.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.

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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 aremanufactured subtractively, in very high volumes at a single location before being stored andthen shipped globally when required. The economies of scale have always outweighed thelogistic and inventory costs associated with this model. However, the advent of AdditiveManufacturing (AM) technology, it will soon be both technically and commercially feasibleto manufacture physical products closer to the point and time of demand using a network ofdistributed manufacturers – significantly reducing downtime, logistic costs and inventorysizes.So far the adoption of distributed AM by industry has been hampered by a number ofconcerns 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 growingadvantages and reduced cost.To address this, with the support of the three largest AM machine manufacturers, we willdevelop the first system to transmit confidential AM designs and manufacturing instructionsDIRECTLY to AM machines in a secure, encrypted manner, enabling full remote control overthe distributed AM process.The project is the result of innovative, patented POC work we have completed on theencryption of STL files and the communication of manufacturing process metadata direct toAM machines. By removing the confidentiality, integrity and audit concerns regardingdistributed manufacturing, we hope to remove the barriers to it’s, and AM's, adoption withclear cost, efficiency and environmental benefits.