结,其中,提供控制单元(6),控制单元(6)适配成接收或产生加密的物体数据,加密的物体数据与至少一个三维物体(2)相关,至少一个三维物体(2)将要在设备(1)上执行的制造处理(特别地,增材制造处理)中被构建,其中,该控制单元(6)或者一个控制单元(6)适配成解密加密的物体数据,用于执行增材制造处理。(An apparatus (1), the apparatus (1) being for additive manufacturing a three-dimensional object (2) by means of successive layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material (3), the layers of build material (3) being capable of being consolidated by means of an energy source (4), wherein a control unit (6) is provided, the control unit (6) being adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data, the encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object (2), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) being to be built in a manufacturing process (in particular, an additive manufacturing process) performed on the apparatus (1), wherein the control unit (6) or one control unit (6) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.)

1. An apparatus (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by means of successive layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material (3), the layers of build material (3) being capable of being consolidated by means of an energy source (4), characterized by a control unit (6), the control unit (6) being adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data, the encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object (2), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) being to be built in a manufacturing process performed on the apparatus (1), in particular the manufacturing process being an additive manufacturing process, wherein the control unit (6) or one control unit (6) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

2. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the encrypted object data comprises at least one summary object information that is publicly available.

3. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one summary object information is or comprises

-an amount of build material (3) needed for building the object (2), and/or

-a parameter related to the size of the object (2), in particular a parameter related to the space required on the build plane or in the build chamber, and/or

-at least one geometrical parameter, in particular relating to geometrical details of the object (2), and/or

-a writing time required for building the object (2).

4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the summary object information comprises a bounding box of the object (2).

5. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) is adapted to build a cryptographic structure (8) for covering a geometry of at least one portion of the object (2), the cryptographic structure (8) at least partially enclosing the object (2).

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cryptographic structure (8) is a block-like or foam-like or grid-like housing, in particular a closed-profile housing, which at least partially surrounds the object (2).

7. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cryptographic structure (8) comprises at least one opening for removing uncured building material (3) enclosed between the object (2) and the cryptographic structure (8).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cryptographic structure (8) comprises at least one predetermined breaking point or at least one predetermined breaking area for removing the cryptographic structure (8) from the object (2).

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cryptographic structure (8) comprises at least one security feature for verifying the integrity of the cryptographic structure (8), in particular wherein the at least one security feature is a three-dimensional code.

10. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to define a plurality of objects (2) that can be built using the encrypted object data.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by means of successive layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material, which may be consolidated by means of an energy source.

Background

Apparatuses for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects are generally known from the prior art, in particular apparatuses in which layers of build material are applied continuously and selectively consolidated, for example by irradiation with an energy source such as an energy beam, for example a laser beam or an electron beam. Since such equipment is expensive and requires some effort in terms of operation and maintenance of the equipment, it is common for plant operators to provide users with equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional objects for the users (i.e., customers or customers).

Such third party manufacturers provide users with their equipment for three-dimensional objects to be additively manufactured, wherein users who want to additively build objects containing secret three-dimensional shapes or secret geometric details are faced with the following problems: after the additive manufacturing process is complete, the third party manufacturer, or even other user using the device, will be able to view the manufactured object, or may access data of the additive manufacturing device during the additive manufacturing process, thus summarizing the confidential details of the three-dimensional object built for the user.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, allowing additive manufacturing of the three-dimensional object, wherein the confidentiality of secret details of the three-dimensional object is improved.

This object is inventively achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are dependent on the dependent claims.

The apparatus described herein is an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (e.g., technical components) by means of successive selective layered consolidation of layers of powdered build material ("build material"), which may be consolidated by means of an energy source (e.g., an energy beam, in particular, a laser beam or an electron beam). The corresponding build material may be a metal, ceramic or polymer powder. The respective energy beam may be a laser beam or an electron beam. For example, the respective apparatus may be an apparatus in which application of the build material and consolidation of the build material are performed separately, such as a selective laser sintering apparatus, a selective laser melting apparatus, or a selective electron beam melting apparatus. Alternatively, continuous layered selective consolidation of the build material may be performed via at least one bonding material. The adhesive material may be applied with a corresponding application unit and, for example, irradiated with a suitable energy source, such as a UV light source.

