Create it REAL, a team of Danish 3D printing experts, is launching what it believes to be a viable solution to the additive manufacturing industry’s widespread copyright issue.
This issue arises from fears of competitors appropriating technologies, theories and concepts, and means designers and creators are reluctant to share ideas online. The Aalborg-based company likens the situation to that of the music industry, in which files can be copied, altered and shared for free, at the expense of the musician.
At the turn of the decade, new business models emerged to move the method in which people listened to music away from mp3 players and iPods. Create it REAL wants to be 3D printing’s Spotify, though using a chip on the group’s new real-time processor rather than an online service platform. Its aim is to prevent Gartner’s prediction that 3D printing will result in $100 billion per year in intellectual property by 2018.
Using this processor, which is able to decrypt secured files directly in the printer, end-users can print objects without having to access the original file. The benefits include users having access to guaranteed high quality objects; the need for slicing is removed because files are ready to be printed; and nobody is able to modify the file during the streaming which mean intellectual property is protected.
“Our technology opens new opportunities for FDM and SLA 3D printer manufacturers and users,” said Jeremie Pierre Gay, CEO of Create it REAL. “Imagine companies [being] able to print or sell spare parts on-demand without the fear of losing their intellectual property. They would make huge savings on storage, transport, obsolescence issues, and could make the parts available forever to their customers.
“Our platform can be quickly integrated by 3D printer manufacturers and we are already working with some of them on this project. The market potential is incredible as we aim to fix one of the biggest challenges in the 3D printing industry right now. Like in the music or video industry, there will always be pirated content or lower quality copies. However, we still need to help companies to guarantee their customers or partners the best 3D printing experience. Brand are trusted by their customers and must offer high quality and genuine files [that are] 100% safe and tested for their printer and consumables.”

Create it REAL IP solution
Create it REAL’s processor platform is compatible with FDM and SLA 3D printers, delivering prints at speeds up to five times faster than standard FDM platforms. While its end-to-end encryption capability secures intellectual property, an augmented reality feature enables the user to preview real size projects. Designed and developed in Denmark, Create it REAL has developed several prototypes. Prior to its commercial release at the end of the year, the research group is looking for large scale pilot programs with professional end-users.
Cults, a leading 3D model repository, has already committed its support for the project to bring exclusive and secured content to their customers.
“Many designers on our platform are looking for such innovation so they could sell their work being sure they would not find a copy on internet,” Hugo Fromont and Pierre Ayroles, Cults Co-Founders say. “We are very happy to join Create it REAL’s as their solution is very promising and will push the market limits.”