Teleport It 3D lets you share 3D prints instead of files

May 21, 2013 3D Modeling, Software

teleport it 3d

An engineering firm in New York is developing an ergonomic sink fixture for a client in Sydney, Australia. The client wants to physically hold the fixture before finalizing the design. Fortunately the firm uses 3D printing for its prototyping services, but unfortunately it can take several days to ship across the world. In 2013, several days is a long time.

The internet has made all forms of communication instant, and that now applies to the transmission of physical objects. 3D printable CAD files are digital, so they can be sent to any computer with internet access. The engineers of the firm aren’t stupid though; they know that not all clients are trustworthy, and some may take the CAD files and modify them as they please, effectively stealing the designs from the firm.

So what is the firm to do? Shipping costs too much time and money, and trusting the client could be just as costly. The solution may be Teleport It 3D, a service developed out of Layer by Layer, which is a 3D printing company founded by Max Friefeld. The service acts as a middleman between those with printable files and those that need physical objects. The firm could send the fixture CAD file to Teleport It where it’s sliced on their servers with Skeinforge and then sent to the client as printable gcode through the TelePad platform. The gcode can’t be modified like a CAD file, and what’s more, the firm can set limits on how long the object is printable and/or how many times it can be printed. Once expired, the gcode is gone.

Because the file is moved through the TelePad platform and is pre-sliced, the client just needs access to a 3D printer. This service also simplifies the process for clients that may not be familiar with 3D printing. Friefeld explains: “Our platform allows users to send prints not files. This way, a designer can share their work without giving anyone else access to the original design file. Their work is protected from improper distribution and alteration, and meanwhile, the receiver doesn’t have to worry about downloading any actual files to their computer or figuring out the proper settings. They can just print the product.”

For those without 3D printers, services such as makexyz could serve as another middleman. Either the firm or the client could Teleport the gcode to a makexyz printer, and then the client could pick up the print locally. Teleport It 3D has plans for a marketplace too, so if you’re a seller of designs, you may want to sign up when it’s launched.

h/t: On3DPrinting

About Cameron Naramore

Cameron, Senior Staff Writer, is a technology enthusiast that can better write about 3D printing than he can ride a bike. His interest in 3D printing is mostly driven by his desire to become a cyborg. He enjoys philosophical conversation and is also fond of poetry and Star Trek. Connect with him on Google+.
  • Spencer

    Or, the firm can trust their client not to blatantly violate contract and/or copyright law, rather than using another clumsy DRM solution. What if the client wants to change the slicing parameters? Or use Slic3r instead of Skeinforge? Or reprint it because the machine ran out of filament the first time?

    You should also make it clear that you’re limited to whatever printers they choose to support with their custom host software. Right now, that’s just the Replicator series. CubeX, reprap, high end stratasys? You’re out of luck.

    Even setting aside my philosophical qualms about DRM, this Teleport system seems incredibly poorly thought out. Since the program outputs standard gcode to the printer, the limitations on timing and number of prints can be trivially bypassed with a replay attack. Likewise, if this catches on I will be astonished if someone doesn’t implement a gcode-to-stl converter.

    • Cameron Naramore

      All valid points. Though, not all startup engineers can necessarily afford to pay someone to write a tight contract. For those individuals modeling out of their home office, a service like this could give them a bit of protection. For many, a deterrent is enough. If the client needs to reprint due to technical difficulties, that’s easily resolved by having another print sent.

      I’m sure people will find ways around such protections and that gcode-to-CAD converters will be developed. The fact that that’s inevitable relates to your first statement regarding trust.