The device may contain a plurality of functional units for use during its operation. Exemplary functional units are a process chamber, an illumination device adapted to selectively illuminate a layer of build material disposed in the process chamber with at least one energy beam, and a flow generating device adapted to generate a flow of gaseous fluid having a given flow property (e.g., a given flow profile, flow velocity, etc.) and flowing at least partially through the process chamber. The gaseous fluid stream can be charged with unconsolidated particulate build material (particularly, smoke or smoke residue generated during operation of the apparatus) while flowing through the process chamber. The gaseous fluid stream is generally inert, i.e., generally a stream of an inert gas (e.g., argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.).

The invention is based on the following idea: there is provided a control unit adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object to be built in a manufacturing process (in particular, an additive manufacturing process) performed on the apparatus, wherein the control unit or a control unit is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

Thus, it is inventively achieved that encrypted object data is generated or received via the control unit, which encrypted object data relates to at least one three-dimensional object to be built in a manufacturing process (e.g. an additive manufacturing process performed on a device). The control unit or a control unit may further be adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process. In other words, an object is to be manufactured, wherein at least one portion of the three-dimensional object is described via the encrypted object data. The term "encryption" refers to the access of object data, wherein the encrypted object data is not publicly accessible, but only available to authorized users (in particular, users that provide the encrypted object data to the control unit for having the relevant object built on the device).

In particular, a common manufacturing process may be performed on the device and at least one portion of the object is built in an encrypted form, so that at least one portion of the geometry of the object or the structure of the object is not visible or accessible to unauthorized persons. It is also possible to have the object built partially or completely in an additive manufacturing process where the encrypted object data is only granted access to authorized personnel.

Thus, the term "control unit" may relate to any unit adapted to receive and/or generate object data, such as a personal computer to generate the object data (e.g. via Computer Aided Design (CAD)), the unit being further adapted to encrypt the object data into encrypted object data, which encrypted object data is only accessible through the control unit or a control unit (e.g. a control unit already used for encrypting the object data or another control unit of the apparatus for additive manufacturing of the three-dimensional object). Of course, the control unit for generating the encrypted object data may also be the same control unit as the control unit of the additive manufacturing apparatus. In either way, this ensures that only the user or authorized person can access the object data, i.e. is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data. The decryption performed via the control unit for performing the additive manufacturing process also does not grant access to unauthorized persons. In this case, the decrypted object data may only be used to perform the manufacturing process.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the encrypted object data contains at least one summary object information that is publicly available. The at least one summary object information may be used (e.g., by a plant operator) to determine whether an object to which the encrypted object data relates may be manufactured on a particular device. Thus, the summary object information does not reveal any (secret) details about the object (in particular, relating to the three-dimensional shape or structure or geometry of the object to be built), but the summary object information only relates to summary data of the object, e.g., the summary data of the object is necessary for a plant operator to assess whether and/or to what conditions the object may be built in an additive manufacturing process performed on the apparatus. For example, based on the summary object information, the plant operator may decide whether the object can be built on the equipment and may evaluate certain process parameters, such as the write time or the type of build material or the amount of build material needed.

Preferably, the at least one summary object information is or comprises

-the amount of build material required to build the object, and/or

A parameter related to the size of the object, in particular a parameter related to the space required on the build plane or in the build chamber, and/or

-at least one geometrical parameter, in particular relating to geometrical details of the object, and/or

-the writing time required to build the object.

Thus, the at least one summary object information may be accessed by the public or at least by a control unit of the apparatus or a plant operator, for example, to decide whether an object associated with the summary object information may be manufactured on the apparatus. Further, conditions related to the additive manufacturing process, i.e. cost and writing time, etc. may be determined. Also secret geometric details under privacy are not available to the public and are not contained in the summary object information. However, the summary object data may contain (critical) geometrical details, such as overhangs or slopes, to allow an assessment whether the object can be manufactured on the device.

