3d printer interface lockout

Abstract

A method for authenticating a user of a 3D printer to prevent unauthorized use of the 3D printer includes obtaining a user profile from a set of user profiles, each user profile corresponding to a user and including a stored multi-digit number; prompting the user, by a touch screen interface of the 3D printer, to input a personal identification number (PIN); preventing use of the 3D printer if the PIN does not match the stored multi-digit number; and authenticating the user if the PIN does match the stored multi-digit number. The method includes prompting the user to apply a force to the touch screen interface; detecting an applied force; comparing the applied force to a force threshold value; and preventing use of the 3D printer if the applied force is less than the force threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for authenticating a user of a 3D printer to prevent unauthorized use of the 3D printer, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by processing circuitry, a user profile corresponding to a user and including a stored multi-digit number;   obtaining, via a touch screen interface of the 3D printer, input of a personal identification number (PIN);   comparing, by the processing circuitry, the input PIN to the multi-digit number of the obtained user profile; and   executing, by the processing circuitry, an algorithm according to which use of the 3D printer is prevented if the PIN does not match the stored multi-digit number, and the user is authenticated if the PIN does match the stored multi-digit number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user profile further includes an answer to at least one verification question; and   the authentication of the user if the PIN matches the stored multi-digit number includes:
 prompting the user to input a response to the at least one verification question; 
 if the response matches the answer to the at least one verification question, enabling the user to operate the 3D printer; and 
 if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, preventing use of the 3D printer. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user profile further includes user contact information, and, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to disable the PIN and transmit a communication using the contact information of the user profile informing of the disablement of the PIN. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to generate a new PIN and include an identification of the new PIN in the transmitted communication. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to include in the transmitted communication a link to an electronic location via which a new PIN and multi-digit number are settable. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic location is a webpage, settings set at the webpage being updated in a central server communicatively coupled to the 3D printer. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium on which are stored program instructions that are executable by a processor and that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method for authenticating a user of a 3D printer to prevent unauthorized use of the 3D printer, the method comprising:
 obtaining a user profile corresponding to a user and including a stored multi-digit number;   obtaining, via a touch screen interface of the 3D printer, input of a personal identification number (PIN);   comparing the input PIN to the multi-digit number of the obtained user profile; and   executing an algorithm according to which use of the 3D printer is prevented if the PIN does not match the stored multi-digit number, and the user is authenticated if the PIN does match the stored multi-digit number.   
     
     
         8 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the user profile further includes an answer to at least one verification question; and   the authentication of the user if the PIN matches the stored multi-digit number includes:
 prompting the user to input a response to the at least one verification question; 
 if the response matches the answer to the at least one verification question, enabling the user to operate the 3D printer; and 
 if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, preventing use of the 3D printer. 
   
     
     
         9 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the user profile further includes user contact information, and, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to disable the PIN and transmit a communication using the contact information of the user profile informing of the disablement of the PIN. 
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to generate a new PIN and include an identification of the new PIN in the transmitted communication. 
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein, if the response does not match the answer to the at least one verification question, the algorithm causes the processing circuitry to include in the transmitted communication a link to an electronic location via which a new PIN and multi-digit number are settable. 
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic location is a webpage, settings set at the webpage being updated in a central server communicatively coupled to the 3D printer.