They use either laser-scans of an original or prototype sculpture or a CAD file to direct the machines.

ENGADGET: Robotic sculptor

In a recent blog post, Wilson posted a photo (at right) of dozens of high capacity clips arranged in a CAD file, ready for printing.

FORBES: Gunsmiths 3D-Print High Capacity Ammo Clips To Thwart Proposed Gun Laws

Presumably, to obtain the design for a widget will be as easy as downloading a song (both legally or illegally) because the design is all software, a small file that a CAD program would handle, for example.

FORBES: The Future Is (Gasp) Manufacturing?

The moral of this story is that information hoarding in order to leverage Big Data tools may work in the structured data world, but will not work in the broader information world that includes unstructured content (the Word file, PowerPoint presentations, CAD files, audio files, and other large data types that dominate corporate information stores).

FORBES: Information Governance Even More Important In The Era Of Big Data