The summary object information may contain a bounding box of the object. The term "bounding box" refers to a virtual geometry bounding an object, i.e. a geometry into which an object may virtually fit. Thus, the bounding box or volume required for additive building an object may be made publicly available, as the bounding box is available in the summary object information. The bounding box allows for determining whether an object can be built in an additive manufacturing process, the amount of build material required, and for estimating the write time without revealing any geometric details of the object. In other words, only the outlined dimensions of the object may be made publicly available, allowing process parameters to be determined, such as the volume of the build chamber required for building a three-dimensional object.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device may be adapted to build a cryptographic structure for covering the geometry of at least one portion of the object, the cryptographic structure at least partially enclosing the object. Thus, the cryptographic structure may be used to cover details of a (secret) geometric detail or structure of a three-dimensional object, e.g. may cover a shape of a part of the object. The secret portion of the object, in particular the shape of the geometry or structure of the three-dimensional object, can then be covered via the cryptographic structure. The details of the covering of the object are then invisible to unauthorized persons, since the details are enclosed in an encrypted structure. For example, if the additive manufacturing process is complete and the object is removed from the apparatus, at least one portion of the object, which is accordingly kept secret or secret, is surrounded via the cryptographic structure to prevent third party manufacturers or other unauthorized persons from obtaining information about the structure of the object. Alternatively, only the encrypted structure and publicly available portion of the object is visible.

Thus, the object may be shipped to the user without the details of the object becoming publicly available. Thereafter, for example, in a confidential environment, the user may remove the cryptographic structure from the object to obtain a three-dimensional object. By using the cryptographic structure, it is also possible to additively manufacture the secret object in a publicly available additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the additively manufactured object is at least partially surrounded via the cryptographic structure such that geometrical details of the object are not visible. Also, the cryptographic structure may be built around the object at will, e.g. a bounding box of the object as described above may be built around the cryptographic structure of the object. For example, the bounding box may be understood or selected as a cylinder or sphere or cube surrounding the three-dimensional object. Thus, only the bounding box (i.e., the encryption structure) is visible to third party manufacturers or unauthorized persons, after which the user may remove the encryption structure.

The device according to the invention can be further developed in that the security structure is a (in particular, closed-profile) block-like or foam-like or grid-like housing which at least partially surrounds the object. Thus, the cryptographic structure may contact or closely follow the contour of the three-dimensional object, in particular, closely surround or adhere to the three-dimensional object, respectively. The cryptographic structure may be block-shaped or foam-shaped or grid-shaped, and may provide a housing surrounding the three-dimensional object or at least partially surrounding the three-dimensional object, wherein the housing at least partially surrounds the three-dimensional object, in particular at least one secret geometric detail of the three-dimensional object.

The mesh or foam may be used to hide geometric details of the three-dimensional object, which may enable the cryptographic structure to be removed by a user. Thus, the cryptographic structure may contain mechanical properties that facilitate removal of the cryptographic structure from the three-dimensional object and that facilitate residue-free removal of the cryptographic structure from the three-dimensional object.

In addition to this, it is also possible to use the cryptographic structure as a support structure, at least partially supporting at least one portion of the three-dimensional object during the additive manufacturing process. Certain portions of the three-dimensional object that require support by at least one support structure during the additive manufacturing process (such as overhangs or portions with relatively high slopes) may be supported during the additive manufacturing process via the encrypted structure, which provides mechanical stability to support those portions of the object. For example, an encryption structure constructed as a bounding box around a three-dimensional object may fill empty space under such a portion of the object (e.g., under an overhang) to thereby support the portion of the object.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cryptographic structure comprises at least one opening for removing uncured building material enclosed between the object and the cryptographic structure. A volume of uncured structural build material may then be disposed between the object and the encrypted structure, wherein at least one opening in the encrypted structure is provided to allow removal of the uncured structural build material from the object. Thus, for example, in the processing station, the uncured structural build material may be removed from the object such that the uncured structural build material may be removed (e.g., pumped) out of the space between the object and the encrypted structure through the at least one opening. Thus, it is not necessary to fill all of the space between the object and the encrypted structure with build material, or to allow the user to remove the uncured structural build material, as the uncured structural build material itself poses a potential hazard to the user.

Preferably, the cryptographic structure may comprise at least one predetermined breaking point or at least one predetermined breaking area for removing the cryptographic structure from the object. For example, material weakening or thinning may be provided accordingly, allowing for ease of removal of the cryptographic structure from the three-dimensional object.

