New York 3D printer blocking technology mandate: Difference between revisions
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The central technical objection is that no detection algorithm can reliably separate gun-part geometry from ordinary mechanical geometry. Phillip Torrone of Adafruit, whose critique Techdirt reproduced, argued that such a system would have to identify every possible firearm component from raw STL and G-code files without flagging the pipes, tubes, blocks, brackets, gears, and other common shapes that share geometric properties with gun parts, which he framed as a classification problem carrying high false-positive and false-negative rates.<ref name="techdirt" /> | The central technical objection is that no detection algorithm can reliably separate gun-part geometry from ordinary mechanical geometry. Phillip Torrone of Adafruit, whose critique Techdirt reproduced, argued that such a system would have to identify every possible firearm component from raw STL and G-code files without flagging the pipes, tubes, blocks, brackets, gears, and other common shapes that share geometric properties with gun parts, which he framed as a classification problem carrying high false-positive and false-negative rates.<ref name="techdirt" /> | ||
Slicing software converts a 3D model into machine instructions (G-code) that describe tool paths, not labeled parts, so the file a printer executes does not announce what object it builds. '''Many machines also run offline, and much of the firmware that drives consumer printers is open source, which means a scanning requirement cannot be enforced on a printer that never contacts the state library or that runs community firmware the mandate does not reach.'''<ref name="techdirt" /> The Electronic Frontier Foundation summarized the technical bet as ''"an unfeasible tech solution."''<ref name="eff" /> | Slicing software converts a 3D model into machine instructions (G-code) that describe tool paths, not labeled parts, so the file a printer executes does not announce what object it builds. Furthermore, additive 3D manufacturing typically involves the use of additional temporary material such as support material<ref name="prusa-support-material">[https://help.prusa3d.com/article/support-material%201698 Support Material | Prusa Knowledge Base]. Retrieved 2026-06-02.</ref> and brims<ref name="prusa-brim">[https://help.prusa3d.com/article/skirt-and-brim_133969#brim Skirt and Brim | Prusa Knowledge Base]. Retrieved 2026-06-02.</ref>, which further complicates detection. Prints can be oriented in a variety of ways, which will cause the slicer to generate entirely different G-code. '''Many machines also run offline, and much of the firmware that drives consumer printers is open source, which means a scanning requirement cannot be enforced on a printer that never contacts the state library or that runs community firmware the mandate does not reach.'''<ref name="techdirt" /> The Electronic Frontier Foundation summarized the technical bet as ''"an unfeasible tech solution."''<ref name="eff" /> | ||
==Consumer-rights and surveillance concerns== | ==Consumer-rights and surveillance concerns== | ||