Patent ID: 9656428
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B29C,B33Y,G05B

Claim:
1. A method of operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to print an object that is difficult to copy, comprising: providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer, wherein the 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element and wherein the ID element is positioned at a predefined location in the 3D model; processing the digital file to define a plurality of print layers of the 3D model, wherein a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element; and operating the 3D printer to sequentially print the print layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element at a location corresponding with the predefined location in the 3D model, wherein the 3D object has an outer shell with an outer surface, wherein the integrally formed ID element is positioned within an interior space enclosed by the outer shell, and wherein the integrally formed ID element is spaced apart a distance from the outer surface.