The cryptographic structure may further comprise at least one security feature, in particular a three-dimensional code, for proving the integrity of the cryptographic structure. For example, the three-dimensional code may be additively manufactured in the cryptographic structure, such that the integrity of the cryptographic structure may be proven, for example, via non-destructive analysis (such as computed tomography). It is then not possible for a third party (e.g. an unauthorized person) to remove the cryptographic structure to view the confidential details of the three-dimensional object and then manufacture the cryptographic structure onto the object. Preferably, the security feature can therefore also be encrypted, so that the security feature in the encryption structure can only be produced on the basis of encrypted object data, which can only be decrypted via the control unit and thus only by authorized personnel. A three-dimensional code may also (or alternatively) be included in the object, wherein the three-dimensional code in the object allows verification that the three-dimensional object is authentic. Thus, the user may confirm that the object received from the additive manufacturing process (e.g., shipped to the user) is the original object.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit may be adapted to define a plurality of objects that can be built using the encrypted object data. In other words, the number of objects that may be built using the encrypted object data may be limited to a certain number of manufacturing processes that may be performed based on the encrypted object data. This allows for limiting the number of objects that can be additively built using the encrypted object data. For example, the user may limit the number of objects constructed using the encrypted object data to the number of objects required, e.g., one object. This ensures that third party manufacturers or unauthorized persons are not able to build many objects and remove the cryptographic structure from one of these objects and ship only the remaining amount of the (customized) object to the user. Thus, it can be ensured that the user has manufactured only a specified number of objects on the device. The encrypted object data may also have a validity period, wherein other examples of three-dimensional objects cannot be manufactured based on the encrypted object data after the encrypted object data expires.

The inventive device may be further improved in that the device may be adapted to restrict access to the additive manufacturing process, in particular to at least one determination unit monitoring the process chamber. Thus, it is not possible for a third party manufacturer or unauthorized person to access the at least one determining unit or gain access to the manufacturing process, for example, the view of the process chamber during the additive manufacturing process may be restricted. For example, shutter units that cover all windows into the process chamber and hide the manufacturing process are used, thereby preventing third parties from viewing geometric details of three-dimensional objects that are not publicly available. The use of cameras or the like that take or capture images of the interior of the processing chamber may also be restricted.

In particular, access to at least one determination unit monitoring an additive manufacturing process performed in a process chamber may be restricted. For example, a quality management unit (such as a molten bath monitoring unit) may operate during an additive manufacturing process, but the output may be encrypted or restricted such that only a user or authorized person has access to the output of such a determination unit. Of course, chamber access (i.e., access to the process chamber) may also be restricted such that opening the process chamber during the additive manufacturing process (e.g., canceling the manufacturing process and opening the process chamber) may also be restricted to obtain information about the structure of the three-dimensional object.

Further, the apparatus may be adapted to encrypt at least one processing parameter relating to an additive manufacturing process of the object such that only authorized users are granted access to the processing parameter. In other words, process parameters, such as illumination parameters or other parameters that directly affect the additive manufacturing process and/or parameters measured or determined during the additive manufacturing process (e.g., via a determination unit monitoring the process chamber), may be encrypted and only authorized users may be granted access to these parameters. This ensures that only authorized users have access to processing parameters, e.g. the illumination strategy used to illuminate the object or the energy or intensity used to illuminate the object, etc., to prevent the secret from becoming publicly available. Thus, only authorized users can access these parameters.

A failsafe procedure may also be included to ensure that access is only granted after, for example, the encryption structure is complete. For example, if an error or interruption occurs during the additive manufacturing process, access to the process chamber may be (remain) restricted. For example, access may be restricted as long as the object is not surrounded by the cryptographic structure. If the manufacturing process cannot be completed, the details of the object may also be blurred, for example, by fully consolidating the uppermost layer of the portion of the object that was completed until the error/interruption. The (secret) details of the object may also be destroyed before access to the processing chamber is granted.

Preferably, at least one encrypted processing parameter may be transmitted or stored. As previously mentioned, the processing parameters may be encrypted such that only authorized persons or authorized users gain access to the processing parameters, wherein the processing parameters may also be stored or transmitted to a user, e.g. ordering the additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object. Thus, the user may prove that certain process parameters are met in the additive manufacturing process and may check whether the settings of the process parameters are correct. Further, the user may derive whether it is necessary to properly select the process parameters or readjust the process parameters.

In addition to this, the invention relates to a control unit for receiving and/or generating object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object to be built with an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, in particular an apparatus of the invention as described above, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data relating to the at least one three-dimensional object to be built in a manufacturing process, in particular an additive manufacturing process, performed on the apparatus, wherein the control unit is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process. The inventive control unit may for example be used in a publicly available additive manufacturing apparatus or a plant comprising a number of publicly available additive manufacturing apparatuses, i.e. a plant or an apparatus in which a number of users may for example build up three-dimensional objects additively based on provided object data.

