US Patent 9656428 Three dimensional (3D) printed objects with embedded identification (ID) elements

A method for operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to limit unauthorized copying and provide authentication of 3D objects printed from authorized models fabricated on 3D printers. The method includes providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer. The 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element. The method includes processing the digital file to define print layers of the 3D model, and a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element. The method involves operating the 3D printer to print the layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element. The ID element is embedded within object elements of the 3D object. The integrally formed ID element may be a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag providing identification data when read by an RFID reader scanning the 3D object.