US Patent 10063529 Secure 3D model sharing using distributed ledger

This document generally describes systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for using distributed ledgers, such as a blockchain database, to facilitate secure distribution and use of 3D model files to 3D printers over a computing network. A 3D printer controller may access an electronic ledger that identifies a plurality of 3D model files that have been made available for distribution. A particular 3D model file and a secret key may be obtained by the printer, where the 3D model file is encrypted based on the secret key. The secret key can be decrypted using a private key associated with the computing device that corresponds to the public key. After decrypting the secret key, the particular 3D model file can be decrypted using the secret key, and after decrypting the particular 3D model file, the particular 3D model file can be executed on the printer to print a physical 3D object.