Further, the invention relates to a method for operating at least one apparatus (in particular, the apparatus of the invention as described before) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by means of successive layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material, which layers of build material can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein encrypted object data relating to the at least one three-dimensional object is generated via a control unit, which is to be built in a manufacturing process (in particular, an additive manufacturing process), wherein the control unit or apparatus is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

It goes without saying that all the details, features and advantages described with reference to the inventive device can be transferred in their entirety to the inventive control unit and the inventive method and vice versa.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures are schematic representations in which

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention; and

fig. 2 shows detail II from fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object 2 by means of successive layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material 3, e.g. a layer of build material 3 may be consolidated by means of an energy source 4, e.g. the energy source 4 generates an energy beam 5, such as a laser beam or an electron beam.

The apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 6, the control unit 6 being adapted to receive and generate encrypted object data, the encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object 2 to be built in a manufacturing process to be performed on the apparatus 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 1 is constructed as an additive manufacturing apparatus, as previously described. The control unit 6 (or another control unit) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process. In other words, the control unit 6 may be arranged outside the device 1, wherein the user may generate object data related to the object 2 and may encrypt the object data into encrypted object data. The encrypted object data may be decrypted by the control unit 6 of the apparatus 1 to perform an additive manufacturing process of manufacturing the object 2. Of course, a single control unit 6 may perform both tasks, or the control unit 6 of the apparatus 1 may receive encrypted object data generated outside the apparatus 1 (e.g. on a user's personal computer) and may decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 6 receives encrypted object data containing publicly available summary object information, e.g. to a plant operator of the apparatus 1, who provides the apparatus 1 to the public so that a user may cause the three-dimensional object 2 to be additively built on the apparatus 1.

Thus, the encrypted object data contains all geometrical details of the object 2 to be additively manufactured, wherein the secret geometrical details are limited and not publicly available. Summary object information publicly available and contained in the object data, for example, forms part of the encrypted object data that is publicly accessible and unencrypted, contains information relating to the amount of build material required to build the object 2 and parameters relating to the size of the object 2 (i.e., the "bounding box" of the object 2), as described below with reference to fig. 2. Also, the summary object information contains the writing time required to construct the object 2. Thus, the plant operator can decide whether an object 2 can be built on the apparatus 1 and what conditions to build for the respective user who has ordered the object 2 to be built.

As depicted in fig. 2, the bounding box is a virtual geometric volume surrounding the object 2, wherein the bounding box summarizes the dimensions and geometric details such that only the estimated or approximate dimensions of the object 2 are publicly available. Also, the structure of the object 2 and the geometric details or three-dimensional shape of the object 2 are not publicly available and cannot be derived from the bounding box of the object 2.

As previously mentioned, the control unit 6 is adapted to receive the encrypted object data and decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process on the apparatus 1. Thus, unauthorized persons, third party manufacturers (i.e., plant operators), or other users using the device 1 are not granted access to the encrypted object data and, therefore, do not obtain information about the three-dimensional shape or structure or other confidential geometric details of the object 2.

The control unit 6 is further adapted to control the determination unit 7 such that parameters derived or determined via the determination unit 7 (e.g. capturing video or pictures of a manufacturing process of the object 2), such as a molten bath monitoring unit, are limited to not being publicly available. In particular, the control unit 6 is adapted to encrypt those parameters and to send them to a user of the additive manufacturing process ordering the object 2. Furthermore, the control unit 6 may encrypt all processing parameters, such as illumination parameters on which the energy source 4 is operated.

Further, the control unit 6 is adapted to build a cryptographic structure 8 for covering the secret geometry, in particular the secret geometry details or geometry, of at least one portion of the object 2. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 2, the cryptographic structure 8 is built as a bounding box of the object 2 surrounding the object 2 and covering all geometrical details of the object 2. In other words, after the additive manufacturing process is complete, the encrypted structure covers all of the object 2 or at least one secret portion of the object 2 such that a third party manufacturer or other user is unable to view the geometric details or structure of the object 2.

The cryptographic structure 8 according to this exemplary embodiment is constructed as a foam-like structure which can be easily removed, because the mechanical stability of the cryptographic structure 8 is weak compared to the object 2. In particular, different processing parameters may be used for manufacturing the cryptographic structure than for manufacturing the object 2, preferably other illumination parameters. Thus, the user can remove the cryptographic structure 8 along the outer contour of the object 2.

