Abstract:

3D printers are more and more often used in many companies for the purposes of preliminary imaging of new products in the form of their models. During printing, 3D printers become a source of acoustic signals that may have features correlated with the printed object. Therefore, these signals can be used in the process of non-invasive acquisition of information about the shape of the object. A similar phenomenon  occurs for laser printers, where electromagnetic emissions are valuable emissions. However, in each case there are solutions that counteract the effective acquisition of valuable signals during the eavesdropping process. The article presents the results of theoretical analyzes connected with the masking of acoustic signals arising during operation of basic elements of 3D printer: stepper motors, printhead and platform. Masking these signals with appropriate noise should prevent acoustic eavesdropping and getting knowledge about the shapes of printed objects.