Usually once someone has a copy your STL for 3D printing it's pretty difficult to keep your name attached to it, but I think I've found a way to fix that. I've been kicking around the idea of physically marking my digital designs but hadn't until recently found a practical way to do it.

I inserted a 1mm high set of initials (TNH) into the center of the print. At my current layer height of 0.3 mm this prints 3 layers of initials in the print before covering the top and continuing. The initials could easily be replaced with an image or logo that identifies the modeler.

I think this could be a good way for anyone from artists, engineers, and hobbyists to make their mark on their 3D designs. It's also pretty cool to see your printer "sign" prints as they're being printed. It's a good way to connect the cool object you're printing with the cool person that designed it.

Here's a video of it in action: youtube.com/watch?v=zv_OQN2H590

And the accompanying blog post: thenewhobbyist.com/2012/12/signing-3d-prints/