Further, the cryptographic structure 8 may only contact the object 2 in selected points to reduce the area of the cryptographic structure contacting the object 2. This allows to reduce the effort to remove the cryptographic structure 8 from the object 2.

The cryptographic structure 8 may also be used as a support structure for supporting overhanging or other parts of the object 2, such as ramps that need to be supported during the additive manufacturing process. The foam-like cryptographic structure 8 depicted in fig. 2 may support these parts of the object 2 during the additive manufacturing process without the need for additional support structures.

The cryptographic structure 8 further comprises at least one security feature (not shown), in particular a three-dimensional code. The three-dimensional code may be used to prove the integrity of the cryptographic structure 8. For example, via a non-destructive analytical process, such as computed tomography.

Of course, the inventive method may be performed on the inventive device, preferably using the inventive control unit.

Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

1. an apparatus (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by means of sequential layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material (3), the layers of build material (3) being capable of being consolidated by means of an energy source (4), a control unit (6), the control unit (6) being adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data, the encrypted object data relating to at least one three-dimensional object (2), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) being to be built in a manufacturing process performed on the apparatus (1), in particular the manufacturing process being an additive manufacturing process, wherein the control unit (6) or one control unit (6) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

2. The apparatus of any preceding item, wherein said encrypted object data comprises at least one summary object information publicly available.

3. The apparatus according to any of the preceding items, the at least one summary object information being or comprising an amount of build material (3) required to build the object (2), and/or a parameter related to a size of the object (2), in particular a parameter related to a space required on a build plane or in a build chamber, and/or at least one geometrical parameter, in particular at least one geometrical parameter related to geometrical details of the object (2), and/or a writing time required to build the object (2).

4. The summary object information comprises a bounding box of the object (2) according to any preceding item of equipment.

5. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, said apparatus (1) being adapted to build a cryptographic structure (8) for covering a geometry of at least one portion of said object (2), said cryptographic structure (8) at least partially enclosing said object (2).

6. The device according to any of the preceding claims, the cryptographic structure (8) being a block-or foam-or grid-like housing, in particular a closed-profile housing, at least partially enclosing the object (2).

7. The device according to any preceding claim, said cryptographic structure (8) comprising at least one opening for removing unsecured structural building material (3) enclosed between said object (2) and said cryptographic structure (8).

8. The device according to any preceding item, said cryptographic structure (8) comprising at least one predetermined breaking point or at least one predetermined breaking area for removing said cryptographic structure (8) from said object (2).

9. The device according to any preceding item, said cryptographic structure (8) comprising at least one security feature for verifying the integrity of said cryptographic structure (8), in particular said at least one security feature being a three-dimensional code.

10. The device according to any preceding item, the control unit (6) being adapted to define a plurality of objects (2) that can be built using the encrypted object data.

11. The apparatus according to any preceding item, the apparatus (1) being adapted to restrict access to the additive manufacturing process, in particular to at least one determination unit (7) monitoring the process chamber.

12. The apparatus according to any preceding item, the apparatus (1) being adapted to encrypt at least one processing parameter relating to the additive manufacturing process of the object (2) such that only authorized users are granted access to the processing parameter.

13. The at least one encrypted processing parameter can be transmitted or stored according to the apparatus of any preceding item.

14. A control unit (6), the control unit (6) being adapted to receive and/or generate object (2) data relating to at least one three-dimensional object (2), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) is to be built with an apparatus (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2), in particular, the device (1) is a device (1) according to any preceding item, the control unit (6) is adapted to receive or generate encrypted object data related to at least one three-dimensional object (2), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) is to be built in a manufacturing process performed on the apparatus (1), in particular the manufacturing process is an additive manufacturing process, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.

15. A method for operating at least one apparatus (1), the apparatus (1) being for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by means of sequential layered selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material (3), the layers of build material (3) being capable of being consolidated by means of an energy source (4), in particular the apparatus (1) being an apparatus (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, generating encrypted object data related to at least one three-dimensional object (2) via a control unit (6), the at least one three-dimensional object (2) being to be built in a manufacturing process, in particular the manufacturing process being an additive manufacturing process, wherein the control unit (6) or the apparatus (1) is adapted to decrypt the encrypted object data for performing the additive manufacturing process.