The word cryptocurrency is more common than the technology that fuels it. The blockchain system has only received accolades in recent months, and this stems from the fact that the world has found it applicable for many other purposes.
Despite the many use cases of the technology, a lot of people are still oblivious to its capabilities, making the next application of blockchain a wonder to certain circles.
One of its next applications will hover around 3D printing technology.
With some people still trying to grasp the concept of blockchain, there would be even more quizzical looks with this new application. How does the infusion of blockchain into the 3D printing industry revolutionize enterprises today?
Blockchain technology is a decentralized architecture containing an array of linked blocks (chain of blocks) that serves as blockchain ledgers or receipts that record every transaction made.
It is fool-proof because every transaction made on a blockchain system overlays the previous transaction block hence strengthening it. This feature makes it very difficult for any malicious activity that might be attempted on it to be successful.
This brief is most applicable to cryptocurrency exchanges.
The certainty of security has made the blockchain architecture used in so many sectors. The obvious use is financial services such as investment services that would help in validating transactions and securing the data of investors and it has seen more financial uses through cross-border payments, trading authenticity, and securities.
Some other applications include:
The additive manufacturing process of 3D print is not cut and dried as everyone thinks it is. It does not just involve fleshing out objects from digital designs.
Many issues have plagued 3D printing technology, including cost, speed, and effectiveness. It is now found everywhere, and while it is not a cheap commodity (prices range from $400 to $20,000 depending on the type), it is affordable to a large portion of the population.
Additive manufacturing might appear as one straight line, but it is more complex than you know. It involves a lot of moving parts. The first port of call for a 3D printer is the Computer-aided Device (CAD) that produces the file with which the printer can work to produce the desired object. The CAD contains the specifications for the 3D printer. Then the next stage involves printing the desired object then, followed by the end-stage, which involves smoothening, refining, and other finishing touches.
Unlike the very tight blockchain system that gives no room for intrusion and modification, every processing point of 3D printing technology presents a loophole that can be hacked into and flawed with unwanted and uned features.
Individuals with malicious intent can take advantage of online 3D printers by hacking into the IP addresses and remodeling them for their own means. Also, there is the danger of ill-protected CAD files on the internet that can be accessed by anyone who wants to use them for mischievous means leaving these people with only 3D printers which can easily be obtained.
The same foundational principle used in cryptocurrency can seamlessly be applied to 3D prints to improve safety. For example, a blockchain ledger verifies the transactions made on the technology. This can be comparably applied to 3D printing by taking advantage of the blockchain ledger to record the imprint of personnel involved in the printing stages and every activity involved during that stage. These imprints are safely secured on the developed blockchain database without any fear of tampering and can be accessed anytime.
The fact is well known that in 3D printing, the requirement of having the necessary device to improve the computational power of the whole printing process. The particular stage that requires a heavy deal of computation is during the optimization and calculation of the CAD file just before the printing process. With blockchain technology, optimization and calculation become faster and more immediate. Of course, the alternative would be having an array of computers to run in a synchronized manner, but that is not an economically wise choice.
During blockchain work, the technology's distributed nature is a real advantage that can be brought into play in 3D printing. Companies involved with such business would naturally want to connect all their machines to create a synchronized network and if there is a need to run a project simultaneously.
Decentralization is key, a feature the blockchain is well known for. No one person owns the whole system. Therefore when this is applied to 3D printing, it would be immensely difficult to alter any stage during the printing process as one would have to alter the whole printing process to achieve such means, which is ittedly difficult.
The importance of having blockchain technology included in 3D printing can not be overestimated because of the importance of information processed. You would trust no other system to secure such information than blockchain technology. The architecture of the blockchain is built to withstand external attacks.
The promise that the integration of blockchain technology with 3D printing is immense, and with more professions finding more use cases for the printing technology, blockchain technology would have to be prioritized to protect the integrity of the individual/company.
Adaptation needs to be faster than it is at the moment if one wants to get ahead of disingenuity from hackers and potential competitors.
Blockchain technology has found its use in another sector other than in exchanges like Redot.com, underlining the importance of why it would be an important part of the fool-proof future the world craves for.
Who can name a couple of 3D-printing companies off the bat, or even just one? The "nameless" feel of the industry has many reasons, but it also shows opportunity. Any small company within additive manufacturing has a lot to gain from putting effort into picking their name and then branding it.
Technology is something that has always impacted how people have lived, working to both make life more convenient, while also changing the way in which day-to-day life is conducted β ideally for the better. However, sometimes it might seem as though youβre waiting until these technologies are becoming widespread before you can integrate them into your own life, meaning that you spend more time waiting than you would ideally like.
